Beer Review
After a slightly irritating day at work, I came home for a very fall dinner with a delicious very fall beer. For dinner I made butternut squash ravioli from Trader Joe's with a homemade brown butter sauce with sage, chopped and toasted walnuts, and craisins. It was delicious! I paired the not-so-nutritious dish with The Bruery's Autumn Maple beer. The beer is a Belgian style brown ale brewed with yams, molasses, maple syrup and spices. It is different than a pumpkin beer but equally fall and full in flavor. I might need to get another one to pair with Thanksgiving dinner.
Drinks in Northville
I spent an evening in Northville with my wonderful mother-in-law and we did a food and drink tour down Main Street. We started by walking down the street to Bricks but they had a small kitchen fire so they were not making any food for another hour, then we tried Garage but they had a 45 minute wait for a table, so we headed back East to Le George, a Mediterranean bistro where we sat outside and enjoyed dinner and wine. I had been craving some baba ghanoush! We ordered an appetizer with hummus, baba g, falafel, and salad and then split a bean burger. I have to say that I was dissapointed in the bean burger and the two little tiny pieces of falafel, but overall it was a great meal. They need to increase the falafel volume and dress up the bean burger on their new menu.
After dinner we headed to Buckministers, the local pub on the corner for a beer. The family owned place is very eclectic with unique art on the walls. Then we went back to Bricks for more beer. It is a good thing that we did not stay there earlier to wait the "hour" before they were supposed to be able to make food, because the kitchen did not open for three hours and was just opening as we were enjoying beer number two at the bar. I would have been very hungry.
After a great evening of conversation and laughter, we began the two or three block walk home. We came to the corner of Main and the street was completely flooded. Water was gushing from the sewers and cracks in the road. I felt like I was back in Venice, when the water floods the plaza at night. So a pick-up truck drives up and stops in the middle of water, I go "Do you see this? This is not normal. Are you going to call someone?" and he goes "Yeah I work for the village, a water main broke." I said "Thank you." and we continue to walk home, way out of our way to avoid the flooded street.
Detroit
We got a true taste of Detroit at the Eastern Market on a Saturday. We drove down to the city and tried to find parking at the super crowded market. I had been warned by a woman at work that the market was "very crowded, noisy, and smelly" and no matter how early you get there there are always 100 people there before you. She went once and that was enough. I actually enjoyed the market. We were able to find parking in a $5 lot near Shed 1. For me it was worth the $5 to find parking easily with a relatively short walk to the market. The owners of the lot were trying hard to jam as many cars as possible in their lot but they were also standing near the cars directing drivers. We walked through the food and restaurant sheds, the nick-knacks and stuff sheds, the interesting stores, and through the booths on the street. There would be a significant savings to buy produce from the Market because the prices are much lower there than at the local grocery stores. But when you take the gas to drive there and the time to shop into consideration, the savings are not as significant. We did pick up some gorgeous flowers and enjoyed the sights and sounds (but not the smells) of the market. And when we were leaving, we found a great hidden street with plenty of parking. Next time we go, I know exactly where to park for free. 
Only at the Eastern Market does a policeman ride around on a horse checking with the shop owners and vendors. He was very friendly making his way down the street saying "hey, you guys ok". He spent most of his time posing for pictures, talking to people, and letting adults and children pet his horse.
We really tasted Detroit at Slows. We had no problem enjoying a beer while we sat outside on their new patio waiting 30 minutes for our table. Nothing like pulled pork and brisket, accompanied by green beans, baked mac and cheese, potato salad, and baked beans. The sauces include apple, sweet, spicy, and NC vinegar style. Delicious!
Then came nap time, followed by a long walk around Northville looking at houses.
Sadly it has been a few months since I have read a book. I am now reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.(Thanks Mom!) Although I am only a quarter of the way in, I am enjoying her book about women in the workplace. A few of the topics have hit close to home now that I am back in the male dominated professional office environment. Earlier this week I came home from work upset because there are a few things that I am struggling with adapting my behavior to be "work/office appropriate". I had a meeting with the Director of Finance and General Manager to discuss process changes. In the heat of discussion and debate, I interrupted the General Manager while he was speaking. I stopped myself and apologized so he could continue. I was embarrassed and felt bad, getting angry at myself for not being professional. As I drove home, I was overly critical of myself, making it a promise that I will work on being a better employee.
And then I started Sandberg's book...in which she tells a story of one of her presentations to her employees. At the end of the presentation on gender stereotyping, she told the attendees that she only had time for two more questions. She called on two people, answered their questions and then said she was finished. The women in the room put down their hands following directions, numerous men in the room continued waving and shouting to have their questions answered. Sandberg stayed at the podium to answer their questions. When she returned to her office there was a woman waiting for her who said that she learned a valuable lesson today. Sandberg asked "what?" thinking it was going to be something she said during her presentation. Instead the woman said, "I learned to keep my hand in the air."
My husband told me that the men in his office interrupt each other all the time. I remember the men in my previous professional job interrupting each other during sales meeting and conversations. My mostly male customers would interrupt me all the time on the phone and in person. I consider myself a kind, considerate, and respectful person, who waits patiently for a turn to speak. Is this personality trait going to affect me negatively in a male dominated work place? Is it okay to interrupt? Can I be successful as a leader without interrupting? Or will I go unheard?
All questions that will be answered with time in the workplace. The difference is that I am now consciously aware of these things. I look forward to finishing her book.
Cooking German in the US
While listening to our German music playlist, I cooked German cuisine from my Dr. Oetker German Cooking Today. The dish was Cabbage Roulade with boiled potatoes and brown gravy. Let me just say that it was much easier in the comfort of my very well stocked American kitchen than it was in our partially stocked basement apartment in Germany. And I was able to find cooking string in the stores here so the rolls were much easier to make.
Here is what I made in Germany:
And here is what I made tonight:
I used regular white cabbage today instead of Savoy and just made boiled potatoes. The rolls were bigger and the gravy darker brown tonight. Both delicious!
I can't believe that it is almost October already. Our weekends have filled up quickly since we have been back in the US and I am very excited for a busy fall.
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