The Best Of Everything

Fervor For Flavor

New York-ish Bacco Ristorante brings Italian elegance.

using their own versions are
IV hen it comes to
shown
the door to bye-bye
opening a new
land.
restaurant, the use
The previous Ristorante Di
of a known name
Modesta
locale was complete-
may not mean too much in
ly
gutted
within ... and now
today's theme of things.
seats
100
for dining at booths
But it certainly does denote
and
tables
... plus another 22
something where an accompa-
in
the
lounge
area with seven
nying track record of proven
D ANNY
stools
at
the
bar.
success is concerned ...
RA SKIN
A custom-made chandelier
Knowing the ins and outs of
Senior Columnist
hangs
from the dining room's
the restaurant business can be a
inverted
ceiling ... Art on the
tremendous asset.
walls
is
from
his
friend
Albert Scaglione
This is a huge reason why Bacco
at
Park
West
Gallery
across
Ristorante in Market Place on
Northwestern Highway in Southfield.
Northwestern Highway, between 12 and
Luciano has a passion for cooking ...
13 Mile roads in Farmington Hills, will
but
with preparations the way he him-
celebrate its second anniversary on
self
likes to enjoy food ... along with an
March 29 ... continuing to head along
ability
to create his own dishes while
the right direction to more success.
improvising
on many others ... For these
Executive chef-owner Luciano Del
reasons,
Luciano
has been able to satisfy
Signore and wife, Monica, are the own-
those
who
continually
look for Italian
ers of Bacco, which has been drawing
dishes
not
seen
at
too
many
places in
only raves for its fine Italian cuisine,
this
area.
charming atmosphere and excellent serv-
Being invited to chef April 22 at the
ice.
James
Beard Foundation in New York, is
Luciano also operates Fonte D'Amore
a
huge
feather in his toque ... and Bacco
in Livonia ... dividing his time with
is
lucky
to have someone of this caliber
Bacco but spending most of it at the
at
the
kitchen
helm.
Southfield location ... caring for his
Bacco
makes
its bread and desserts ...
other love, the kitchen, while Monica,
and
food
is
prepared
as ordered.
love number one, runs the front part of
Some
of
Luciano's
dishes, like cape-
the fine dining spot.
sante
dorate
(pan
roasted
day-boat scal-
This is the contemporary, modern
lops with porcini and truffle cream
restaurant that both wanted ... elegant,
more in the gracious style of a New York sauce) cannot be found at too many
Italian restaurants ... Same with
dining spot ... with upscale, high-quality
Lasagnette alle Melanzane Dolci, lasagna
food and superb service without unrea-
with
fresh mozzarella, tomato basil and
sonable prices.
roasted
eggplant ... a plain dish but with
There is nothing like an executive
much
Luciano
improvising.
chef-owner who watches each dish that
Considered
among
the .finest veal in
comes out of his kitchen when not
the
world
is
that
used
by Bacco ... which
made by him ... This is a priceless asset
gets
its
lamb
and
veal
from
Rosen's in
in the restaurant game ... Detroit dining
Colorado,
widely
noted
for
having veal
legends like Sam Boesky at Darbys and
and
lamb
like
no
other.
Les Gruber at London Chop House
Many of the Jewish notables who dine
weren't chefs, but like Luciano, they sure
at
Bacco have been enthused at
knew their food ... and nothing passed
Luciano's
ability to make dishes they
their eyes.
have
had
while
traveling through Italy ...
When it comes to this, he is in their
The
local
travelers
call him a day or two
mold ... with an ardent enthusiasm for
in
advance
...
and
know
they'll get the
food and wine that Luciano developed
same
or
better
than
they
had abroad.
years ago as a graduate of the culinary
Deboning
of
Dover
sole,
turbot and
program at Schoolcraft College in
Mediterranean
sea
bass
is
done
tableside.
Livonia ... and his employment at din-
Bacco
is
open
six
days
a
week
...
ing establishments in Italy.
Lunch, 11:30-3 Monday-Friday, and
Luciano's kitchen helpers are all
dinner 5:30-11, Monday-Saturday.
trained in his way of cooking ... Those
Following a good Italian restaurant

3/ 5

2004

56

Luciano and Monica Del Signore

like Di Modesta is never an easy task ...
but Bacco in its almost two years of exis-
tence has proven to be even better ...
and for this, Luciano and Monica are
deserving of much prideful credit.
23 YEARS LATER ... 21 on
Greenfield in Oak Park and two in West
Bloomfield's Sugar Tree, where expan-
sion has brought him more room and
booths ... comes a first-time children's
menu for George Golematis and his
Giorgio's Gourmet Diner.
It's for kids eight and under and
includes much requested pasta among
the dishes.
Also new are lamb chops, grilled
salmon and Ziti Zip, George's mix of
chicken, noodles, broccoli, mushrooms,
garlic and zip sauce.
First time, too, is the early bird special
between 4-5 p.m. ... $2.50 discounted
from entrees.
A LOT OF INTERESTING info is
in store as Irwin Cohen, author of
Echoes ofDetroit's Jewish Communities: A
History, talks and signs his book ...
Wednesday, March 10, 7 p.m. ... at the
Oak Park Library on Oak Park
Boulevard.
ROMANCE DEPT ... Michael
Feldman wanted his recent proposal to
Annette Fenkel to be something really
special ... so he did it with management
permission at a local theater ... Michael
waited three weeks for the right movie
and at the theater told her he was going
to buy popcorn ... Instead, Michael
worked his way to a spotlight on the
main floor and asked over a megaphone
he had purchased if she would be his
wife ... While the audience gleefully
threw popcorn and yelled, "mazel tov!"
Annette tearfully said yes.
ANYBODY GOT A GOOD enough
memory to help Randy Farb and his
wife? ... The former Detroiters now liv-
ing in Flint argue about a nightclub in

Detroit many years ago ... "We agree on
the owners, Al Green and Joe Jaffee,"
writes Randy. "We disagree about the
name of the club and its location. I
remember it as the Purple Parrot, while
my wife remembers it as the Parrot
Lounge. I also remember it being near
the old Shvitz, and she says it was some-
where else."
CONGRATS ... To Magene and Sam
Richman ... on their 65th anniversary ...
being celebrated with stay at Palm Beach
home of daughter Denise Alexander
Pyle and son-in-law Stephen Pyle ...
They'll also host Magene and Sam with
dinner for family and friends at Veranda
restaurant in Fort Myers.
REUNION DEPT ... 1964 and
1965 classes of Mumford High celebrate
their 40th and 39th anniversaries
together ... Saturday, Aug. 28 ... at the
Ford Conference and Event Center in
Dearborn ...For info on class of 1964,
call Ken Bertin, (248) 851-5010 ... Class
of 1965 should call Andrea Lewiston,
(248) 738-3699.
Plans by Oak Park High grads of
1964 are under way for its 40th ...
Saturday, Oct. 2 ... at Peking House in
Royal Oak ... For more info, call Caryn
Brodie Jaeger, (248) 539-1113 or email
caryn@jaegerjournal.com
KORN KORNER ... The young cou-
ple was engaged in a most affectionate
embrace when there came a sound of a
key in the front door. The young lady
broke away at once, eyes wide with
alarm. "Heavens!" she cried, "It's my
husband. Quick, jump out the window."
The young man, equally alarmed,
made a quick step toward the window,
then stopped, "I can't," he said. "We're
on the 13th floor."
"For heaven's sake!" cried the young
lady in exasperation. "This is no time
to be superstitious!" ❑