The Best Of Everything
•
40
r te.
MU %
Celebrity Showroom
.•
BringsYou Its
Great 2001
Parade:of Stars!
`Encore' Wins
Rousing Raves
Bravos abound for gourmet dining
at Southfield's Encore Restaurant.
I
THE
LETTERMEN
, April 27 & 28
4 .c;
elebrity Showroom
'1396 East Fourteen Mile Road'',
1/19
2001
86
(Between Mound &Van Dyke)
• (810) 268-3200
f the adage holds true about
Takashi Yagahashi at Tribute in
valuable things coming in small
Farmington Hills ... and Dale
packages ... then it is little won-
Allmayer comes from Mon Jin Lau in
der that residents of North Park
Troy.
Towers in Southfield are reluctant to
The menu put out by "Chuckie,"
tell outsiders about their little
Warren and Dale is changed
restaurant.
every two weeks ... The food
Since Encore Restaurant
diversity, too, of these chefs is
moved from the Quality Inn
without question ... Also, fish
of Bloomfield Hills ... to open
is brought in twice a week for
Dec. 1, 1999 at the North
fresh presentation.
Park Towers (east building) at
Not too many restaurants
16500 North Park Drive, it
offer a fine Degas Station
has made a lot of people
dinner ... for which Chef
happy ... Especially dwellers
Warren's creativity has
DAN NY
in the 300 or so apartments.
become well-noted ... This
RAS KIN
Encore is open to the pub-
elegant dinner incorporates
Local Co lumnist five courses, usually including
lic ... many more people who
are also discovering this cozy
salad, intermezzo, fish, meat
culinary gem.
and dessert.
Seating is for just 50 people in the
"Chuckie" knows her food, too ...
dining room ... Tuesday through
She is former owner of Birmingham's
Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. lunch; 5-9
Le Petite Fleur Catering, noted for its
p.m. dinner.
elegant parties.
The only question is how such fine
Best sellers at Encore are the
food can come out of a kitchen that is
Chilean Sea Bass with saffron leek
only 24 by 16 feet ... But it does, even
compote ... herb crusted New Zealand
with the crowding in of two walk-in
rack of lamb with a mint demi-glace
refrigerators, an eight-burner stove,
excellent salmon (grilled or
prep counter, etc.
Charlotte "Chuckie"
Sagoyan's little restaurant is
as cute as a happy bunny ...
a complete changeover from
the former operation ... now
with gold drapes over white
curtains, gold walls, friendly
and cute, red chairs, bur-
gundy linen tablecloths and
napkins.
The kitchen may be small,
but within lies a secret of
why the food is so good ...
in it are a couple of gents
who can prepare good food
in any kind of environment
... Both previously had
ample kitchen space at the
former operations in which
they worked ... proving that
it is what's in their heads,
not the surroundings.
Executive Chef Warren
Thomas was with Chef
Encore's Charlotte "Chuckie" Sagoyan
D ning Gu
AUBURN HILLS
Lelli's of Auburn Hills, 885 Opdyke
Road„Auburn Hills, (248) 373-4440.The
second of Lelli's traditionally fine Italian
ristorantes is located across from the
Pontiac Silverdome. Besides elegant sur-
roundings, it features the same excel-
lent food served by the Lelli family
since 1939. Reservations are accepted
for any evening except Saturday.
BERKLEY
Sila, 4033 W. 12 Mile Road, Berkley,
(248) 548-3650.There is nothing like a
consistently dependable neighborhood
family restaurant.The Italian and
American menu is one that evokes
much coni,Jence in casual dining.The
chicken, ribs, round and square pizzas,
fish, salad, pasta, etc. are served seven
days a week for lunch and dinner.
Everything is also available for carry-
out.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Steve's Deli, 6646 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Hills, (248) 932-0800.
Award-winning chicken soup is fea
tured.Also serving corned beef, fresh
roasted turkey, sandwiches, salads and
dishes. Party trays and
Bring..tpp at this New York-style
Carnegie Deli cheesecake and
rownies are among the
NGTON HILLS
skok Sala, 27903 Orchard Lake
Rd Farmington Hills, (248) 553-
4220 . Noted for making its own tra-
ditional Thai cookies and own style
offried rice, it is a consistent restau-
rant with exclusive Thai specialties
among the authentic servings.
Desert Sands, 29222 Orchard Lake
Road, Farmington Hills, (248) 855-
1122. Middle-Eastern dining is featured
by Hassan Bazzi, former maitre d' at
the Orlinal Sheik in downtown
Detroit: Daily specials at lunch and din-
ner. Full menu carryout with catering
available. Complete liquor service.
Hong Hua, 27925 Orchard Lake
Rd., Farmington Hills, (248) 489-
2280.True Hong Kong autenticity is
in the dishes not seen anywhere
else. A bit more expensive than
other Chinese restaurants, but a lot
of value that makes the price differ-
ence worth it with exciting prepara-
tions of rare dishes and many not
seen elsewhere.
Intelligent Chicken, 3243 I
Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills,
(248) 855-4455.The wide variety of
specialty items are together with a
DINING GUIDE on page
90