During my travels to Chicago I became exposed to the wonderful world of street food. During the warm months, each city neighborhood or district has its very own festival to celebrate their local taste. It was here Mexican Independence Day that I had my first experience with new cuisine in the form of mangos that were dusted with butter and cayenne pepper. It was delicious and I have been hooked on this form of culinary exploration ever since.

I am fascinated by food thats cooked in the open air, or inside a tiny cart on the sidewalk. It’s so far away from the safe indoors where there is running water and the possibility of good hygiene… and yet it feels OK because I can see the food being prepared right there in front of me. Now granted, there are a lot of bad examples of street food. Usually the worst specimens are found at our local summer festivals and carnivals. Fried frozen corn dogs and funnel cake are not good eats! As such, I will focus only on the best and most noted examples of good street food.

One of the first opportunities available each year is in the heart of Detroit’s Eastern Market. I don’t know the name of this business but they are open every weekend. Click to continue… (More pics!)

You can see the smoke from a few blocks away.

As you approach, you can smell the rich taste of charbroil.

Full racks of ribs start out on the end and are cooked to perfection.

Theres something to be said for having zero barrier between you and your food.

Further down are humongous hamburger patties.

Followed by whole sections of chicken.

All the way at the end are hot dogs, red hots, and sausages. You can order anything ‘wet’ (dunked in their signature BBQ sauce) and with onions. Everything is served with a piece of corn and they also serve beer and fresh lemon aid. If you prefer to eat with silverwear, you can ask for it inside the adjacent bar and they will provide it for you.

This is the sauce that fuels the whole operation.

The food tastes great even though it’s an absolute mess. It’s finger lickin’ good!

I love that the meat is served whole on a bun.

The sounds of karaoke can be heard from inside the bar, giving the atmosphere a nice dash of character as intoxicated patrons belt out soulful motown classics.

If you live near Detroit area and would like to visit the Eastern Market for lunch, check out their website for directions. Or view a Google Street View of this exact location!

Caveat lector: This is not an exhibit of healthy dining. Obviously this type of meal should be consumed sparingly and followed by light activity and a sensible dinner.)