Gourmet Dining on a shoestring At MGM Detroit

Detroit Fine Dining on a shoestring ?

Yes, if you act fast.

The MGM Grand Casino is celebrating their tenth anniversary in Detroit. one of their most popular restaurants is Palettes Studio. the array of gourmet selections is only surpassed by the demand from it's dedicated fans.

long lines, and patient faces greet you as you approach the stylish yet cavernous buffet. looking into the sleekly modern dining salon, you would never suspect that the capacity seats 600 diners. when we visited this weekend, we were greeted by the special price of $14.99 per person. such a deal for so much great food.

The Salad Bar is where we began our culinary odyssey. the fresh greens were tossed with wonderful healthy freshly made flavorful fruit and olive oil based dressings. they sat happily alongside gigantic hand turned mahogany salad bowls, holding freshly made pasta salads, fresh virgin greens of every type; and a variety of additions that include freshly shredded chicken breast; net free white tuna chunks, tiny and fat olives; dried nuts, and every variety of dried and fresh fruits and veggies you could dream of. there was also a beautiful array of freshly unpeeled apples, bananas, oranges and pears of many varieties. fresh melon and pineapple spears peeked out of crisp white italian bowls.

Two delicious fresh soups were available, and we watched as the kettle was refilled often. the hand-cut garlic croutons and variety of hand twisted bread sticks at the end of the salad bar, begged to be taken. the butter and dressings were displayed like jeweled accompaniments to the artistic first course offerings.

The Patisserie is hard at work around the clock, baking delicious fresh breads and rolls that literally make your mouth water. unbeknownst to us, you are enjoying the aroma from the ovens, while waiting in line for seating. in a very clever move - the bakery pipes it's aroma above the dining room to add to the ambiance. it's an upscale green ploy to clean the air; and to disguise the smoke wafting from the casino floor; just beyond the glass partition of the restaurant. the restaurant offers both smoking and non smoking sections and a full service bar.

the serving selections include a full service stir fry station with woks and mongolian style hotpot cooking; A Japanese Sushi Bar; loads of freshly made pastas with a variety of sauces as well as a full made to order pizza station.

the American mixed grill was slicing Roast Beef on the carving board as well as offering made to order gourmet mini cheeseburgers. their boston brisket was so tender you didn't need a knife.

We spent the most time at full service seafood bar complete with fresh oysters on the half shell; several varieties and prepartions of shrimp, crab salad, crab rolls, seafood cakes, a variety of fish fillets and a silky seafood gumbo; round out the offerings.

if we were to spend the next hour describing the fabulous selection of dishes we couldn't do it justice. a few of the entree selections that we enjoyed were the blackened tuna; Caribbean shrimp; fresh sauteed catfish; Memphis BBQ chicken; pasta primavera; and Boston brisket.

the various types of vegetables, rice and potatoes that were found at each bar exceded my expectations for freshness and flavor. nothing was overcooked, mushy or tasteless. there was even a polenta cake that came with either chicken or turkey in au jus. quite appetizing indeed.

Dessert was a sinfully long array of fancy gourmet chocolates, chocolate, nut, and caramel coated deserts, freshly prepared crepes and bananas foster; alongside cheesecake on a stick dipped in white chocolate; many flavors of soft serve ice cream and yogurt; all types of cake, pies, brownies, tartes, gelato and sorbettos. there was so much that we tried a spoonful of just four items and were so enraptured with the Amaretto triple chocolate mousse' that we decided to end our forray there.

The $14.99 anniversary special price ends August 30th, 2009. We suggest you phone ahead to be sure you are getting the deal. when the anniversary special expires - the price returns to the normal $29.99 per person. we're returning before the anniversary special ends, and we're going to focus on our favorites. we'll update you with a new hub after that visit.

Thanks for dining with us at Detroit's best fine dining deal this week - Palettes Studio in the MGM Grand Detroit Casino Hotel.