By Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Special to The Review
The Detroit Zen Center has expanded its kitchen and now features gourmet raw food, herbal, medicinal Korean teas — and a food co-op that sells fair trade bulk foods and all-natural household cleaners and body care products.
“It’s a tea house, organic cafe and organic co-op, all in one place,” says director Monk Myung ju Sunim Hillary Moga, who also serves as the cafe’s head chef.
The trio is housed in the Zen Center’s newly-renovated lower level, at Casmere and Mitchell,which includes hand-made wooden tables and a heated floor upon which guests may sit on mats.
“It’s a very nice atmosphere,” says Myung ju.
The cafe, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, specializes in what Myung ju characterizes as “gourmet, West-coast-style raw food — 100 percent organic, and local when available.”
Translation: Nepalese curried lentils over sprouted quinoa pilaf, for example.
Entrees range from $8 to $9 and a three-course table of the day meal will run $13 to $15, including an entree, soup or salad and a dessert.
The kitchen is staffed by monks and Zen students and the entire operation is not-for-profit; all proceeds benefit the Zen Center’s garden and sustainable construction projects.
For more information, call (313) 366-7738.
(This article first appeared in modeldmedia.com)