One-Item Food Festivals Are Hip; Tashmoo Is Back

ROYAL OAK — The first-annual Metro Detroit Pizza Fest is tonight at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, but it doesn't seem to actually feature much in the way of innovative Metro Detroit pizzerias. Still, it's one of many one-item food festivals that Nicole Rupersberg rightfully highlights in a post today, including the upcoming Detroit Burger Brawl this Saturday at Eastern Market. One kind of food for one kind of festival — officially a thing now, it seems. [Eat It Detroit]

DOWNTOWN — The long-rumored and eagerly anticipated late summer return of the popup Tashmoo Biergarten is now officially confirmed: they'll be setting up shop downtown in the 500 block of Woodward Ave. as part of the Downtown Detroit Days celebration, helping expose local retail opportunities in the downtown area. It's a throwback to the Downtown Detroit Days formerly sponsored by the departed Hudson's Department Store, and the Aug. 16 - 18 event should bring crowds of supporters to the downtown scene. There's also always the rumors of an early October Tashmoo event, but those are still unconfirmed as of yet. [-ED-]

CORKTOWN — Still not officially open-open, Ottava Via continues to rack up mostly positive reviews with its earthy Italian menu of pizza, pasta and charcuterie. Ryan Patrick Hooper in Thrillist Detroit has some awfully evocative photos of their brick-oven-created pizzas, attractive interior and slow-cooked pancetta. He seems to have really liked the newest and increasingly popular Michigan Ave. spot, and suggests its the kind of a place one can create both pre- and post-game meals and drinks for any downtown adventure. [ThrillistDetroit]

METRO DETROIT — The weather this weekend will actually be sunny and seasonably-warm for a change, making this Sue Selansky-penned picnic planner a perfect guide to fully enjoying that weather. We can't say that our own efforts at picnic-packing will be as beautiful or tastefully-appointed as the dummy-baskets in the story, but it's nice to have a guide to giving it a try. Her marinated summer vegetables suggestion seems especially apt for this weekend. [Freep]

NOVI — Whether or not you find it a snub or a blessing in disguise, Michigan's first-ever Cheesecake Factory is gearing up for an opening celebration next week at Novi's Twelve Oaks Mall. The Freep's Svlvia Rector makes the entirely valid point that it's rather unfair the Detroit area is behind "such teeming metropolises as Boise, Idaho; Dayton, Ohio; Omaha, Neb.; Durham, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Richmond, Va.; Albany, N.Y., and Rochester, N.Y" in getting the popular and prolific purveyor of fine cheesecakes and high-quality American cuisine, especially since the company's founder and CEO is from Detroit. Whatever your feelings on the restaurant, bear in mind that the opening will probably be a big deal, and getting inside for a meal might take a bit of wait for the next couple of weeks. Or even months. People really love the Cheesecake Factory. [Freep]