Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week (SWDRW) is back for its third year, following a pandemic pause. This year’s event will run from Friday, September 30th through Sunday, October 9th. The 10-day event will occur during Hispanic Heritage Month and will feature 21 participating restaurants. Each restaurant will feature an exclusive dish that will showcase its chefs’ and owners’ Latin and culinary roots, ranging from traditional items like Mole Poblano to a more modern and fusion style of food, such as Chicken and Waffles.
While other restaurant week efforts are often created by economic development organizations or private hospitality companies, SWDRW is a grassroots group of community leaders composed of Juan Carlos Dueweke-Pérez of Featherstone, Leslie Vargas of La Jalisciense (a
pasticipating restaurant), Jorge Casarez (husband of the Monica Casarez, original co-founder of the event), Mayte Penman from Techtown, Shaffwan Ahmed, Chef Ederique Goudia co-founder of Taste the Diaspora, Chef Amanda Saab, two-time contestant of Master Chef (Season 6 and 12) and creator of Dinner With Your Muslim Neighbor, and Fatou-Seydi Sarr, founder of African
Bureau of Immigration and Social Affairs (ABISA).
“I am grateful for the support from the volunteers making the event happen and guiding its inclusive direction, including folks in food, social justice, the hospitality industry, and economic development”, said Juan Carlos Dueweke-Pérez. “Food is universal, but experiences and
hospitality are not the same across cultures. That’s why this event matters so much.”
This year will be different from previous years by featuring an inaugural Food Truck Rally at Batch Brewing Company on Monday, Oct. 3rd from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Beer will be sold by Batch Brewing Co, and non-alcoholic drinks by Cafecito Alvarez as well as each of the food trucks. DJ Coco will be playing music for the night. Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan’s REACH Program, the Wayne Health Mobile Unit will be providing health screenings, and flu and booster shots, as available, between 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Menu prices will vary by restaurant, with some only accepting cash payments.
More information is available at swdetroitrestaurantweek.com/about-2022/, and it is being updated as the information is finalized.
The event began as a promotional opportunity but has become a social and educational tool to increase awareness of the vast diversity of nationalities in the city of Detroit and expand on the cultural access among the city’s ethnic groups. Among the 21 restaurants participating in the event representing 6 nationalities (El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Venezuela and Mexico) as well as 6 regions of Mexico. A number of restaurants’ are actively preparing halal and/or vegan options. A complete list of participating restaurants is provided below.
FOOD TRUCKS FEATURED AT BATCH BREWING COMPANY
● Antojitos Southwest
● Cafecito Alvarez
● Camino Real
● El Parian (Vernor + Ferdinand)
● El Taquito Taco Truck
● Los Dos Amigos
● Los Dos Carnales
● Papelon
● Taco Fiesta
● Taco Veloz
● Tacos del Barrio and the Real Boss
● Tacos El Caballo
● Taqueria El Rey
RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING DURING THE 10-DAY EVENT
● Armando’s Mexican Restaurant – TBD
● Asty Time – Albóndigas a la criolla arroz con guandules
● El Asador Steakhouse – Tacos dorados de camaron
● El Barzon Restaurante – Camarones al mojo de ajo
● El Palenque Restaurant – Mole verde
● El Rancho Restaurant – Guisadillas
● El Rey de a las Arepas – Chicken and waffles
● La Jalisciense – Aguachiles
● La Cuscatleca – Empanadas de plátano y fritos de elote
● La Palapa del Parian – Pozole verde de pollo
● La Posada – Pozole verde
● La Rosita – Breakfast dish: Chilaquiles; Dinner: Mole
● La Terraza – Alambres
● Las Palmas – Flautas
● Los Altos Restaurant – Chiles Rellenos
● Los Galanes – Enchiladas
● Mariscos El Salpicón – Jesse’s Platter
● Mi Lindo San Blas – TBD
● Taqueria El Nacimiento – Molcajete estilo Guadalajara
● Taqueria Lupitas – Mole Poblano
● Taqueria Mi Pueblo – Mole Poblano
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