“Yalla Eat” culinary walking tours return to Dearborn
By Andrea Blum
Detroit Press and Guide
Tour participants get a close-up look at spices at Hashems Nuts and Coffee Gallery during a past “Yalla Eat!” Culinary Walking Tour. Press & Guide file photo
A taste of the diverse flavors in east Dearborn awaits foodies.
The popular “Yalla Eat” Culinary Walking Tours, organized by the Arab American National Museum, are back for a fourth flavorful fall edition, putting the focus on a Warren Avenue-based tour with lots of chances for people to indulge in and learn about Arab food and culture.
Starting at 10 a.m. Sept. 17, food lovers can explore Warren Avenue and visit a variety of markets, bakeries and specialty food retailers, all founded by immigrants and family operated.
The tour includes community staples Shatila and Lebon Sweets ̶ both celebrated bakeries and sweet shops ̶ the plentiful Super Greenland Market and Hashems featuring traditional Arab coffee, nuts and spices, among others.
“Warren Avenue in Dearborn is, in many ways, the heart of the Arab American community in metro Detroit and beyond,” said Matthew Jaber Stiffler, AANM research and content manager. “The hundreds of Arab American businesses along this stretch of Warren Avenue is a reminder of the cultural and economic contributions that immigrants have made and continue to make in Michigan.
“Through food, we can teach people about the history and experiences of Arab Americans, as well as showcase the vitality of the Arab American enclave in Dearborn.”
Yalla Eat! (Arabic for “Let’s go eat!”) is an immersive experience allowing participants to explore the culinary contributions of the country’s most concentrated Arab American population, while learning about the history and impact of that community on metropolitan Detroit.
Culinary tourists will learn how Arab Americans began to revitalize this shopping district in the early 1980s, turning vacant storefronts into a thriving cultural destination.
Guided by AANM docents, participants will meet business owners eager to share the story of their family-run enterprises while enjoying generous samples of traditional Arabic cuisine. Tour participants will sample diverse food offerings, learn about the history of Arab Americans in Dearborn and metropolitan Detroit while experiencing firsthand the changing cultural landscape of east Dearborn.
All tour participants will receive a “Yalla Eat!” shopping tote, a “Yalla Eat!” culinary map of Dearborn for self-guided exploration and one complimentary admission to the AANM. Each tour lasts about 2 1/2 hours and comfortable walking shoes are encouraged.
The Fall 2016 “Yalla Eat! Culinary Walking Tour” dates are:
· 10 a.m. Sept. 17
· 1 p.m. Sept. 20
· 10 a.m. Sept. 24
· 1 p.m.Sept. 27
· 10 a.m. Oct. 1
Tours start and finish at Super Greenland Market, 12715 W. Warren Ave.
Tickets are $20 for museum members and $25 for nonmembers. Purchase online at arabamericanmuseum.org/yallaeat
Source: www.pressandguide.com