A....41116701.5.4.160.0.0. !LISTENING POST I TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE DINING OUT IN OAK COUNTY • I BEST OF EVERYTHING I t•- Whatever The Spelling Bistro's Popularity Growing DANNY RASKIN Local Columnist 0 WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FEED OUR HUNGRY 4, Food Bank of Oakland Count) Nat FAMILY DINING Homemade From Natural Ingredients Dania and Ed Farah Invite You To Enjoy American and Lebanese Cuisine 2 FOR 1 SPECIALS SENIOR CITIZENS 10p 0 DISCOUNT TO p.m. to FROM 3 CLOSING (Not Good On 2 For 1 or Early Bird) I CARRY-OUT & CATERING AVAILABLE I 559.8222 27167 Greenfield, Just N. of 11 Mile Beau Jac yi Food & Spirits EARLY DINNERS NOW 7 DAYS Monday Thru Sunday 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Entrees priced from $5.75 4108 W. Maple • Birmingham, MI • 1 blovk W. of Telegraph • 626-2630 IN NM MI NM NI NM NI • MI INN AND LOOK WHAT THESE HOMEMADE DINNERS INCLUDE! Zli r 4 0 `/J4/ Q:' zo 3 FOR 1 "Z• "Z• .1. .4 . 5- 0 0 a GOOD ONLY WITH THIS COUPON! • FRESH BROILED WHITE FISH • FRESH RAINBOW TROUT MIX • FRESH ROASTED TURKEY OR • FRESH VEAL PARMESAN • FRESH VEAL CUTLET MATCH! 85 I FOR 3! I INCLUDES: SOUP OR SALAD (TOSSED OR GREEK), POTATO OR SPAGHETTI, BREAD BASKET, CHOICE OF DESSERT (STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE, RICE 1 PUDDING, JELLO, ICE CREAM) AND HOT COFFEE OR TEA! I L 1956 RIALTO CAF E 710Oa p. l. mn t.1 Since 22740 WOODWARD, JUST SOUTH OF 9 MILE • 544-7933 al MI NM Ili NI IN NE III MI U n the outside, the name is spelled one way . . . and in much of the literature it's another . . . But like the saying goes about that proverbial rose, makes no difference what it is called. Bistro Seventy Five or Bistro 75 in the Holiday Inn Auburn Hills, Opdyke and University Drive, is celebrating its third anniver- sary as what has become one of the most popular dining spots in that area, opening May 8, 1989, with seating for 170. If it is true that professional athletes know good food, eating at so many places across the country, then Bistro Seventy Five has a shoo-in reputation . . . It's a favorite of the Detroit Lions who stay at the Holiday Inn Auburn Hills when practicing in the Silverdome during the summer months plus many being housed there for home games. John Rugani, general manager, is someone you'll be hearing a lot about in days to come because of his original ideas . . . The native of Houghton, Mich., is a graduate from University of Michigan in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management and works with Lions' trainer Kent Falb developing menus for camp and pre-game meals. Professional athletes are very careful in taking care of their bodies . . . it's the dif- ference between big pay- checks and just a well-paying job or none at all . . . John's culinary abilities are such that he often comes up with imaginative ideas for healthy, tasty cuisine, an important aspect in our dining regimen. Back in 1985, John came to this area as Chuck Muer's manager at Meriwether's on Telegraph . . . After three years the opportunity was of- fered to open Bistro 75 .. . and he has done a masterful job in the result of its con- tinual popularity gain. The white linen tablecloths and napkins of Bistro Seven- ty Five are two miles from The Palace and a mile south of the Silverdome . : . I was surprised at how simple it was to get there . . . From Telegraph and Square Lake Road, it took about 10 minutes . . . People who come from Birmingham make it in less time than that . . . Ernie and Marilyn Shear do it in 25 minutes from Orchard Lake Road and Maple . . . going slow. John is also food and beverage director at the Holi- day Inn Auburn Hills, help- ing folks plan weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc., for its ballroom of up to 200 and about 190 rooms . . . Carla Conner is sales manager and Bob Scar- chili executive chef. Ten of its 35 employees are still with Bistro 75 since the opening . . . five waitstaff and five kitchen . . . Our waitress, Deb Girth, has been at Bistro Seventy Five about a year- and-a-half and customers en- joy being waited on by her because of such efficient and pleasant ways . . . Day Chef Dan Hersha has been at Bistro 75 since it opened .. . Greeting folks as they walk in are pleasant Marc Levak, evening restaurant manager and David Mickel, day manager . . . both there more than a year. Behind the 20-stool bar evenings is Jody Neuman, daughter of Sally and Phil Neuman . . . and grand- daughter of Max and Ruth Sosin . . . personifying the key efficiency and personable ideals expected of his employees by John Rugani. Bistro Seventy Five, with its casual classic Italian din- ing . . . veals, fresh fish, seafood, pasta, gourmet pizza, etc. . . . is fashioned somewhat after Bistro 110 in Chicago and is gaining note as a place where people meet, especial- ly when going to or coming from events ... Its dinner packages for Pistons, Lions and most concerts at The Palace, Meadowbrook and Pine Knob also include tickets and shuttle bus .. . That shuttle is great when the weather gets rough and even better not having to buck all the traffic . . . John got the bus a year-and-a-half after opening and his door-to- door facility has made a lot of friends. The Bistro 75 kitchen is open until 11 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, until mid- night Friday and Saturday, and 'til 10 p.m. Sunday . . . It takes pride in being able to make anything people want regardless of whether or not on the menu if the ingre- dients are available when ordering . . . This ability takes away restrictions by some chefs who are trained to prepare only those things a menu may contain . . . In fact, many who help in preparing the menu make certain it has • only the items they can dish out. Auburn Hills and surroun- ding areas are rapidly- growing regions and Bistro Seventy Five has grown with it . . . John is no stranger to this notion of dining . . . He • was manager of the fine Figlio Restaurant in Min- neapolis which also had an Italian bistro concept. Bistro 75, Holiday Inn of Auburn Hills and John Rugani are a lot like their • athlete customers . con- cerned with total teamwork . . . It takes this to win in business as well as sports, and Bistro Seventy Five seems to have the right combination. FORGET WHAT you look- ed like years back, send that old Woodhull Lake photo for the July 25 reunion at Mitch's II . . . Put your name on the back and check for $25 per person to Woodhull Lake Reu- nion, 38738 Rockledge Drive, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 . . . For more info call Sally Saginaw, 681-7814, or Shirley Schram, 360-0448. CONGRATS ... to Rabbi M. Robert Syme and Sonia . . . on their 50th anniversary. PEOPLE SITTING on the outside Garden patio at Jane's Place, Lahser south of Civic Center (between 10 and 11) find the scenery a lot bet- ter than watching cars go by . . . Cow, sheep, ducks, deer, squirrel (all fake, of course), cornfield, scarecrow and flowers galore . . . Jane Klad- zyk and barrister hubby Mar- vin Berris have a lot of pride in their home away from home. GOOD WAITPERSONS DEPT. ... Evening waiter Matthew Walheim and Linda Miras . . . very efficient, courteous and personable stalwarts among the service- oriented staff at Excalibur, Franklin and 12. Behind the bar days during the summer at Excalibur, Eric Maier, son of Elaine and Ron Maier, is a graduate of University of Michigan atten- ding Fordham Law School. Loving Cup with Marlene Hill and Danny Jordan are at Excalibur Tuesday-Saturday thru June . . . People still can't figure out that card • • • S.