Troy library takes patrons ‘Beyond the Plate’

TROY — The Troy Public Library is wishing patrons bon appetit with its upcoming Beyond the Plate program on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

The program will feature restaurant critic Lyndsay Green discussing the best places to get a meal in metro Detroit and answering questions about local eateries and cuisine.

“It’s going to be a presentation by Lyndsay. There will be a Q&A, and she will talk about trends she is seeing in Detroit restaurants,” said Adult Librarian Cassandra Suh. “We just thought it would be a fun program to do because there are so many fun Detroit-area restaurants popping up, and we thought it would be of great interest to our patrons.”

Currently working as the restaurant critic at the Detroit Free Press, Green said she is excited to get out and talk to people in person about a topic she is passionate about.

“This would be the first time I’ve done something like this with a library. I’ve done some speaking engagements in the past, though,” said Green. “It’s just sharing my experiences as a restaurant critic. I know the library is in Troy, so I don’t know how often the guests get down to Detroit to experience the dining scene, so I hope to share how the city is evolving and thriving in terms of the dining scene. I cover the metro Detroit area, so I also will be sharing some places around the greater Detroit area as well.”

The program will take place at 7 p.m. at the library, at 510 W. Big Beaver Road. Registration is requested but not required.

“We would like people to register through our website, which is www.troypl.org on the events calendar,” said Suh. “Everything is free.”

Green has been working as a critic and industry expert for years, but only recently began specializing in restaurants after discovering that it was something she loved to do.

“My background was starting as a beauty editor in New York. I moved to Detroit five years ago as a managing editor at Hour Detroit Magazine. I then took on the role as interim editor, so my position was more general and helping out wherever I could,” she explained. “As I was doing some editing and contributing editorially, I found myself writing more and more food stories, and I was really interested in that and saw that there seemed to be a new restaurant popping up every five minutes, at least before COVID happened. I switched to being the dining editor at the magazine. I started at the Free Press in November. It’s all fairly new for me, but it’s not so unfamiliar to my work as a beauty editor; I’m just describing flavor profile as opposed to fragrance notes now.”

Green said she likes to find restaurants that are doing something different or going the extra mile with their food, but also with their presentation and business practices.

“My first big project this year was naming the restaurant of the year and the 10 best restaurants,” she said. “I didn’t want to focus only on the food. It can be a good restaurant also because of the space or the decor or the service. I like to highlight restaurants who go above and beyond. I like highlighting those who think about the community or who pay higher wages or are working to be sustainable or eliminating food waste. It starts with the food and the experience, but it’s that above-and-beyond nature that sets them apart, to me.”

She tries to present to her readers, and to attendees of Beyond the Plate, a clear picture of what is going on in the Detroit restaurant scene right now and to share what her recommendations are.

“I hope to highlight a mix of Detroit restaurants and metro Detroit restaurants,” said Green. “I try to explore the greater Detroit area. I can point to our recent restaurants of the year I highlighted earlier in the year. Sozai in Clawson was our restaurant of the year, and they are doing great things with authentic Japanese cuisine, and the owner is doing a lot with sustainable food and offering livable wages to his employees and health benefits.”

She hopes programs like Beyond the Plate will encourage people to get out and try something new, particularly if they haven’t been sure what to do or where to go since the pandemic.

“There are a lot of people still hesitant about eating out or are cautious because of the pandemic, and there are others who are excited about eating out but don’t know where to start, and this conversation can be very helpful to both groups,” Green said. “I eat out several times a week and I keep a finger on the pulse of the dining scene in this area, so I hope to share my work and tips to those who want to know where to start.”

The library staff thinks this will be an enlightening and enjoyable program both for people who enjoy fine dining and those who just want a nice place to grab a meal.

“Come out, beat the heat,” remarked Suh. “You can attend for free and maybe learn something new about some hidden gems in the area.”

More information is available by calling the Troy Public Library at (248) 524-3538.