I Who's Who In Michigan C uLs ine TM MAN MEL ONE NAME...TWO GREAT RESTAURANTS Madonna, Cher, Sting, Prince...each are extremely talented celebrities and each are instantly recognized by only one name. We can add another living legend to the list. Someone who is also known by just one name...Manuel. What? You don't recognize the name? Then you have not had the pleasure of visiting his popular Southfield restaurant, Ristorante DiModesta, or his namesake eatery in West Bloomfield, Manuel's. On the other hand, if you have been one of the many who have dined at either location, you probably met, and will not soon forget, Manuel. "When someone comes into either of my restaurants, they come into my home. I don't invite just anyone into my home — I invite friends. Everyone that comes in here is my friend. And if they weren't when they walked in, they will be by the time they leave", Manuel proudly states. We can certainly attest to Manuel's magnetism. While recently dining at Ristorante DiModesta, we saw at least several persons greeted with a big hug, perhaps twenty ladies got or gave kisses to the cheek, and almost everyone got the warmest handshake and personal wel- come we've seen in years...at any restaurant. And guess what, in talking to other diners, we asked what drew them to Manuel's restaurants. Every de- scription included the words, "Manuel is my friend." And not surprisingly, each also corn - mented, "The cuisine and atmosphere are magnificent." RISTORANTE DI MODESTA Manuel is also a perfectionist. He has been for years. You may recall him at the London Chop House or maybe as the General Manager at Duglass Duglass, both of which were legends in their own right. If Manuel is trying to create another legend, he is certainly on his way...twice over. "I've always dreamed of owning a restaurant, such as of the caliber of those that I've worked for in the past." Manuel's first dream came true in 1985 with the opening of Ristorante DiModesta, 29410 Northwestern Hwy. in Southfield. Manuel originally opted for an Italian restaurant, but realized that "Ristorante DiManuel" (the original name of intent) did not depict the Italian theme he sought. At the time, Modesta, Manuel's former wife's name was certainly more Italian than his own, and so came the birth of not only the name, but a legend. This restaurant was sprinkled with the glamour of New York, the warmth of Manuel's personality and some of the finest Italian cuisine ever created. Success for this restaurant, however, did not come as easily as the dream. "When I opened Ristorante DiModesta, I still didn't have a liquor license. People used to bring in their own wine". Then disaster struck in 1988. A devastating fire burned his restaurant to the ground, but not his spirit. "My vision wasn't scorched in the fire. I rebuilt and opened the restaurant eight months later, this time with my liquor license. It was like nothing changed. All my friends were back immediately!" And we found out they're still coming. Practically every night the restaurant is packed. Sure, a lot of it has to do with Manuel, but a lot of credit certainly has to be given to his head chef Hamad Jouka. After serving as head chef for 9 years in a restaurant in Florence, Italy, Hamad came to New York as head chef of the very upscale Castalano's. A chance meeting between Manuel and Hamad formed what is undoubtedly a great team. "I told him when I hired him ," Manuel states, "that I'll get 118 the clients to the restaurant, but it's your job to bring them back." And they have been coming back ever since - regularly. Manuel, who is of Mexican descent, realized one of his dreams and decided to bring to life another. Manuel's, appropriately named, opened in December, 1990. This hot-spot, located at 4301 Orchard Lake Rd. in West Bloomfield, also became an overnight success. "We specialize in true, authentic, upscale Mexican cuisine." There are hundreds of Mexican restaurants scattered throughout the Metropolitan Detroit area, but this is not like any we've seen. Most Mexican restaurants serve what is called "Tex-Mex", which is a combination of Texan/ Mexican food. But if you go to some of the finest, upscale restaurants in Mexico, you'll find the culinary delights that Manuel's specializes in. Manuel's cuisine and decor could, and probably should, appear right from the pages of Bon Appetit Magazine. This trendy res- taurant is decorated with Aztec-style sculptures and fresco's and glitzed with a touch of neon. This may well be the "Aztec Gold" that ex- plorers have sought for years. This gold mine is filled with a wide variety of explor- ers too. "Manuel's is truly unique. We serve a lot of families during the 'dinner hour , and at about 9:00 p.m. they seem to disappear and we're packed with singles. Maybe it's the music." It's more than just the music, the well-mixed combination of atmosphere and unique cuisine make this place very popular with those that know where the fun is. It is not uncommon to enjoy mariachi bands on some nights and top 40 on others. t Even though one wouldn't think there are similarities between an Italian restaurant (Ristorante DiModesta) and a Mexican restaurant (Manuel's), we are here to tell you there is a great resemblance. The reason is Manuel and the staff of managers, wait persons, bartenders, chefs, even bus boys that he employs. "They are my family", Manuel says like a proud father. Both places are clearly operated by people who feel the same way — the service and presentation is superb. So move over Madonna, Cher, Sting, and Prince. Another famous name synonymous with rare talent has joined the ranks of legendary one-namers...and his name is Manuel. Oh yeah, this guy has a last name and he will be happy to tell you what it is if you really want to know. But then, you don't call your friends by their last names, do you? CONGRATULATIONS DANNY RASKIN AND THE JEWISH NEWS For 50 Years of Journalism Excellence On Behalf of Ristorante di Modesta and Manuel's Restaurant. Warmest Regards. Your Friend, Manuel Ristorante DiModesta Manuel's 29410 Northwestern Highway - Southfield, MI 48034 4301 Orchard Lake Rd. - West Bloomfield, MI 48323 (313) 358-0344 (313) 737-0300 THE JEWISH NEWS COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE