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Posted on Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 5:57 a.m.

Ypsilanti's historic Haab's restaurant featured on popular QVC after winning contest

By Chelsea Hoedl

QVC's camera crew set up equipment in Haab's, Ypsilanti's historic restaurant, on Thursday to film "In the Kitchen with David" host David Venable, and Associate Producer Mary DeAngelis's lunch with Ypsilanti resident Dwight Burdette.

Footage from the lunch will be aired on Sunday along with an announcement that the show will be hosted from Ypsilanti some time in late August.

Haab's appearance on one of QVC's most popular shows is a part of the June Road Trip Contest, sponsored by "In the Kitchen with David."

The restaurant, an Ypsilanti staple since 1934, was selected as the contest winner earlier this month after being nominated by Burdette, a frequent visitor of the establishment.

"I've lived in Ypsilanti for 30 years and I often come to Haab's,” Burdette said. “It is by far my favorite restaurant. I just really like the food, the atmosphere and the historical aspect. I like it so much that I even authored the restaurant's Wikipedia page.”

Burdette said he regularly watches "In the Kitchen with David" and when Venable asked viewers to submit their favorite hometown restaurants for the contest, Burdette immediately thought of Haab’s, he said.

He submitted a photo of the dining room and wrote a brief description of his personal experience with the restaurant, as well as its long history with the community.

"Well of course when I made the nomination I thought it was very unlikely that it would even be a finalist,” Burdette said. “And then I got an email saying Haab’s was a finalist, but it didn’t quite hit me until I actually saw them announce it on the show."

Venable said Haab’s was selected from more than 500 entries sent in from across the U.S.

“From a pool of several hundred, we narrowed down to five finalists,” Venable said. “It was just really exciting to read the stories and learn more about local places because we really wanted to key in on a place that was a little off the beat and path, that was not a chain restaurant, was not a franchise, but something that had a history and a connection to the local town and Haab’s certainly was a great example of that.”

The restaurant’s rich tradition is what tipped the scale for Haab’s, Venable said.

“It was their long history and their anniversary celebration when they go back to their original prices for one day,” Venable said. “It just let us know that there was a rich history with this restaurant and a strong local tie with strong local support."

Taking "In the Kitchen with David" on the road is a new effort for the show, Venable said.

“We’re all about celebrating great food and a passion for great food,” he said. “And we felt what better way is there to do that then let folks in their local communities really tell us about places that they feel passionate about; places that they love and have become a tradition for them.”

"In the Kitchen with David" airs at noon on Sundays and at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Comments

Jenn McKee

Tue, Jul 30, 2013 : 3:16 p.m.

Congrats to Haab's! I haven't been there in years. Here's a question for regulars: what are the best things on the menu?

Bennie

Mon, Jul 29, 2013 : 11:43 a.m.

And they now deliver!! Just call us! 877-340-9184 facebook.com/goodguysdelivery

jns131

Mon, Jul 29, 2013 : 1:52 a.m.

Haabs may be a great place to eat? But they do not serve on the side of healthy. They just reported that is you omit 40% of your red meat intake you lower a lot of bad stuff that comes with it. Then you show fried food? Holy smokes. Biggest looser you are not. Although those fried mushrooms look totally awesome. Guess I need to see what healthy foods this place serves. Maybe this is why I do not eat there in the first place. Price is second. Good for them. Not good for the waist line.

WalkingJoe

Mon, Jul 29, 2013 : 2:38 a.m.

If you eat there daily, yeah it would be unhealthy. But most people go there as a treat. But thanks for the lecture.

Paul

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 11:59 p.m.

Hmm, got a carryout around 11:30 am last Thursday-seen nothing. Must have been there too early, gee, guess I should had gotten a table and stuck around. What I wanna know is how QVC is going to make $ off this ? They are always selling something.

seldon

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 11:34 p.m.

I doubt he actually said "...a little off the beat and path," but if he did, you should correct it anyway.

gofigure

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 11:19 p.m.

Overrated

Paul

Mon, Jul 29, 2013 : 12:01 a.m.

Yeah but for the price its pretty good. Dollar for dollar, it "blows away" Ruth Chris"

LRF

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.

Haabs IS Ypsi!

Henry Belaus

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 4:20 p.m.

good for haab's and good for ypsi. but where can I find out exactly when it will air on qvc

LRF

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 6:29 p.m.

Henry go back to the body of the article and read the last line for air time

Kate

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 2:43 p.m.

Having eaten there with my grandparents who have since passed and with the Ypsi Bar, the place holds a lot of memories for me. Even with my cheap cable, I think I get this channel. :-) Thanks for the story.

TinyArtist

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.

I had to Google QVC to find out what this "popular" thing was. A shopping channel. For all of you out there who are as dumb as I am but were afraid to ask, you're welcome.

EightySeven

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 11:36 a.m.

What a nice spotlight being put on Haab's. The Kabat Family is truly a great asset to the Ypsi community.

A2comments

Sun, Jul 28, 2013 : 11:04 a.m.

Good for Haab's, but the anniversary celebration went away and isn't returning until 2014 with unknown pricing.

jns131

Mon, Jul 29, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.

After boasting on being on television? The prices are going to double. Sad isn't it?