The Best Of Everything

Th Master's Touch

With a nudge from a master chef Steve 6. Rocky's was born six years ago.

which Steve & Rocky's goes
been open to the general public ... at
t was back in 1998 when
about
35
gallons
a
week,
or
no charge.
Master Chef Milos
since opening its doors,
This policy continues as the former
Cihelka, past director of
around
11,000
gallons.
Vintage
Players, formed by Fran Aaron,
the American Culinary
Seating
is
for
about
220
...
changes
its name to the Fran Aaron
Federation ... and the first mas-
plus
a
bar
where
25
more
Players.
ter chef certified in the United
seats overlook the spotless
The cast members, from the 60s to
States ... saw something that has
kitchen.
the
90s in age, are well remembered for
since evolved into a huge suc-
Hours
are
Monday-
shows
like Molly and Sholem Aleichem,
cess.
D ANNY
Thursday, 11-10; Friday, 11- etc., and still carry on with entertaining
How well he knows that
RA SKIN
11; Saturday, noon-11;
presentations.
some of America's best restau-
Senior
Sunday,
1-9.
Their latest one, The Jewish Radio
rants quietly go about their
Co lumnist
Since
both
Steve
and
Hour
with the problem-solving philoso-
daily business without unnec-
Rocky
are
steeped
in
fish
pher,
Yiddish
songs in both Yiddish
essary fanfare ... and rarely get
preparation,
too
...
Steve
as
executive
and
English,
the
old-time clothing store
the recognition they deserve but are
chef
at
the
former
Golden
Mushroom
radio
ad
favorite,
Joe and Paul, etc. will
continuously listed among unsung din-
...
and
Rocky
the
late
Chuck
Muer's
next
be
performed
in a private lunch-
ing gems in their area.
executive
corporate
chef
...
it
Milos' keen sight resulted in the for-
is•only natural that their
mation of Steve & Rocky's on Grand
veW
menu
should include
River in Novi ... which recently cele-
favorites like fresh whitefish
brated its sixth anniversary.
(31,000 pounds at an aver-
"Steve Allen came to work for me at
age
of 100 pounds a week,)
the Golden Mushroom when he was
ruby
red trout, salmon, yel-
just a young kid of 18 years," recalls
low-fin
tuna, Chilean sea
Milos ... "I could see that he was
bass,
wonderful
bouilla-
already very'talented and knew that
baisse,
etc.
with proper direction he would have a
The culinary insight of
very bright future. I knew of Rocky
Master
Chef Milos Cihelka
(Rachwitz) from the various food and
is
of
international
note ... He
chef events we would both attend. One
is
an
admired
gold
medal
day, I was introduced to him and
world
figure
in
fine
dining
learned that he, like me, was an avid
expertise
...
However,
one of
hunter and fisherman.
his
greatest
feats
might
not
"We arranged to take a hunting trip
be
in
the
creation
of
a
deli-
together and this our friendship began.
cious new dish ... but the
I knew Rocky was a great cook and
bringing together of talented
later learned that he has a good mind
Chuck "Rocky" Rachwitz and Chef-Owner Chuck "Rocky" Rachwitz, Master Chef
for business.
Steve Allen ... in the birth of Milos Cihelka and Chef-Owner Steve Allen
"I felt that if I could bring Steve and
their fine Steve & Rocky's
Rocky together, it would make a great
restaurant.
eon showing, April 29, not open to the
team with a bright future in the restau-
YOU'VE
HEARD
THIS
before
...
public.
rant business. As one can see, this has
but
this
time
it
may
finally
be
a
reality
But the Fran Aaron Players ...
certainly proven to be true."
Hoa Hoa Inn, formerly Hoa Kow at
singing, dancing, comedy and acting
A giant step toward higher recogni-
West Bloomfield's Crosswinds Mall, is
volunteers ... are available for all organi-
tion may have come last October when
expected
to
open
soon
at
its
new
loca-
zations and functions ... with no
Gourmet Magazine named Steve &
tion
...
At
least,
owner
Gene
Woo
charge for admission ... Folks can get
Rocky's one of six dining spots in this
thinks
and
hopes
so
...
with
date
of
info by calling Fran Aaron, writer and
area among America's best restaurants.
opening
still
up
in
the
air
because
of
director, (248) 967-4011.
Since that 1998 opening, Steve &
city
delays,
he
says
...
Could
be
up
to
BIRD DOG DEPT. ... From Jerry
Rocky's has gone through top sellers
three weeks or a month, but folks have
Light ... "I recently dined at a new
like ... almost 50,000 pounds of perch
waited this long so I guess longer won't
Italian restaurant that I highly recom-
(averaging 160 pounds a week) ...
much
matter.
mend for you to visit. It's called Johnny
about 75,000 pounds of filet mignon
The
restaurant,
on
Novi
Road
south
Carino's
on Haggerty Road between 14
(averaging 240 pounds a week) ...
of
14
Mile,
looks
small,
but
Gene
says
and
15
Mile,
off M-5 behind Cosco, in
around 44,000 pounds of short ribs
the
inside
is
about
as
large
as
the
for-
Commerce.
The
entree portions are
(averaging 140 pounds a week.)
mer
Hoa
Kow
of
West
Bloomfield.
large
enough
for
a party of two to
Another huge requested item is Chef
SINCE
IT'S
BEGINNING
share.
Their
desserts
are worth waiting
about
Milos' mushroom soup ... through
10 years ago, performances have usually for. It's a country-neighborhood-style

I

.4.10

4/ 2
2004

58

atmosphere restaurant. Excellent food."
THE BIG JOE CORNELL 75th
birthday reunion of all generations ...
Sunday, April 4, at Adat Shalom
Synagogue ... will bring back a lot of
memories for guys and gals attending.
Cost is $30 adults, $15 young folks
13 and under, for dancing, auction,
entertainment and kosher buffet ...
with Joe here from California to head
festivities ... Proceeds go the Helen
Rosenberg Cancer Fighters, City of
Hope ... She was Joe's one-time right-
hand gal receptionist ... For tickets, call
Jeffrey Rosenberg at Adat Shalom,
(248) 626-5702 or Lori Nedelman,
(248) 626-9712.
CHIPS OFF THE OLD Block
Dept. ... Family law barrister Richard
Victor, who was recently asked to be in
charge of all continuing legal education
for family law in the United States ...
by the national president of American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers ...
has even more of which to be proud.
A couple of weeks ago, his old-
est son, Daniel, in the Bloomfield
Hills practice with him, had a fea-
ture published in the Oakland
County Bar Association magazine
Laches And now, son Ron, a
junior at Emory Law School in
Atlanta, has had his article selected
for publication in the prestigious
law review at Emory.
NAME OF THE new restau-
rant opening at the former
Southfield site of Excalibur on
Northwestern off 12 Mile, Cafe
Milano, is already in the phone
book, says Sandy Levine ... So
opening date cannot be far off.
KGRN KORNER ... From
David Sonne of Fanfare Media in
California and localize Melissa
Litvin ... A Jewish man is riding on
the New York subway reading an
Arab newspaper. A friend on the
same car noticed this and asked,
"Moshe, have you lost your mind?
Why are you reading an Arab newspa-
per?"
Moshe replied, "I used to read the
Jewish newspaper, but what did I find?
Jews being persecuted, Israel being
attacked, Jews disappearing through
assimilation and intermarriage, Jews liv-
ing in poverty.
"So I switched to the Arab newspa-
per. Now what do I find? Jews own all
the banks, Jews control the media, Jews
are all rich and powerful, Jews rule the
world.
"The news is so much better!" ❑

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