Ferndale Restaurants Make Connections, Share Fare

You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours -- that's kind of how it is in Ferndale.

Whether it's grabbing a cup of at a local restaurant, or seeing items across the city, consumers have noticed a buddy-buddy attitude around Ferndale.

Jennifer Roosenberg, executive director for the , said both because of the efforts of former City Manager Bob Bruner and the individual establishments, this is no accident.

“It all began a few years ago, when Bruner was city manager,” she said. “The city, and Chamber started a Ferndale First campaign to encourage businesses to work together and buy locally." .

Ferndale First was launched in 2008 with a free workshop presented at that gave more than 600 local businesses an opportunity to register for private one-on-one business consultations with a team of experts, according to a press release from Ferndale's Downtown Development Authority distributed in March 2008.

That initiative kicked off other events throughout the city for businesses to foster collaborations.

“Businesses are taking it on themselves to create collaborations and relationships with one another,” Roosenberg said. “ is a perfect example.”

She said the Chamber first gave the ice creamery, which opened in 2010, contact information for Chazzano coffee. After that, Treat Dreams soon enlisted help from all over the city on its own. Today, Treat Dreams has a slew of ice cream flavors full of ingredients from many of Ferndale's signature dishes.

Scooping up some support

owner Scott Moloney easily lists off Ferndale companies he has worked with for some unique creations.

“Lets see,” he said in an e-mail, “we have used all of the following in our ice creams so far." He listed many local establishments, including: 

• Cinnamon rolls and vegan brownies from ; 

• Bacon from and from ; 

• Blueberry pancakes from Diner in Pleasant Ridge; 

• Vanilla Porter, root beer and Pumpkin Ale from the ; 

• Garlic spread from ; 

• Vodka from for three different ice cream flavors; 

• Seven different meads from ; 

• Produce from

“I will be rolling out an ice cream with McClure's pickles shortly," he continued, "and also have a crawfish bisque ice cream planned using .”

Moloney says there is so many local places he works with, he's sure he's missing a few.

“I try to partner with as many local businesses as possible,” he said.

Chef James Henry said has also partnered with Treat Dreams. He said the dessert menu offers a Limoncello Sorbet made by the ice creamery.

“We got a custom flavor out of it, which we're really happy with,” Henry said. “All baked goods come from Avalon Bakery (Detroit). Even our artwork is from . Ferndale has been very supportive.”

Ferndale serving Ferndale with Ferndale fare

owner Dean “Dino” Bach said the restaurant has worked with Treat Dreams as well, providing ingredients for its Mac and Cheese Savory Cones. For Easter Sunday, Bach said, Dino's served the creamery's Brown Sugar Ham variety on waffles.

Operating in Ferndale, he said, provides a lot of these opportunities.

“It's creative and fun and there are a lot of sources.”

In fact, check out the Salsa Chili on the menu. The recipe, made with , is an award-winner.

“It happened by accident,” Bach said. But with some of the local producer's of Jack's Special on hand, an idea for a new recipe was born. The fresh onions, tomatoes and spices within the salsa were perfect additions to his concoction.

And thanks from a little help from a Ferndale salsa, Bach won the 2007 Karmano's Chili Cookoff's top prize.

Emily Husband, general manager at and , said the establishments have had many collaborations with local businesses. Among them, of course, is Treat Dreams.

“(Moloney's) made Cherry Wheat ice cream and Root Beer ice cream” from WAB products, she said.

The Emory features local liqueurs, such as Hard Luck Candy Vodka (Detroit) and Valentine Vodka and even a local tequila.

Working with Ferndale businesses is something Husband said is commonplace for the WAB and the Emory.

“We've done specials with the theater, (the) comedy club, the library... for special occasions,” she said. “On Valentine's Day we've featured Pinwheel products. We try to foster relationships with the community.”

'We're not competition'

Roosenberg said the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce has seen a definite rise in restaurant collaborations.

“Many of them do it on their own because they know it's the right thing to do," she said. "There's definitely a sense of 'we're not competition. Their success ultimately means my success' ”

She said new businesses have been attracted to Ferndale for that reason.

“In general, in Southeast Michigan, there's a real push for buying local products,” Roosenberg said. “We are seeing it happen in Ferndale.”