Food for Thought: Winter 2021
It’s not unusual to find Michiganders staying indoors during these coldest months, but COVID’s forced hibernation this winter feels exceptionally burdensome. As we trudge through this socially distant season, many of us find ourselves slipping into inactivity.
Of course, winter is temporary, but the long-term impact COVID will have on our lives is still a mystery. Many businesses— particularly restaurants, bars, caterers and small producers of food and drink—have also been forced into an unexpected extended pause. These businesses struggle daily with how to adapt or even whether to close, temporarily or otherwise.
Connecting with our edibleWOW communities to put this issue together, our incredible writers, photographers and editors have found the Southeast Michigan resolve: A spirit of hopefulness shines through during this long winter’s hibernation, as we imagine a better spring awaits on the other end of the season, with open restaurants and busy farmers’ markets.
In this issue, our stories support emergence from this hibernation with informative, educational and inspiring stories for you to enjoy: Consider a fresh start with a detox through food; pick up some tips to enjoy the thrill of the (mushroom) hunt, so you’re ready to enjoy our local and state parks and forests the minute spring arrives; and learn how some local communities are drumming up support during this difficult time by establishing Michigan’s new social districts. Read about the new law and a few of the places in this issue, along with how shopping for food has changed pretty dramatically and probably for good.
In our last issue, celebrating the 50th printing of edibleWOW magazine, we launched two new sections. In Edible Neighborhood, we explore a Southeast Michigan community highlighting several fantastic businesses. This issue features Dearborn’s Michigan Avenue and its multicultural food scene. In our Seasonal Menu, we assemble special recipes from this issue’s stories, creating a fresh dinner party menu to wow your family or, as the case may be these days, your bubble.
Soon, the ground will begin to thaw and Michiganders will venture out more and more. We look forward to seeing you in the community—from a safe distance, of course—and hold out hope that before long we will again gather around a table to eat delicious food with our friends and extended family.
Until we can, please remember to support local food businesses in Southeast Michigan so that they, too, emerge on the other side of this.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue of edibleWOW as much as we enjoyed creating it.
