It was a great run...

To All Our Lunch Friends:

We are very sad to announce that Lunch at Everyday Cook served its last amazing dish on Saturday, June 21st. The silver lining is that Everyday Wines will continue to go strong, providing you with the best wines from around the world at the best value.

The decision to close Everyday Cook was an immensely difficult one, and it was a decision we held off making as long as possible. The reason we stuck it out as long as we did is our complete and total belief in what our world-class chefs were creating on a daily basis -- a celebration of food unlike anything else available in Michigan.

So, first and foremost, we want to thank our executive chef, Brendan McCall, whose talent, creativity, and passion are going to take him a very long way. Not only was he the heartbeat behind the food at our lunches and private events, he also brought the rest of the amazing kitchen talent together. Chef Chewy Lebnick was the first person Brendan brought on board, and anyone who's been lucky enough to attend one of Chewy's classes or taste his cooking knows that he brought nothing short of a serious commitment to excellence.

Brendan then brought Chef Jay Haamen officially into the fold. Man, talk about an embarrassment of riches. Jay made it three unparalleled chefs under one roof. But what's even more impressive is that Jay's remarkable talent and genuine decency extend well beyond the kitchen. And Brendan also brought us our chef-in-training, Aaron Lindell, whose growth over the last year has been a blast to watch.

We also want to thank Erin Zitka, who managed, oversaw, and coordinated the majority of our private events. Working with the chefs, Erin delivered dinners and parties that many guests from around the world described as on par with the finest they'd ever attended.

Additional thanks to Theo Katzman -- cashier, retail clerk, and busboy extraordinaire who also brought us Jake Merkin, Mike Shea, and Gary Prince; all recent graduates or current students in U of M's music department who've brought an energy to the space that enriched us all.

The final thanks goes to all our customers who became more like family, from the nonprofits we worked closely with to all the people who fought for us and supported us. There are way too many to name, but we'd be remiss if we didn't tip a hat and raise a glass to T.R. Durham.

So, keep an eye on this site and on the Everyday Cook space. We have a couple balls in the air, and we'll see what shakes out.

From Your Friends at Everyday Wines