Food Review/Jewish Stars

A Tasty Treat

ANNABEL COHEN

Special to the Jewish News

astone feels big for busy down-
town Royal Oak.
This eaterie
on prime Main Street
real estate feels different,
too, with its buttery
walls, white subway tile
wainscoting and under-
stated black-and-white
prints on the walls.
Tall, walled booths and assorted not-
matching tables with miscellaneous
chairs give this restaurant/ brewery
exactly the feel it was hoping for, casual
and continental.
A brasserie by definition, the food
served here lives up to the brasserie
model — good food, simply prepared
— even comfy. There's nothing snotty
about the menu. It's straightforward,
with few elaborate-sounding names or
ingredients.
Even when the names are in French, a
quick, understandable explanation lets
you know that the "Brandade de Morue"
is "a traditional puree of salt cod, pota-
toes and olive oil served warm with

toasted baguette slices." Even the unfa-
miliar French "onglet"explains that what
you're eating is the more familiar
American "hanger steak." Fair enough.
You won't have to ask the long-aproned
waitstaff to decipher.
The food was mostly
as promised on the
menu. Of the five
choices of tartes, our
pizza-esque Forestiere
tarte had just the right
combination of cheeses, mushrooms and
herbs.
The onglet, one of about 14 entrees
(not including specials, sandwiches,
tartes and salads), had the smoky wood-
grilled flavor I love, though it could have
been hotter for my taste.
The side dishes are infinitely more
interesting than the usual. A sweet-
onion panade was tasty and the distinc-
tive savory bread pudding and artichoke
potato ragout is a twist on plain spuds.
The fish and chips, suggested by the
waitress, was good, but not memorable,
and probably not the best choice given
the diverse and more fascinating alterna-
tives.
The one disappointment wag*the sig-
nature pomme frites, or french fries.

Bast one,
Royal Oak

Served beautifiilly with your choice of
six flavored mayonnaises, the potatoes
were neither hot nor crispy enough.
Maybe this was just my batch, but a
food as decadent and unhealthy as fried
potatoes has to be perfect to be worth it.
Other intriguing dishes included the
potato truffle ravioli, horseradish-crusted
Arctic char, truffled macaroni and cheese
and espresso marinated duck breast.

Above: Foriestiere Pizza
Right: Bastone feels casual and continental.

Staff photos by Angie Baan

Although the restaurant features a full
bar, Bastone is proud of their six house
beers, all brewed on-site and "with
authentic Belgian malt and yeast."

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Levine Bests Rapier In Faceoff

and keep working hard and hoping that
today's
the day it's going to change.
Special to the Jewish News
You've got to think positive and work
from there."
is been an up-and-down season for
Levine believes the Tigers
Tigers' pitcher Al
are "still learning and mak-
Levine. After a strong
ing progress."
start, he suffered through
Ex-Tiger Gabe Kapler
some rough outings in May
has
also traveled an uneven
and June before re-gaining
path
this season, starting
his effectiveness.
about half of Boston's
In July, he permitted only
games and playing all three
one run and six hits in 13
outfield spots. Through
innings. Overall, Levine was
Aug. 10, he had five home
3-2 with a 4.96 ERA in 46
runs, 22 RBIs and a .290
games through Aug. 10.
average in 200 at-bats.
Although Levine says his
He started one of three
Al
Levine
mechanics are better" now,
games the Red Sox played
he's not satisfied with his
in Detroit this month, going 3-for-4
overall performance. During the tough
with two doubles on Sunday, Aug. 8.
times, Levine tried to "just go out there
He faced Levine during the game, B'nai
Kith Great Lakes Region Day at
To submit sports news, e-mail
Comerica Park, and Levine was the only
sports@thejewishnews.com

MIKE ROSENBAUM

I

"

Bastone is about quality. It's creative
yet everyday and hip but in an unpre-
tentious way. ❑

''.',RMWECZt.AMItIMaNMERWaegMK45NIMMMVAI‘W.,,WITMM:

Tiger pitcher that day to get Kapler out.
Boston is Kapler's fourth major league
team, but his first contender. "There's
always something to play for," he says,
"and that's a good feeling, to know that
every game means something."
Boston rookie third baseman Kevin
Youkilis started all three games in
Detroit, going 4-for-11 with six RBIs.
In the Aug. 8 slugfest, which the Sox
won 11-9, Youkilis was 3-for-4 with two
home runs and four RBIs. Youkilis was
slumping prior to the Tiger series, but
he said he "felt good" in Detroit and
was "swingifig the bat a little bit better."
In his first 51 games this year,
Youkilis had six home runs, 32 RBIs, a
.280 batting average and a .382 on-base
percentage.
Kapler reached out to the rookie
when Youkilis arrived from the minors.
Youkilis says Kapler "will always give me
a helping hand."
Youkilis also follows the progress of
other Jewish players. "It's always fun to
see (major leaguers) who came from

your background. It's pretty interesting
for a lot of people who are Jewish who
follow it a lot and take a lot of pride in
it."
Hilary Schreiber will be in net for
Team Midwest this month at Hockey
Night in Boston, a tournament for the
best high school-age hockey players in
the U.S. and Canada. At a similar event,
the Chicago Showcase, Schreiber was 1-
1 in two games with a 4.00 goals-against
average and an .879 save percentage for
Team Michigan. She was a first team
All-State goalie for Bloomfield Hills
Cranbrook-Kingswood as a junior last
season.
Andrew Diamond, a two-year starter
and three-year letterman at Farmington
Harrison, will play offensive line at
Adrian College this fall.
The Detroit Demolition won their
third straight National Women's
Football Association championship —
their second consecutive title under
owners Mitch and Ken Rosen — with a

SPORTS on page 56

„IN

8/20

2004

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