Crazy For Cauliflower: Delicious Dishes

February 14, 2024
Vegetarian tacos made with spicy cauliflower, avocado crema, and shredded cabbage

“Eat your vegetables” might have sounded like a terrible thing as a child, but thanks to some recent food trends, eating your vegetables doesn’t have to be so bad. For example, cauliflower is now being used in some unique and tasty ways. So whether you’re looking for flavorful ways of getting your vegetables in or just want to try something new, check out these cauliflower dishes in Metro Detroit.

PAO

114 West Adams Avenue, Detroit

PAO, located in Detroit’s Grand Circus Park, features an Asian-fusion menu that’s full of flavorful dishes. Located inside the historic Michigan Oriental Theater, this unique eatery is a must-visit. The cauliflower lettuce wrap here is made with cauliflower rice, peanut sauce, lime, and cilantro. It may be listed as a shareable menu item, but you’ll want to keep this cauliflower lettuce wrap all to yourself! Pair the wrap with a fun cocktail and enjoy the upscale dining experience.

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THE KITCHEN BY COOKING WITH QUE

6529 Woodward Avenue, Detroit

One excellent choice if you’re looking to embrace the cauliflower movement is The Kitchen by Cooking with Que, Detroit’s unique demonstration kitchen and restaurant founded by the visionary Chef Que, which stands out as a “haven for both vegans and meat-eaters.” Chef Que describes her role as a “culinary disruptor,” reimagining generational food education and experiences. On the menu, you’ll find cauliflower wings as an appetizer, which is one way she accomplishes her mission. These are oven-baked panko breaded cauliflower and served with your choice of vegan ranch, barbecue, or buffalo sauce, and available on both the regular and brunch menus. 

plate of buffalo cauliflower wings with a side of ranch from the kitchen by cooking with que
Photo courtesy of The Kitchen by Cooking with Que

TERRY’S TERRACE

36470 Jefferson, Harrison Township

Terry’s Terrace in Harrison Township has been a Metro Detroit favorite for over 80 years with their expansive drink menu, unique food offerings, and nostalgic arcade. A Terry’s Terrace favorite is their Shanghai Cauliflower sharable made with tempura fried cauliflower tossed in house-made Shanghai sauce, finished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. If you want to try these with a couple of other shareables, order the Appetizer Carnival for the Shanghai cauliflower, Baja shrimp poppers, cheese curds, and Fatty’s Final beer cheese that comes with pretzel bites. You can also get this appetizer off of the vegan menu, as it will be prepared in a private fryer. 

THE EMORY

22700 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale

The Emory is a cozy, neighborhood gem where comfort food meets gourmet. This eco-minded eatery in Ferndale offers fun sliders (like chipotle honey barbecue, fried chicken, or the Emory options) hand-cut fries, craft cocktails, and from the small plates menu, cauliflower wings. Pair the wings with the barbecue chicken egg rolls, the poutine fries, or simply enjoy on their own as a yummy alternative to your typical buffalo wings.

HIPPIES PIZZA

121 East 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak

Hippies Pizza stands out as a pizza spot for its delicious menu items, but it truly can cater to all kinds of pizza and cauliflower connoisseurs. With 10 different pizza sauces, eight varieties of cheese to choose from, and over 65 toppings, there are a host of combinations possible. Among the six crust choices, you’ll find cauliflower crust available for the pizza of your choosing. Create your own pizza, select one from the menu, like the Cauliflower pizza that features the veggie, or switch things up with the deep fried cauliflower cheese bites. Any way you choose, this vegetable doesn’t have to be boring or bland. 

oven fired pizza with onion, green pepper, sausage, and pepperoni

For even more pizza options, check out our list of pizza places here…

THE MORRIE

511 South Main Street, Royal Oak

260 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham

The Morrie mixes great music with a rockin’ menu that always makes for a good night out in either Royal Oak or Birmingham. Their Kung Pao Cauliflower packs more of a kick than most cauliflower-based items as it’s made with dried chili, ginger, scallion, sesame seed, and sriracha peanuts. If you’re wanting pizza, we’d also suggest trying their Detroit-style pan Pizza with their gluten-free cauliflower crust. Options like the Grateful Dead with veggies or the Margaritaville are great meat-free choices.

ALE MARY’S

316 South Main Street, Royal Oak

Combining fresh food with the newest beers on tap, Ale Mary’s always offers a refreshing dining experience. The bar offers a vegan menu that features a vegan buffalo cauliflower shareable made with roasted cauliflower tossed in vegan buffalo sauce and vegan ranch. It’s also available on the regular menu and served with crumbled blue cheese and buffalo sauce. Additionally, try the veggie tacos which feature cauliflower along with purple cabbage slaw, avocado citrus dressing, Spanish rice, and avocado.

SEVA

66 East Forest Avenue, Detroit

2541 Jackson Avenue, Ann Arbor

Featuring a completely vegetarian menu, Seva in Midtown is a casual restaurant with plenty of flavor. Their regular and gluten-free menu features the General Tso’s Cauliflower, which is made with light tempura batter, sesame seeds, green onions, and sweet and sour chili sauce. Seva also has a location in Ann Arbor and features most of the same vegetarian offerings as the location in Detroit. Keep up with Seva’s menus, as there are ever-changing special items that are featured for a day, some of which include cauliflower. 

This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on February 17, 2020.

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