Brian Manzullo

Detroit Free Press

Detroit earned recognition from the New York Times earlier this month as a top travel destination worldwide for 2017.

Now it's earning publicity as a top "unexpected" food destination, this time from National Geographic.

The Washington, D.C.-based publication named Detroit the top unexpected food destination in North America this year. And considering it named only one city for each of the six continents not named Antarctica, that's pretty high praise.

"Wait, Detroit? Yes," wrote National Geographic writer Nancy Gupton. "The city better known as a center for automakers and manufacturing is revving its culinary motors."

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Nat Geo also made some local recommendations, depending on what travelers are looking for.

For those looking for a neighborhood with a "food frenzy," Corktown offers "all types of eateries ... from breakfast joints to fine dining."

"Try the breakfast poutine on the patio at Brooklyn Street Local or the duck bop hash at Dime Store," Gupton wrote. "For lunch, hit up Onassis Coney Island for Detroit’s classic Coney dog, a hot dog with chili sauce, onions, and mustard, or Slows Bar BQ for beef brisket and pulled pork. Once you’re hungry again, head to Katoi, a newish and trendy Southeast Asian spot. Try the khao soi kai curry noodle soup."

(Dime Store is in downtown, not Corktown, but you get the point.)

For ethnic eats, Gupton suggests Greektown (for, well, Greek food), Hamtramck (for Polish food) and Dearborn (for Middle Eastern fare such as shawarma, falafel and hummus).

Want a night out? Try the Midtown neighborhood just north of downtown.

"Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood has many bars and restaurants perfect for a nice night out," Gupton wrote. "Grey Ghost (named after a local Prohibition rumrunner) offers unusual bites, like fried bologna on a waffle, and more traditional items, like dry-aged rib eye. La Feria is a popular tapas bar (don’t miss the fried squid), and Selden Standard is a farm-to-table favorite (salt cod fritters with sweet peppers are the standout)."

You can read more here.

As for the other recommendations? National Geographic highlights Budapest, Hungary (Europe); Yerevan, Armenia (Asia); Santiago, Chile (South America); Dakar, Senegal (Africa); and Wellington, New Zealand (Australia and Oceania).

Contact Brian Manzullo: bmanzullo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianManzullo.

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