2-Bit Review: No Thai!

One or two visits. A few hundred words. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

The location on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Catherine has struggled to find its place in the neighborhood. The folks who virtually demolished it and built Gelato di Roma sunk some serious money into their sleek little building, but that incarnation just didn’t stick.

Now, the Kerrytown neighborhood welcomes No Thai! The venerable print publications of our fair city have already covered the entymology behind a restaurant that’s called “No” Thai, when in fact Thai food is exactly what they serve. So here’s the 2-bit version of my impressions.

The menu of approximately 20 items is posted on a large board. You walk up to the counter and choose an item that is essentially vegetarian to start – noodles or rice, and a variety of veggies. These combinations are seasoned in a Thai or Asian manner, Pad Thai, for instance. Choose the seasoned dish, then select chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. All entrees are in the $9 range. There are also a couple sides, like spring rolls for $3.

After ordering, take a cup to the fountain for your soda, or for the optional Thai Ginger Tea. You sit at one of the tidy formica tables, or a tall stool along the counter at the window, and wait for your name to be called. “Order for Mandy,” came a shout from the back. Walking up to the pass-through to the kitchen where my plates were sitting, I asked the cook, “Do I take these myself?” and the cook on the other side nodded yes.

“Yoga” hot is a good thing.

My Pad Basil with chicken was fantastic. Lots of quality white meat (no thigh!) chicken, and I could really taste the basil. The heat level was perfect with flecks of red pepper. I specified “yoga” hot, which is No Thai!’s (that’s an awkward bit of punctuation) spice level one notch past medium heat. I asked that the green peppers be left out, which was done without pause, including extra fresh, perfectly cooked broccoli. Too much onion for filler, but then I always think this – I’m a true carnivore.

The Button was with me and ordered Pad Thai with shrimp, medium spicy. She considers herself a Pad Thai connoisseur, and found it rated somewhere around a “5” on a 1-10 scale. I think it was under-seasoned for her taste, and she would have been better off with the “yoga” level, as well. James and Han (food service super heroes) were surprised when we told them this, saying that customers often find “yoga” too spicy. The Button did note that it was nice that, for a fast-ish food place, our selections were served on very nice dishes.

Two trim, fresh, not-too-oily spring rolls came with that side order. And our entrees were so huge that we both had plenty to take home for lunch the next day. Though upon re-heating I supplemented The Button’s Pad Thai with more shrimp, since there weren’t a large number included to begin with.

A locally owned establishment, I’d compare No Thai! to “fast fresh” chains like Moe’s or Qdoba (another bizarre name). However, like its predecessors it may struggle at the location. There was only one other customer on the Thursday night we visited. I hope they are garnering some lunch traffic from the local offices – they deserve it. It’s a definite “shout out” to No Thai! from The Brou.

A2 Questionnaire: Heather O'Neal

(Same 6 Questions, Different Victim)

Heather O'Neal, Owner, Of Global Interest and Eighth Street Trekkers' Lodge

Heather, what’s your favorite dish to cook?
I was never much of a cook until February this year when I purchased a new vegetarian cookbook by Roz Denny published in the UK. It has great big photos and easy 1-2-3 steps with photos to match so you get an instant idea of how things should look. I am now ready to open a restaurant on my front porch! I like making anything in that book because they all turn out relatively perfect.. Perhaps I got the most praise with the zucchini, red onion, sun dried tomato and goat cheese pizza.

It’s Friday night and you’re exhausted – what do you do for dinner?
In my former life I would have made popcorn for dinner. Nowadays I'll try something in the new cookbook. And these days there are interesting leftovers in the fridge. Currently we have last night's dinner -- enough vegetarian paella to feed a small army.

It’s Saturday night and you’re ready to go out and have a great time – what do you do?
Usually on Saturday nights I am home working at my desk or cleaning the house. Sometimes a friend will call, and we'll head out on the town. A typical Saturday night might include walking downtown for a drink and a snack at one of Ann Arbor's great restaurants or bars. After that we might end up in my living room chatting into the night. If we are lucky a guest at the Trekkers' Lodge B&B will join us for conversation.

