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AADL Talks To: John Metzger
In this episode, AADL Talks To John Metzger, third-generation owner of Metzger's Restaurant at 305 N Zeeb Rd. John walks us through the history of his family's restaurant, from its origin 90 years ago on Washington Street in Ann Arbor, and discusses what's changed - and what's remained the same - over the years as the business passed from his grandfather to his father to John. He also shares his memories of growing up in the restaurant; his efforts, along with his sister Heidi, to reopen at a new location on the west side of town after closing the downtown location; and he talks about the employees and customers that have kept the business a thriving enterprise for nearly a century.
Read historical articles about Metzger's.
Browse our Metzger Family Collection featuring many of the historical photos that line the walls of Metzger's Restaurant.
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Behind The Marquee: Episode 47 - A Virtual Year
Nick is joined by Sarah, Jared, and Ben for a discussion about the last year in programming, how the Virtual Cinema will continue as cinemas reopen, what they're looking forward to this Summer, and as always, they conclude with their Movie Magic Moments of the week.
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Behind The Marquee: Episode 46 - A Virtual Conversation with Ann Arbor Chefs
Inspired by the virtual release of 'Her Name is Chef', Sarah Escalante, Director of Programming & Communications, has a virtual conversation and Q&A with local chefs: Abby Olitzky from Spencer, Allie Lyttle from Lala's, Ji Hye Kim from Miss Kim, and Eve Aronoff from Frita Batidos.
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Desserts by Decade: The Fabulous 1950s!
The 1950s brought us the Mickey Mouse Club, Elvis Presley, and Mr. Potato Head. The cool cats liked Ike, hula hooped around the yard, and saw the first movie in 3D. And then there was the food, daddy-o! From Jello to chiffon cakes to Baked Alaskas, there was food for everyone from the flutter bums to the wet rags.
Learn about some hip recipes from the 1950s with Lakehouse owner/baker Keegan Rodgers and hear about national and local history from historian/writer Patti Smith.
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Desserts by Decade: The Dirty 30s with Keegan Rodgers and Patti Smith
Join us for the latest installment in a new series on the history of desserts by decade. This month, we will discuss the 1930s!
The decade began with people driving custom convertible Packards and sneaking sips of "giggle juice" (hopefully not at the same time!) and ended with Hoovervilles and Apple Annies drinking "dog soup". People might not have had a lot of dough but they still could make, well, dough! Get the lowdown on some keen recipes from the 1930s with Lakehouse owner/baker Keegan Rodgers and hear about national and local history from historian/writer Patti Smith. Learn how to make a treat from the era while enjoying stories about happenings at the local and national scene. It's the bee's knees!
This event was in partnership with The Lakehouse Bakery.
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Body of Work: David Chang
We talked all about our own food journeys, and even adventures as we dove into David Chang's body of work. We may have all left the room hungry....
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Kick the Sugar Craving
Join health coach Jennifer Sprague to learn about sugar cravings, what sugar does to the body, and why it's so hard to cut sugar out of your diet. She provides tips for getting unstuck when it comes to sugar.
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Butter Extravaganza
The delicious topic of butter is the theme of Margaret Carney’s presentation “Butter Extravaganza.” Is there ever too much butter in our lives, recipes, and artwork? Of course there isn’t, so stories about butter, a celebration of butter, butter sculpture, butter dishes and related butter paraphernalia used in dining, and the International Museum of Dinnerware Design’s pop-up exhibition, Butter, was “on the table” for everyone’s enjoyment. Margaret Carney is the founder and director of the International Museum of Dinnerware Design, located in Ann Arbor.
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Of Chinese Cheese and Curds
Nowadays, the Chinese are famous for their food — but not for their cheeses or for their dairy products. Scholarly and popular accounts explain this through biological and cultural factors — the prevalence of lactose intolerance and xenophobia, for example. Miranda Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies, U-M Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, challenges the popular and scholarly view through a mouthwatering tour of dishes composed of curds. Dr. Brown traces the long history of curds in China, demonstrating that such foods were regarded as delicacies by the elite, and accounts for their sudden and belated disappearance from the modern Chinese diet. The talk concludes by exploring the modern legacies of the Chinese fascination with curds.
A native of San Francisco, Miranda Brown is Professor of Chinese Studies in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan, where she has taught since finishing her degree in History at UC Berkeley in 2002. She recently worked on the premodern history of dairy in China, a topic that has received little scholarly or popular attention. Her article, on the history of cheese in South China, appeared in Gastronomica: The Journal of Critical Food Studies (2019). Having been raised by a Southern Chinese mother, Brown is fascinated with all Chinese food and considers herself a serious amateur cook.
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Author Event | Barbara Barton and "Manoomin : the Story of Wild Rice in Michigan"
Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan is the first book of its kind to bring forward the rich tradition of wild rice in Michigan, and its importance to the Anishinaabek people who live here. The book received the 2018 Michigan History Award and 2019 Michigan Notable Book Award.
Join author Barbara Barton as she follows the threads that connect the history, culture, biology, economics, and spirituality of this sacred plant. Learn about the vast wild rice beds that once existed in Michigan, why many disappeared, and the efforts of tribal and nontribal people working to return and protect Manoomin across the landscape.