Arts & Entertainment

HE BEST OF EVERYTHING

A Treat For The Taste Buds

Bacco hits new heights with one-of-a-kind delights.

I

n the first year, it became quite evi-
dent that a something-special restau-
rant had been opened.
That was five years ago, when Bacco
Ristorante took over the former Ristorante
di Modesta location on Northwestern
between 12 and 13 Mile, Southfield.
Having his own ideas on decor, new
owner-chef Luciano Del Signore proceed-
ed to do a complete gutting job that gave
his restaurant a fresh look.
Each year since it opened was like a
runaway locomotive as it kept gathering
steam to vault itself into a top echelon
ranking of gourmet Italian dining ...
Five years have passed, and so through
its doors have almost 4 million people,
as Bacco continually becomes the instant
favorite of many.
Luciano had made a bold move from the
former Fonte D'Amore in Livonia, owned
by his family, where he divided his time as
executive chef, and eventually moved his
culinary talents completely to the restau-
rant owned by him and wife, Monica.
A five-year anniversary is important
... By this time or before, whatever mis-
takes might be made in a new operation
should certainly have been taken care of
... Numerous restaurants ultimately met
closing doom when flaws were ignored.
But in that first year, Luciano and
Monica's dream had already become an
award-winning restaurant, leaping to
record heights as each year brought con-
tinual improvements in both the food and
service ... Not that it necessarily needed
it, but Luciano's never-satisfied demeanor
called for such an attitude.
Seating at Bacco is 100 in the din-
ing room, 20 in the bar-lounge with
seven bar stools and 45 on a beautifully

appointed gazebo-styled out-
door patio ... Coming in July
will be private banquet rooms
in space taken over next door by
Luciano and Monica ... It'll be
known as Bacco Enoteca, with
its own kitchen and a private
entrance into three rooms that
will accommodate from 10-60
people ... Beveled doors will
separate the three rooms and be
opened as capacity deems.
Since opening in the spring
of 2002, Bacco has become noted for
its excellently prepared dishes, many of
which are seldom, if ever, seen on another
Italian menu, in the amassing of numbers
like almost 2 million pounds of fish, about
950,000 pounds of meat, almost two mil-
lion salads, etc.
Upscale dining is Luciano's big thing
and service must be in accordance with
his maintenance of careful prepara-
tions ... Best sellers at Bacco have been
the Strozzapretti Norcina (house-made
Italian sausage, black truffle, palomino
sauce and white truffle oil); Costolette d-
Agnello (grilled marinated lamb chops);
Branzino Mediterraneo (whole roasted
Mediterranean sea bass, boned tableside)
etc. ... The Manzo Piedmontese is filet of
Certified Piedmontese low-fat beef.
Few Italian restaurants have Fiore di
Zucca, fried zucchini flowers stuffed with
prosciutto and Mozzarella cheese; Insalata
di Carciofi e Avocado, baby artichoke salad
with avocado, shaved parmigiana, tomato
and truffle oil; Fagiano Arrostito, spice
roasted baby pheasant; Polo Nostrano
cotto a la Pietra, brick roasted organic
chicken; Arrosticini, barbecued skewered
lamb prepared by hand on the patio, etc.

Going over big, too, has
been the brick-roasted
Cornish hen that is cooked
under brick to obtain a
crispy skin while yet main-
taining a moist and tender
meat consistency ... Also the
much-wanted soft-shelled
crabs.
Luciano's expertise in food
preparation is exemplified in
his ability to make whatever
a guest's favorite dish may
be if the ingredients are in house ... It
takes a special kind of chef to do this, and
Luciano certainly is that.
In its five-year existence, Bacco has
become a successful Italian restaurant
because of its numerous assets ... Biggest
among them might be the combining of
Luciano's culinary talents with a restau-
rant know-how that promotes ever-impor-
tant presence of dining confidence.
JAZZ NIGHTS in Ginopolis' On the
Grill's lounge, 12 Mile and Middlebelt,
Farmington Hills, had it extra good again
recently with guest Sandra Mandella
singing her great renditions of "Making
Whoopie,""One Note Samba," etc., accom-
panied by Matt Michaels sitting in at
the piano ... Sandra teams with Sam
Locricchio to make up the Lorio sing-
ing duo that appeared last week with
the Johnny Trudell band at Greektown
Casino's Apollo room ... They are best
remembered for singing days in Las Vegas
and former Arriva ... The Shuffle Play
Quartet at Ginopolis' appears Friday and
Saturday evenings.
SAMPLING WORLD - CLASS cuisine
will be the big attraction at the annual
Taste of Tribute, Monday, June 25, 5:30-

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8:30 p.m.... The event, limited to 225
people, will be $75 per person, with guests
feasting on truly gourmet passed hors
d'oeuvres, appetizers, choice wines and
desserts ... For tickets, call Tribute, (248)
848-9393 ... Tribute is on 12 Mile, West of
Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills.
ALL - YOU - CAN - EAT Sunday Brunch
is now at Giorgio's, West Bloomfield, 10
a.m.-2 p.m. ... $9.95 adults; 10 and under,
$5.95; 3 and under, free ... From eggs,
pancakes, waffles, creamed herring, crab
salad, etc., including a different special
entree each week.
JOINING THE RANKS of completely
smoke-free restaurants is Pepino's on
Pontiac Trail and Walled Lake Drive.
REUNION DEPT. ... Two alumni
shindigs the same night and place will
be by Oak Park High, Saturday, Nov. 24,
at Club Venetian in Madison Heights ...
30th by the O.P. class of 1977, and because
the 1976 grads didn't hold a reunion last
year, its celebration will also be held ...
'76 alumni should contact Shari (Kasmer)
Yarsike, (248) 892-0256, and '77 cap 'n
gowners can reach Mardi (Slootsky)
Bobkin at (248) 933-5902 ... Web site is
oakparkhigh76-77.myevent.com .
CONGRATS ... To Harry Sherberg on
his birthday ... To twins Montague and
Henry Balbes on their birthdays ... To
Joyce Kaczander on her 60th birthday
... To Bette and Avery Shapiro on their
60th anniversary ... To Marle and Morrie
Kaplan on their 17th anniversary.
GET WELL WISHES ... To Marlene
Bez at West Bloomfield Nursing and
Convalescent Home.

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June 14 S 2007

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