What’s your favorite restaurant (besides Zingerman’s!) to take out-of-town guests?
I often recommend the brew pubs like Arbor Brewing Company, Grizzly Peak and Leopold's to guests who are visiting from out of town. Seva is a favorite because it's vegetarian. BeBimBop at Kosmo Lunch Counter at Kerrytown is a great alternative to long lines at other places nearby.. And I always bring guests to play the bells in the tower at Kerrytown which is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon.

What do you love about Ann Arbor that you think is unique among other cities?
What I most love about Ann Arbor is that I can walk and ride my bike all over town. Ann Arbor has a free spirit like me which allows me to do whatever I want.. Probably the best part about Ann Arbor is the Huron River and all the really cool and wonderful parks and woods, trails and bike paths along the river banks. I love all the festivals and street parties, the restaurants, the trees, the Michigan Theater -- and the people of course.

Last question – if you were to write a Blues song about living in Ann Arbor, what would the title be?
I travel a lot and might need to write a blues song about returning to Ann Arbor after a trip around the world... I'd call my song, "Going Home".

The Brou "Hearts" Ann Arbor 107.1 fm

I had become a radio snob. Even though I grew up loving stations like CKLW and Tower 98 in Monroe, and was a dj on my high school station (WEJY), I had stopped listening to commercial radio stations entirely.

But then last December, almost by accident, I discovered Ann Arbor 107.1 fm. And somehow, like the planets aligning, that perfect synchronicity was achieved. I am convinced that somehow, someway, the programmers have tapped into my own, almost exact, taste in music. Maybe it’s a secret ray gun that triangulates between my brain, my iTunes account, and the radio station – I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s dead on.

My love of 107.1 thus expressed, I stumbled upon their tent party at Top of the Park. You could register to “win” an invitation on their website, but I had not been lucky. I tried to bluff my way past young Ryan, their promotion manager below with the clipboard – but he was unmoved. Supporting TOP is just one of the ways the station underscores its commitment to being “Ann Arbor’s radio station.” They also recently hosted a fundraiser for C. S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital when the U of M football team “took over” the station, and helped raise over $100,000.

Matt Wertz was performing on the TOP stage, and he’s a great example of the kind of music I’m digging on the station. Brandi Carlisle, Ben Harper, Paolo Nuntni, Plain White Ts, Death Cab for Cutie – all kinds of artists I just love. They also do an on-air showcase of local musicians called “Studio A2.” The Ragbirds were on the other day, and sounded great! (You know, 107.1 may not have a secret ray gun pointed at my head, but I guarantee you they’ve got some kind of tap on the Siglins and the gang over at the Ark.)

107.1 keeps the chatter to a minimum, and what there is is often provided by the fabu Martin Bandyke on the morning shift, surely the first ever umbrella-toting-Vespa-driving attendee at TOP. Bandyke’s exit from WDET, and its focus in programming to more news, was a sorry day in the life of public radio in southeastern Michigan. We spent quite a bit of time chatting with Martin at TOP, since he was gracious enough to stand outside the party tent and mingle with the plebs who didn’t make it past face control. Very personable, and seems happy to have found a welcoming audience here in Ann Arbor.

I’d say 107.1’s only weak spot is that they could use a sharp, strong female on-air personality. And the commericials? Well, half the time I’m giggling as I listen because the station produces these funny testimonials by its advertisers. Craig Warburton from Austin & Warburton jewelers mixed and mashed into some kind of crazy beat-box thing, or the Merkels from GCO sounding like the Magliozzi brothers from Car Talk – commercials are fun when they’re people you know!

And I’ve found that commercial radio is still fun, when the station is a living, breathing part of the community and plays the music you love.

Top of the Park

“Top of the Park is the one event that gets everyone out together without all the folks from out of town. Not that I dislike football weekends or Art Fair, but I really enjoy letting the kids run around while I chat with the neighbors,” says Tommy York, partner in Morgan & York. “It feels like Europe right here in Ann Arbor.”

