Detroit Is One of the Nation’s Hottest Food Cities According to Zagat

Can’t get enough Detroit restaurant intel? The EaterWire is your guide to all the food industry news hits you may have missed.

FOOD MEDIA — Detroit’s food scene clocked in at number 13 on Zagat’s list of the nation’s 26 Hottest Food Cities of 2016 ahead of spots like New York City, Houston, and Nashville. Editor Devorah Lev-Tov points to big openings like Katoi and Grey Ghost as important factors in the ranking as well as national attention for local chefs and eateries from the James Beards and Eater. The publication also aptly recognizes how Detroit-style pizza gained national praise with the opening of Emmy Squared in New York this year. [Zagat]

WAGES — The minimum wage is once again back in the news with Model D investigating Detroit restaurants that offer higher wages and alternatives to the tipped minimum for waitstaff. Meanwhile, this week 39 Fight for $15 protestors were arrested during a demonstration on Grand River Avenue. The Detroit 15 organizers, part of a national movement, are seeking a $15 minimum wage and union rights for fast food workers.

On January 1, 2017, Michigan’s minimum wage will increase from $8.50 per hour to $8.90 per hour and the tipped minimum from $3.23 to $3.38 per hour. Get a sense of how Michigan compares to other states in terms of minimum wage with this interactive guide. [Model D/Freep/WOOD]

BOOZE NEWS — The Salt offers a nice history lesson on Detroit’s Prohibition era just ahead of Repeal Day (as it turns out the 1933 event wasn’t much of a rager after all), plus a look at the Motor City’s modern contributions to distilling. [NPR/Prohibition Detroit]

EXPANSIONS — Brace for more twisted bread. Indiana-based Ben’s Soft Pretzels is bringing 15 franchises to metro Detroit by 2021. The new locations are expected to land in shopping malls and grocery stores like Meijer. [DBiz]