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The Palate Pleaser team of Steven Loft, pastry chef; Peter Goatley, owner; Tim Tout, head chef; and Charles Keeps, sales consultant, displaying the fare.
ummer gather-
ings around the
pool, in the
back yard and
on the terrace
are as common
as that first sunburn of the sea-
son.
But as temperatures rise out-
side, slaving inside over a hot
stove ranks low on the list of
most desirable activities.
The days of throwing a pack-
age of hot dogs on the grill are
gone.
With the new emphasis on
health and fitness, party guests
will be looking forward to real
food they can eat without guilt.
Satisfying them is as easy as
picking up a phone or strolling
the aisles at any one of several
upscale eateries.
The choices of light, health-
ful food are endless.
When unexpected friends
drop by for an impromptu
game of volleyball or just to
soak up the sun, Palate Pleaser
in Bloomfield Hills may save
the day.
Housed in a strip mall on
Long Lake Road, west of
Telegraph Road, Palate
Pleaser, 1087 West Long Lake
Road. 540-2266, offers a variety
of prepared foods like basil-
mustard chicken breasts ($5.95
each) and spa vegetarian
lasagna ($3.95 per piece and
only 280 calories).
Add a cobb ($7.95) or Greek
salad ($6.95), five grain pilaf
with mushrooms and herbs
($5.95 per pound) or spinach
flan with tomato fondue ($3.95
each) and dinner is ready.
Sinful desserts are available
as well.
Appetizers, dips and entrees
are priced by the pound or by
the dozen.
Palate Pleaser was the 1988
winner of Detroit Monthly's
Best Of Detroit award for best
caterer.
Another quick option is
608, 608 S.
Pronto!
Washington, 544-7900, a fresh-
foods deli located in downtown
Royal Oak.
The winner of The Metro
Times best new restaurant
award for 1992, Pronto! 608
offers a variety of party options
from deli trays filled with
meats, cheeses, side salads,
pickles and homemade
desserts ($6.25 to $10.25 per
person) to Pronto! pasta, a
grown-up version of macaroni
and cheese stuffed with dill
havarti, cheddar and bread
crumbs ($5.75 per serving).
Choose items from the glass
cases or, time permitting, sit
down vith co-owner Bill
Thomas to design a custom
party tray.
A self-proclaimed health nut,
Mr. Thomas might suggest
beginning with a "roasted tray,"
featuring olive oil-drizzled
heads of roasted garlic, with
herbed goat cheese, roasted
red peppers and baguettes ($30
for four servings.)
"It's an unusual way to break
the ice that doesn't involve
alcohol," says Mr. Thomas.
For hot entrees, like par-
grilled seafood and chicken
kabobs, Pronto! 608 requests a
24-hour notice. Prices vary.
Regardless of the food choic-
es, Mr. Thomas emphasizes
summer entertaining should be
easy.
"Our approach is unpreten-
tious. We act as a guide, com-
bining the best of what the cus-
tomer has and the best of what
we have," Mr. Thomas said.
"You don't have to have a lot of
money to make a party with
style."
Floreen Halpern agrees.
The owner and operator of
Amaryllis, 275 E. Frank,
Birmingham, 645-1770, Ms.
Halpern prides herself in cater-
ing successful parties that fit
any budget.
"Summer is so much fun,
and it's the perfect opportunity
to utilize color — in fruits, veg-
etables, flowers, plates and flat-
ware," Ms. Halpern said. "A
basket filled with rolled up col-
ored napkins, festive paper
plates and plasticware is pretty,
inexpensive and definitely
appropriate for summer."
Fresh fruits can be used as
centerpieces, too.
There is no stendard cater-
ing menu for Amaryllis.
instead, Ms. Halpern designs
individual parties reflecting the
theme of the event and the
tastes of the party-givers.
Working out of her new
store-front location in
Birmingham, Ms. Halpern
offers a new twist for corporate,
STYLE • SUM M ER 1993 • 45