The Best Of. Everything

`Surf' And Turf

Travel the Internet as you dine at Metro Airport's Online Cafe.

of many travelers.
Online has become known
for its Philly steak sandwich
... with over 70,000 already
sold
... along with its turkey
anniversary.
spinach
wrap (over 85,000.)
Seeing so many travelers carry-
In the past six months, it
ing laptop computers gave birth
has added the Henry Ford
to an idea so successful that
HeartSmart program to its
even though only two years old,
DANNY
menu
... with daily features
similar restaurants by the own-
RASKIN
and
specials.
ers are already in the planning
Senior Columnist
Besides the travelers, it has
stages.
also
become the favorite of
Online Cafe is owned by
pilots, flight attendants and employees
George Nasser, Hassan Yazbek, Phil
of Northwest Airlines and partners.
Bahri and Jim Saba ... at the Northwest
Seating is for 160 ... plus a full-service
Airlines McNamara Terminal between
bar
of 40 stools ... 365-day hours are 5
Gates A-36 and A-34 at Detroit
a.m.-10
p.m.
Metropolitan Airport.
Online
Cafe's Grab & Go section
It started out with 32 ports for four
includes
numerous
things to take on the
computers ... and has doubled the num-
plane ... as example cold cut sandwiches,
ber ... Travelers can now come in to
mini gourmet fruit and cheese trays,
wine and dine ... and surf the net via
magazines,
a newspaper, candy, etc.
wireless connection (WI-FI), in another

A

restaurant concept
born in recognition
of the times is cele-
brating its second

service being provided for
folks.
But laptop owners aren't the
only ones enjoying the pres-
ence of Online Cafe ... its
accommodating presence and
offerings have been received
mightily.
When first opened, only
California and domestic wine
was available ... Today, two
years after opening, it was
already highly considered for
an award by Wine Spectator
magazine ... Online Cafe is
regarded as one of its top hos-
pitality airport restaurants by
the Quality and Assurance
Concession program at Metro.
Since opening in 2002, it
Hassan Yazbek, George Nasser, Phil Bahri
has added many more entrees
to its menus ... Fish dishes,
more wraps including low-carb, New
A concept that not only turned into a
York strip steak, etc.
reality ... but one so successful that it
Two years ago, the menu was just a
has risen far above the original imagina-
one-fold page ... Now it takes up seven
tion.
pages of breakfast, lunch and dinner
A PROUD MOTHER indeed ... is
items.
former
Detroiter Sylvia Brilliant Bloom
Six months ago, quesadilla, the popu-
in
Hollandale,
Fla. ... She was recently
lar Mexican favorite, was among those
invited
to
a
dinner
in San Francisco
added ... Since that time, over 60,000
honoring Dr. Larry Brilliant, son of
orders have been sold.
Sylvia and the late Joe Brilliant.
The two years have seen over a mil-
He was a medical officer with the
lion people enter the doors of Online
World
Health Organization in the
Cafe ... with many becoming regulars
1970s,
managing the smallpox program
when flying Northwest or its affiliates ...
in
India
... where Larry led a team of
It has become a true dining destination

over 100,000 workers who essentially
wiped out the terrible disease there ...
Larry and his wife, Elaine, lived in India
11 years.
When they returned to the United
States, his experience inspired him to
found the Society of Epidemiology &
Voluntary Assistance (Seva), a founda-
tion that restores sight to hundreds of
thousands of people per year in Asia and
Africa.
Larry's inspiration has restored more
sight than any other organization in the
world ... For this, his honor is as a
much-deserved international hero.
Brilliant for sure ... in both name and
deed.
LOOK FOR A NEW restaurant to
open within the Vineyards on
Northwestern Highway in Farmington
Hills... Also for the name to be changed
to the Vineyards Marketplace.
It would have a new look inside and
out ... and take in those
already under the Vineyards
wing, like ... Bloom's
Catering, Nibbles & Nuts,
Bread Basket Deli, Maggie's
Chocolates ... the family
restaurant and possibly a
bakery.

THOSE WHO
INQUIRED about the

Marilyn Brooks Boutique
of 18 years ago in West
Bloomfield ... call comes
from former salesgirl,
Nancy Saltzman ... She is
now a manicurist with her
own business, Nails By
Nancy, in Southfield ... and
can be reached at (248)
356-6636.

PLANS ARE UNDER
WAY for more upgrading

the Tringale's at Franklin
restaurant in the Franklin Fitness &
Racquet Club on Northwestern
Highway in Southfield.
Joannie and Gary Tringale now divide
time watching over their two operations.
Coming soon is a complete salad bar
and juice bar ... along with enlargement
of specialty items.
SELDOM BLUE jazz supper club by
Frank Taylor, Alexander Zonjic and
Robert Porchew is looking at a May
opening Detroit's Renaissance Center.
WHERE THEY ARE Dept. ...
Former restaurateur, Bob Silverman ...

He now has BCS Vending with around
600 candy machines ... including those
used for donations to children's charities.
MAIL DEPT ... From former
Detroiter Les Lee Roland in Florida ...
"Thanks for suggesting Cyprus Gardens
in Greektown while we were recently
there. I've never seen such long lines in
Greektown to get into restaurants. The
combo of hockey games, casinos and
wonderful entertainment in town has
made Detroit a jumping place.
"Our cousin, Josh Groban, was fan-
tastic at the Fox. Sold out 5,000 seats in
less than an hour. He loved the theater,
was very impressed with it and said he
wants to schedule another date there
later this year. Hopefully, at that date, he
will invite 'Doc' (hubby Harold Roland)
up on stage to do a number with him.
They have been talking about it for a
while now
"I keep busy with our travel company,
the Packaged Deal in Sarasota, Fla.
"We miss our pals and the eateries in
Detroit. We still have our rye breads
sent to us from Stage. And the Detroit-
style bagels, ribs, Chinese food and
Coney Islands cannot be duplicated
anywhere else. But we have nicer win-
ters in Sarasota!
"Sarasota has some well-known resi-
dents. Just a few minutes away from us
are Dick Smothers and Dick Vitale and
Jerry Springer. Stephen King is on the
water nearby.
"Love to hear from our pals and for-
mer patients, Traveldeals@comcast.net "
QUERIES DEPT ... In answer to
readers who ask why so many recipes
call for kosher salt, according to Kosher
Today, almost every chef in America
knows that you can't get a good dish
without kosher salt ... The course grain
of kosher salt gives moisture and flavors'
to the recipe.
NO, THAT DELI with the well-
known name on Novi Road in Novi is
not breaking any laws by using it ...
Goldberg's Famous Stage Deli is owned
by Steve Goldberg, also owner of the
Stage Deli in West Bloomfield.
KORN KORNER ... a Jewish boy
comes home from school and tells his
mother he's been given a part in the
school play.
"Wonderful. What part is it?" asks his
mother.
The boy says, "I play the part of the
Jewish husband."
The mother scowls and says, "Go
back and tell the teacher you want a
speaking part!"

Danny Raskin's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net