“La Passeggiata” is Italian for a slow stroll, usually in the central square, in the evening. I agree with Tommy (in gray shirt above) – that’s what we are graced with here in Ann Arbor with Top of the Park. And from the peanuts dancing in front of the stage, to the teenagers hanging out by the fountain, to grownups in the beer garden, TOP is a multi-generational good time.

In it’s second year on the Ingalls Mall, TOP appears to be drawing hundreds more people. On Brazilian Carnaval night, folks enjoyed a Brazilian bateria performing on the grass, as well as Sheila Landis & Brazilian Love Affair on the stage set up on the steps of Rackham. Later, Jeremy Kittel performed – not sure how that worked into the Latin theme, but hey, what the heck.

In addition to the entertainment, there’s the food. Tios, Rendezvous Cafe, and Cottage Inn are among the usual suspects on “Culinary Row.” Zingerman’s and their Dancing Sandwiches are missing this year, but Zoup! is the new kid on the block. Steve Guttman (in orange shirt at left) manages the food vendors, and every year we have the same conversation about how to improve the quality of the offerings. There are challenges. Health regulations are strict, so menus are limited. And staffing the booths for 24 nights straight is tough. All it takes is a few nights of bad weather and the vendors get cranky.

If you want to avoid the lines at the food booths, one of the private parties in the beer garden is the way to go. Every year I manage to scam at least one invitation, or sashay in through sheer charm and brazenness. I always enjoy striking up a conversation with the kids Steve hires to work these events – this is Analynn poring my Pinot Grigio. She's been working at TOP for four years, and just graduated from college. She's going to spend the next year helping at-risk kids in Chicago before going to law school.

So the food and music keep rolling along, and after dark the free movies flicker on the way-cool inflatable screen. Not to hint at my age, but I remember the first summers back in the 80s, when there were movies every night. Dirty Dancing would have been in its first run back then. Just as fun for a new generation, and “nobody puts Baby in a corner” still elicits a chorus of “woo hoo!” from an appreciative audience.

The Tempest in the Arb

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, rounded with a little sleep…”
Prospero

Brace yourselves, I’m about to gush…

I had never attended one of the Residential College productions in the Arboretum, too intimidated by the heat and bugs. But I broke out the Deep Woods Off, the lawn chair, and a picnic bag filled with goodies and went to see The Tempest with a friend.

What a delight! I am not exaggerating when I say that this performance had to be one of the most enjoyable theatrical experiences I’ve ever had!

The Tempest tells the story of Prospero, the Duke of Milan (pronounced like “chillin” by the actors – perhaps correct for the Globe Theater, but distracting nonetheless) exiled to an island with daughter Miranda by his nefarious brother Antonio and Alonso, the King of Naples. Miranda has no memory of life before the island, which is also inhabited by a servant, Caliban, and a spirit creature called Ariel.

Prospero has spent his years in exile polishing up some pretty impressive wizarding skills, and calls forth a huge storm – the Tempest of the title – to wreck the ship carrying his enemies, his brother and the king. The ship also happens to carry young Ferdinand, son of the king. Ferdinand and Miranda fall in love the minute they lock eyes upon one another – very Shakespearean.

The entire play takes place on Prospero’s island, and it’s very easy to imagine the Arb as that locale. Honestly, the setting is the star of the performance. We were certain this creaky looking old branch would crash. He was one of the “Ariels,” the spirit portrayed collectively by over half a dozen young actors dressed as woodland sprites. They spent a good deal of time lurking behind bushes and up in trees making “spritely” noises. My friend and I kept worrying for their sake about poison ivy.

At the end of each act, audience members would gather themselves and troop off to another glade. Not only was the natural setting gloriously beautiful, it was very intimate. In some scenes, I could have reached out and touched the velour of a doublet! And the cast was also very jolly in the way they incorporated intrusions by the modern world into the story. Whenever a train or plane could be heard in the distance, actors would tense and move as if to draw their swords. You’d have thought this would get old after the second or third time, but I was tickled.

