Kitchen Chick

A Feast at Monahan's Seafood

Clockwise from top left: Stir-Fried Squid Szechuan-Style, Oyster Po'Boys, Monahan's name in lights, Steamed mahi-Mahi with Pineapple Salsa, Salmon with Teriyaki Glaze, Chef Chewy tossing fries with garlic and herbs

Longtime Kitchen Chick readers will know that I rave about Monahan's Seafood in Kerrytown quite a bit.  There's no affiliation, it's just one of my favorite places.  Known by many as the best place to buy fresh fish in Ann Arbor, Monahan's has also been quietly serving lunch on the side since the late 90s.  In 2004, Mike Monahan hired CIA student Chewy Lebnick for the summer, and he brought us fabulous meals like Seared Bonito. 

Chef Chewy has returned to Monahan's and is transforming the side-lunch business into the best little seafood restaurant in Ann Arbor.  (Actually, I've already thought of Monahan's as the best seafood restaurant in Ann Arbor, but now it's just gotten better!) On a recent Saturday, Joe and I met his parents at Monahan's and asked Chewy to cook for us until we asked him to stop.  We ate...

Everyday Wines hosts Growing Hope Fundraiser (Local A2 Event)

While in Kerrytown today, I stopped in at everyday wines to say "hi" and learned that they are hosting a wine tasting at everyday cook in Kerrytown (upstairs). Saturday, April 1, 4pm - 6 pm. Just $15/person. Proceeds go to support Growing Hope.

Click on the image to see the full event announcement.

Geoduck Clam at Wei Wei Noodles(Toledo, OH)

Slice of Geoduck Clam Sashimi
Years and years ago, I'm told, Ann Arborites had to go to Toledo, Ohio to find a good dinner.  Now, Ann Arbor is a restaurant mecca, but there's still occasionally a reason to head to Toledo for a meal.  Wei Wei Noodles is one of those reasons.  Plan to go hungry so you have plenty of room for a feast.

The menu is mainly Chinese dishes with a few others, such as Vietnamese summer rolls and miso soup.  Many of the standards we've come to expect at Chinese restaurants in the States are there, but the stars of the menu are the noodle dishes and the special seafood dishes.

Joe's parents adore clams, mussels, oysters -- any seafood in a shell -- and they were particularly delighted to discover the geoduck and razor clams and knew they had to share their discovery.  A date was set and we all went to Wei Wei to experience the marvel that is... the Geoduck Clam.

Geoduck is actually pronounced "gooey-duck".  In Chinese, the clams are called "elephant trunk clams".  If you click on the photo, you'll see why.  They are a native American salt-water clam species that buries themselves up to a meter deep within the sediment in the Puget sound between Washington state and British Columbia.  They are sometimes sold as "king clam" in the States, and they are considered a delicacy in Asia.  In the US, they're just considered the best clams for clam chowder.  While that may be true, I'd say that there are better ways to enjoy them.  Read on...