A national dining club that partners with innovative local restaurants is coming to Detroit.

The big picture: New York-based Tasting Collective works with top chefs to host off-menu five-course meals in their restaurants on days when they're generally slower or closed.

• Vecino, which recently won the Free Press Restaurant of the Year award, will host the first event on April 22.
• Coeur in Ferndale and Leña in Brush Park will follow in May and June.

State of play: The events are a test kitchen for the chefs, who can experiment with recipes, share stories and answer questions.

• Pitched as the "anti-Yelp," the evenings include cards for diners to give constructive feedback on each course.

The latest: Detroit is the 18th city for Tasting Collective, which launched in 2016.

How it works: A $165 membership is required to buy tickets for Tasting Collective events — though the first 500 Detroit members can join for $99. Tickets open three weeks before each event, and customers can see menus before booking.

• From there, tickets are $75. Members can bring up to three guests for $95 per guest.
• Tasting Collective tries to make the events accessible and makes its money off the membership fees, CEO Nat Gelb tells Axios.
• Members can also get perks at partner restaurants outside events such as discounts.

Zoom in: Hosting events on slow or closed days was a big plus for Vecino owner Adriana Jimenez, she tells Axios. It can be tough to close the restaurant for an event on a busy Friday or Saturday.

• Innovation is a big theme for Tasting Collective. Vecino, which opened last year, keeps 20% tried and tested favorites on its menu and 80% of the menu changes based on seasonality and creativity, according to Jimenez.

What they're saying: Tasting Collective targets independent restaurants that push boundaries and are geared toward fine dining, but not "super stuffy old-school white tablecloth," Gelb says.

• He adds that Detroit was one of the few cities where the company heard from locals asking when Tasting Collective was coming.

What's next: The April 22 Vecino event, an "Ode to Mexico City" with executive chef Edgar Torres, is now available with seatings at 5:15pm and 7:45pm.

• The menu includes Mole Negro with duck breast and a strawberry and yuzu Pavlova.

President Trump's tariffs have earned him a near-universal rebuke from Democrats in Washington, with the notable exception of top lawmakers from Metro Detroit.

Why it matters: Trump's 25% tariffs on vehicles and auto parts not produced in the U.S. went into effect last week.

• Sen. Elissa Slotkin told Axios that "no one disputes that tariffs are a good tool" but criticized the president for his "sloppy and across-the-board" tariff policies. "Trump is either going to be really, really right or really, really wrong," Slotkin said.
• Sen. Gary Peters told Axios he was essentially in wait-and-see mode to determine the impact of the auto tariffs.
• "I have always said that when used strategically, tariffs are a critical tool to bring back jobs," Rep. Debbie Dingell said after Trump's 10% across-the-board tariff announcement.

The big picture: Auto union leaders have come out in support of the tariffs, arguing they will enhance domestic production.

• With both union and auto leaders ranging anywhere from muted to supportive of the tariffs, the politics of the issue are tricky for Dems in the state.

Keep reading

🎒 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security last week revoked the visas of four U of M students and "several" current and former students at Central Michigan University. (Bridge Michigan)

• One of the U of M students has left the country at the recommendation of university officials. (Free Press)

🍔 Grey Ghost's new burger outpost in Ferndale, expected to open this summer, will be called Little Ghost, offering the restaurant's well-known burger, a chicken sandwich and sides. (WXYZ)

A Stellantis worker died yesterday while working at the Dundee Engine Plant. (Detroit News)

🗳️ U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) announced yesterday that he'll run for governor in 2026. (Detroit News)

When the Pistons return to the playoffs this month for the first time since 2019, they'll likely face the New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers, per the Free Press.

The big picture: With three games left before the postseason, Detroit (43-36) holds the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

• If the playoffs started today, the Pistons would face the No. 3 New York Knicks in a best-of-seven series.

The latest: The Pistons may be looking ahead to the playoffs already. They lost to the Kings last night at Little Caesars Arena, 127-117. It was their second straight loss.

Zoom out: All-Star Cade Cunningham appears healthy after missing six games with a left calf contusion.

What's next: In a potential playoff preview, the Pistons host the Knicks at 7pm Thursday at LCA.

• The playoffs start April 19.