EXTENSIVE WINE LIST • LUNCH & DINNER

An Italian Idea Evolves Into
Something Deliciously American

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e doesn't dance with wolves
... That was actor Kevin
Costner's Academy Award-
winning bit ... And it's not
the kind of restaurant Jan Mas-
ciiilli always wanted.
His dream was to some day
own an Italian restaurant ... but
after going out on his own and
seeing all the Italian dining
places ... with none where Jan
could get himself the kind of
steak he wanted, Jan had a mind
change.
The free-standing Timber
Creek restaurant, on Northville
Road between Six and Seven
Mile, was originally to be named
Timber Wolf Cafe, but it sound-
ed too much like a bar ... Jan loves
dogs, but likes wolves better ...
Which was why the Timber Wolf
Cafe name originally came about
... and the reason so many framed
pictures of wolves are around the
place.

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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Jan and Cyndi Masciulli of Timber Creek.

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KITCHEN OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT FRI & SAT
LUNCH MON - FRI
DINNER TUES - SAT

As Timber Creek Restaurant,
it still retains the northern wolf
country, rustic outdoor decor with
a knotty red cedar open look, fire-
place, stained and etched glass,
antlers, wild game mountings,
animal pictures, artifacts, etc. ...
On the bar-lounge area walls are
a lumber jacket, snow sled, bow
and arrows, etc.
The feeling is that of being in
a large, modernistic northern
lodge.
Seating is for 135 in two rooms
of green padded booths and tables
with all captain's chairs ... A
lounge has booths, tables and 15
stools at an intimate bar.
The former Riffle's was com-
pletely gutted, except for a brick
entrance and wide, brick vesti-
bule by the bar ... The mammoth

renovation took five months, from any other restaurant using Tim-
November 1995 to May 1996.
ber in its name.
The Timber Creek restaurant
This white-linen-napkin res-
opened on June 1, 1996, and is taurant with a large menu of
one in which Jan is able to give good, wholesome food without
what he has always wanted for paying big dollars, does its own
so long.
butchering of meats and fish ...
It is an earlier-hours offer, be- Jan has finally found a New York
tween 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., where sirloin he likes ... At his own place
customers can come and
Cyndi goes for the
pay according to the
filets.
time of day ... 5:05 and
It's so homemade-ori-
the dinner is $5.05, etc.
ented that no corn is
Jan and wife Cyndi
bought unshucked
are a hard-working
They prefer to do their
young couple ... She was
own shucking by hand
a server three years at
and also make their own
Too Chez and, since her DANNY RASKIN
desserts.
pregnancy, is now Tim-
LOCAL
This is another of the
ber Creek head wait-
COLUMNIST
few places where you
ress, training others.
can have meatloaf and
Jan spent two years in the fine be sure that it's homemade.
culinary program at Schoolcraft
Timber Creek dining is tradi-
College, where certified executive tional American ... with its most
chef Mary Brady was his teacher. popular items varying among a
Jan worked at Ernesto's on fine selection.
Folks love the
Hunter's Dream, a
combination of venison
and quail served with
wild rice, potato pan-
cakes, vegetable and
red wine sauce.
Its baby back ribs
bring high raves, oven-
roasted after brushing
with the homemade
barbecue sauce and
served with baked
beans, sautéed apples
and French fries.
Biggest fish sellers
are the broiled white-
fish and salmon ... fol-
lowed by pickerel,
rainbow trout and yel-
low fin tuna.
If you like elk steak,
you'll love this delicacy
at Timber Creek, char-
grilled and served over
Plymouth under chef Ernie homemade mashed potatoes and
DeMichele, at Chez Raphael's un- vegetables.
der chef Keith Famie, and at Too
A boneless chicken breast
Chez under master chef Ed Janos Parmesan, presented over lin-
and its present executive chef guini with marinara sauce, also
Greg Upshur.
keeps the kitchen busy.
He also worked at Plymouth
Ever have chicken saltimboc-
Landing when it was owned by ca? ... You can at Timber Creek
his dining consultant, Sam Panz- ... Chicken breast stuffed with
ica, who used to have Dino's on spinach, prosciutto, mozzarella
W. Seven Mile, and Shake- and sage, served over greens,
speare's on Telegraph ... Sam is penne pasta, wild mushrooms,
a three-times-a-week regular at onions and a marsala sauce ...
Timber Creek ... always order- Jan never did open an Italian
ing the Stefano chicken salad of restaurant, but in saltimbocca,
wild greens tossed with small has made certain a little Italian
Mandarin oranges, Michigan influence is at his dining spot.
dried cherries, walnuts, grilled
All meat and fish entrees are
chicken breast and raspberry served with soup, salad and bread
vinaigrette.
basket.
Timber Creek Restaurant is for
Twelve pasta dishes present a
certain not to be confused with good variety and are served with

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