With very few props, costumes offered more than the usual diversion – the character of Trinculo, one of the crew from the shipwreck, had his pantaloons fall down about halfway through one scene. You could tell the entire audience was wondering if he realized what had happened. Thankfully he was wearing purple tights. Undergarments, or lack thereof, were also an issue with one of the female Ariels – she was quite obviously not wearing a bra, and as she ran by at a full gallop we feared she might fall out of HER costume. And the actor playing Caliban, who appeared to be channeling the Golem from The Lord of the Rings, seemed to be frightening the children in the audience.

The Tempest benefited from a fine performance by Martin Walsh as Prospero, bringing the right mix of gravitas and sardonic humor to the wizard. And as Shakespeare’s shortest play, I found I didn’t glance at my watch once – in fact, I’d be glad to visit Prospero’s island again, provided it’s in the Arb.

A2 Questionnaire: Marj Schloff

(Same 6 Questions, Different Victim)

Marj Schloff, Owner, Her Electric

Marj, what’s your favorite dish to cook?
We come home from work pretty late, so I don’t cook much. You know, I’ve always said that if I were going to hire something out, I’d get somebody to come in and cook dinner for us every night! But my daughter has come home from college for the summer and is quite the health nut, so she’s been cooking some fantastic meals.

It’s Friday night and you’re exhausted – what do you do for dinner?
There’s this place over in the Colonnade shopping mall called Bella Italia. They have great spaghetti and meatballs, and the gnocchi is good. The owner is always pleasant and friendly, too.

It’s Saturday night and you’re ready to go out and have a great time – what do you do?
We like to walk downtown and go to Palio. My partner likes the tortellini and salad, and I’m a big pasta fan – put anything in a bowl, and chances are I’ll like it. We also go to Prickly Pear sometimes –we don’t usually like to eat outside downtown because of the exhaust fumes and noise, so their back patio is nice.

What’s your favorite restaurant (besides Zingerman’s!) to take out-of-town guests?
Zingerman’s is one of my customers, and I like to support them! So we’ll go to the Roadhouse. The whole west side smells like their barbeque on some days, so by dinner you’re starving for it. And I like the mac and cheese, too.

What do you love about Ann Arbor that you think is unique among other cities?
I love the whole atmosphere, the shopping, the people. We are still a small town, but there’s so much to do. And how can you beat Summer Festival? Going down to Top of the Park or to a performance at Power Center. We’ve got tickets for the Capitol Steps this year.

Last question – if you were to write a Blues song about living in Ann Arbor, what would the title be?
“Goodbye Frieze Building, It’s the Demolition of Beautiful Buildings Blues”

Ode to a Ding Dong

“Eat the cupcake, then tell me what you think of it,” said my friend, as we exited Cake Nouveau on North Fourth Ave. Given that this particular friend has a sense of humor that’s dry like the Mojave Desert, I could tell she didn’t think these particular confections were all they’re cracked up to be.

And sure enough, as I strolled north toward Kerrytown and bit into my $2.50 chocolate cupcake, I was…underwhelmed. Cake Nouveau has a lovely, whimsical interior and is a great addition to that block. And I know that owner Courtney Clark has won accolades from the Food Network. Perhaps my expectations were too high.

Which got me thinking, what’s a similar dessert that has knocked my socks off, rather than induced a yawn? So allow me, for a brief moment, to post an ode to Big City, Small World Bakery’s homemade Ding Dong. Two disks of moist chocolate cake, encompassing tooth-achingly good white frosting (is “white” a flavor? I’m not sure it’s actually vanilla), doused in chocolate frosting and charmingly topped with a few chocolate shavings. Oddly shaped, awkward to eat, bearing little resemblance to the Hostess confection that is its namesake. But simply fantastic. At $3.50, 30% more than the Nouveau cupcake, but 130% more satisfying for the dessert-a-holic. Shout out to the Big City, Small World Ding Dong – what a cupcake should aspire to be.

