Mabel Gray
Michigan
Mabel Gray occupies a modest cinder-block building in Hazel Park, where chef James Rigato's cooking draws on Michigan farms, butchers and foragers. The small dining room, handwritten menus and personal service give the restaurant an intimate neighbourhood character rather than the formality of a large fine-dining establishment. There is no permanent menu: dishes change with the seasons and the ingredients available through Rigato's supplier network, and the kitchen makes its food from scratch. A tasting menu with an optional beverage pairing lets diners follow that changing sequence of ideas. The emphasis on local produce and daily adaptation makes each visit a snapshot of what the kitchen is working with at the time.