Hussein Olabi, owner of Zo’s Good Burger in Royal Oak, a new location, stopped by to tell us about this fast casual burger restaurant, featuring halal beef. Each burger is customizable, but also unique in toppings and bread choice. For example, the good burger is on a pretzel bun and includes cheese sticks, American cheese, onion rings and good burger sauce. You can also get a black bean burger, hand-battered chicken sandwiches, wraps, loaded fries, shakes and more. Zo’s is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and Royal Oak is the seventh location in metro Detroit.   

Margi Mason, owner of Mrs. Mason’s Co., based in Royal Oak, ships her unique brittles all over the country. You can order via her website and find 14 different brittles, including the popular Chocolate Covered Cherry Brittle, Best Friends Brittle with white and dark chocolate and Bare-Naked Cashew Brittle. Margi said her recipe is unique, producing a brittle that contains no corn syrup or baking soda and that delivers a crisp, but not hard, texture. Order by Dec. 16 to get your brittle by Christmas.

Rich Lockwood is the co-owner of Motor City Gas Whiskey Distillery, a small-batch distillery in downtown Royal Oak. The business has distilled 90 different varieties since its inception in 2015, and currently offers 10 to 20 at its tasting room. The business even has its own farm to grow the grain. Look for Motor City Gas Sweating Bullets bourbon at your local liquor store. It’s Motor City Gas’s first retail product, distributed through Great Lakes Wine & Spirits.

Robin Silveri, co-owner of O’Tooles, and Carlos Cook, the chef, are celebrating the downtown Royal Oak’s 22nd anniversary this year. The eatery features 40 different beers, including many Michigan craft beers, plus a full bar and dishes like O’Tooles famous Reuben sandwich. Patrons enjoy Monday night trivia, happy hour and disc jockey music nights, plus the Irish pub’s involvement in town events like the Woodward Dream Cruise and Arts, Beats & Eats.