Taste of Ann Arbor

Mandy Kay: So, let's talk about the "Taste of Ann Arbor" last Sunday.
Pepper Votaw: I think it's an excellent addition to the Dexter/Ann Arbor Run, and a great format for families enjoying a day downtown. But I think the economy effected the number of restaurants participating, and I'm not sure how they are picked to be in it.
Mandy Kay: Do you think it exposed people to food they normally wouldn't experience?
Pepper Votaw: Not this time...if I were a chef, I would want to highlight my signature dishes, and also showcase some cutting edge stuff. I also think participants did a poor job of cross-marketing the street food with their existing menus and upcoming promos. You know, ways to get a "bounce” – coupon or giveaway or something– to get people to go to the actual restaurant.
Mandy Kay: The Earle did give out those coupons for $20 off a bill at their Uptown locale. So that would be about a 10% discount. Yikes. What about the food in general?
Pepper Votaw: I thought it was pretty middle- of-the-road this time. There weren’t as many ethnic booths, and not much that would spur me to go to a place I'd never been to before.
Mandy Kay: We've got what, 50 Chinese restaurants in A2? but I didn’t see any. Nor any Japanese. Or Korean?
Pepper Votaw: No Thai, no BBQ, or Italian. Nor anything from the "buy local" bunch...
Mandy Kay: Props to Blue Nile, though, for giving it a try. They were very popular. And Amadeus. LOVED their smoked salmon mousse.
Pepper Votaw: You're right...they were distinctive, and it showed.
Mandy Kay: What else did you like?
Pepper Votaw: I liked the Indian booth, and the lemonade.
Mandy Kay: Yes, I think Shalimar did a good job. I brought home samosas since I bought too many tickets. Had them for lunch today. Mmmm, love their chutneys. I also thought Mediterrano did a fab job with the lamb chops. Double mmmmm, they were tender and wonderfully seasoned, and nicely presented on couscous! I’ll get them next time I go to the restaurant – which is exactly the effect that should be produced! As opposed to the bourbon steak bites from Rush Street. Tough. Sinewy. Uggh.
Pepper Votaw: And I liked sitting on the curb watching people and listening to the big band music.
Mandy Kay: Did you see the pictures of the Morris dancers in the paper? Scooped by the Ann Arbor News. How demoralizing... Do you know anything about the history of “Taste” events in general? Invented in Chicago?
Pepper Votaw: We've been to Taste of Chicago…completely overwhelming. Always about 95 degrees, and elbow-to-elbow with people who haven't been friendly with their Shower to Shower powder. The last year we were there chocolate dipped strawberries were introduced.
Mandy Kay: Ooooh, not unlike being at Canaveral when the first rocket launched, food-world-wise, that is...
Pepper Votaw: We’ve also been to Indianapolis, where the “Taste” is part of the 500 Festival. It’s always organized around a theme, and restaurants are judged by their execution of the theme. Really fun, and competitive for creativity and food wit.
Mandy Kay: “Creativity and food-wit” - THAT's what's missing!
Pepper Votaw: Indeed...food wit!
Mandy Kay: Some of our restaurant owners are lacking in that department… I felt sorry for the handsome young man working the Café Felix booth, with no signage for the food, and everything covered up by the chafing dish lids. NOT well planned by his boss. I wonder if Felix scored well in the judging?
Pepper Votaw: Who won, and on what criteria?
Mandy Kay: I have no idea. But there was an Elvis award. Ya gotta love that. What restaurant should receive our most illustrious “Shout Out”? And who should get the “What Were They Thinking?” designation?
Pepper Votaw: How about a “Shout Out” to Shalimar, for taking the time and effort to showcase their food and the interesting sauces. And honorable mentions to Amadeus and Café du Jour, two small places out there competing admirably with the big boys. And the "What Were They Thinking?" to Café Felix for putting that lovely young man out front with no printed menu...naked to the public save for his sterling flair with hot plate lids.
Mandy Kay: I bet those lids were hot.

