Plum salad at Smith and Co.
644 Selden St, Detroit; 313-974-7100; smithandcodetroit.com
Roasted pears were substituted the night I was there, instead of sugar-seared plums, but I'm not fussing — this was the year's best salad. Arugula is the base, and rye croutons, award-winning Driftless fresh sheep's cheese from Wisconsin, smoked black pepper, pickled onions, and miso-candied walnuts lift the fruit and the greens. All these ingredients would have been fine just plain, but note how extra steps were taken to enhance each one. The vinaigrette is applied with the correct light touch. —Jane Slaughter
