Tuscan Cafe

I need to stop holding out you. I need to tell you where to find the best sandwich in Metro Detroit.

Tuscan Cafe.

In downtown Northville, just off of main, this little cafe specializes in sandwiches, homemade soups, Zingerman's dessert, delicious coffee, and an amazing atmosphere. When I was younger, I acted in one of the local theaters near this shop, where my friends and I would often come after rehearsals for cappuccinos and desserts. As I got older, Tuscan was the spot for me to maintain my rigorous AP exam study regime with a tall chocolate Italian Soda in hand. And nowadays, I come in as often as possible with new and old friends.

And anytime I order a sandwich, it has to be a full-sized #3 - Fly Me to the Moon.

Piles upon piles of shredded turkey, avocado, pesto, sprouts, sun-dried tomatoes, provolone cheese, and dijon mustard sandwiched between two toasted pieces of Zingerman's sourdough bread.

When paired with a cup of Michigan Cherry Coffee, this sandwich is the perfect mixture of freshness, comfort, and local flavor.

Now, I know I lured you in with this sandwich, but stay with me for a few more seconds while I tell you about my SECOND favorite part of Tuscan Cafe.

Two words: Specialty Cappuccinos.

That's right, this place has an entire menu dedicated to cappuccinos swirled with flavors like caramel, hazelnut, chocolate, and almond. It's encapsulated in the gold portion of their larger menu seen below:

My personal favorite is the Tuscan Supreme, a cappuccino with caramel and chocolate topped with whipped cream. I was addicted during high school, which is why I got myself one of these:

Trust me, it's a worthwhile investment. You won't be able to drink just one.
Did I mention the dessert menu? Or the donuts?
I guess you'll just have to see for yourself.

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Crepes

I'm not ashamed to admit that Nutella is my best friend. Nutella listens to you when you're down. Nutella will always be there for you when you've had a rough day. And, most importantly, Nutella never judges you for how much Nutella you eat.

My favorite way to eat Nutella? On a homemade crepe with bananas.

The key to any long-lasting recipe is versatility. Can this dish be prepared for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Can it be a dessert, side dish, or main dish? Can it be seasoned to highlight different flavors? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you've got yourself a versatile dish.

For me, this dish is the basic crepe. Inherited from my grandmother, this recipe has two parts. The first set of ingredients creates a savory crepe that can be filled with bacon, eggs, chicken and veggies. The second set of ingredients, when added to the first, makes a sweet crepe for jams, fruits, chocolate chips, marshmallow fluff, and whatever else you can think of.

This two-part recipe includes:

Savory                                                                                    Sweet

2 cups milk                                                           Add 2 Tablespoons sugar

2 eggs                                                            2 Tablespoons melted butter

1 ½ cups flour                                                                1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Like I said, if you're making meat-filled or veggie crepes, go with the recipe on the left. If you're making a sweet crepe, make the recipe on the left and add the ingredients from the right column.

Mix everything up in a bowl, slap a generous dollop of butter into a pan, and fry your batter into super-thin pancakes. Make sure they're golden brown on the bottom, then use a wide spatula to give them a quick flip and brown the other side. Repeat until you're out of batter.

Once they're cooked, fill them up with whatever you see fit!
Like I said, I went with my comfort foods - Nutella and banana.

Cover your extra crepes with plastic wrap and save them for another dish! Like I said, crepes are incredibly versatile.

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