A2 Questionnaire: Jill Stefani Wagner

(Same 6 Questions, Different Victim)

Jill Stefani Wagner, Artist

Jill, what’s your favorite dish to cook?
I don't cook at all any more. I have a gourmet chef in the house. But if I DID have to cook, I expect it would be my grandmother's official northern Italian spaghetti.

It’s Friday night and you’re exhausted – what do you do for dinner?
Call a sushi place for pick up. If we feel like we’re worth it on that particular day, we’ll call Godaiko. The new place in Saline, Biwako, if we haven’t been so good – they are more economical than Godaiko. Their sushi isn’t quite as high quality, but still pretty damn good.

It’s Saturday night and you’re ready to go out and have a great time – what do you do?
In no particular order: art gallery opening, comedy club, casino, The Ark, a movie.

What’s your favorite restaurant (besides Zingerman’s!) to take out-of-town guests?
The Common Grill in Chelsea. We’ve never, ever had a bad meal there. The only problem is, the sound level is unbelievable – we can’t take elderly guests there. Real Seafood, Zingerman’s, and Mac’s are good alternatives, you won’t ever be surprised.

What do you love about Ann Arbor that you think is unique among other cities? The culture-music, plays, art, sports. And the best food in Michigan.

Last question – if you were to write a Blues song about living in Ann Arbor, what would the title be?
"I Can't Get There from Here–the Road Construction Blues"

Open House Addict

My name is Mandy Kay, and I am an addict. I am addicted to real estate open houses. Even though I’m not in the market for a house. I can’t help it. I like to look. I guess you could call it house porn.

Mine is a familiar face to agents from Surovell, Reinhart, and Real Estate One. I used to tell them alibis like “my friends are looking for a house in this neighborhood,” or “I’m researching for when I finally have that empty nest.” But really, I just like to look – take notes on decorating, examine floor plans, compare values. So Sunday mornings find me scanning the paper, looking for likely subjects.

My favorite fix lately has been going to open houses of the new lofts downtown. And truly, someday after my child has graduated high school, I could see myself in one of these hipster enclaves. If I win the Powerball, that is.

At Liberty Lofts, I tried to envision myself in a one-bedroom, and I just couldn’t do it. And while the location is great on these units in the old Eaton factory, there’s very little architectural character remaining. If loft means “plain box with exposed ceilings,” I suppose these qualify. Then there’s the problem with the large retail space that is part of the complex, and currently unoccupied. Real estate agents I’ve spoken to speculate that the rent is too high. I’d be hesitant to buy into Liberty until I knew who was going to occupy that 20,000 square feet. I mean, really, what if they lease to the Michigan Republican Party headquarters?

Some people find the location of Loft 322, on Liberty next to Seva, a little too close to campus. But I have to tell you, these developers got the “lofty” feel right. The stained concrete floors and exposed elements are tres cool, as are the large balconies. But the kitchen is just odd – they’ve basically wedged everything into about 8 linear feet of counter and cabinets running along a single wall. It feels as if the kitchen is part of the hallway leading to the main living space. And, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but way too much square footage is devoted to the bathrooms. You could host a poker party in one bathroom I saw, it had so much empty, open space.

Kingsley Lane hasn’t been built, but they have a sample unit displayed in the sales center. I love the amenities – their architects and designers put a lot of thought into making the most of compact spaces in a multi-functional, graceful way. The island in the kitchen, for instance, has under-cabinets on wheels – you can roll them out of the way to make dining or entertaining easier. But the storage and parking options are perplexing – if I understood the agent correctly, storage in the complex comes in the form of small pods for which you must pay extra. For $400-600k, I don’t want to pay extra for a “pod” – pods are for music files, not seasonal gear that I can’t fit in the apartment. And parking is not included in the high price tag, either. Developers are “giving away tennis shoes and bikes to home buyers as part of marketing efforts” to underscore their environment-friendly cred, says the Kingsley Lane website.

Good intentions, but as long as I can’t find a place to buy toilet paper and Tide downtown, I’m going to need my car.