Arts & ainment THE BE RYTHING L Chef Recipe Tons of training and experience accompany Rich Davis to Tribute. p OTPOURRI ... There's no denying that the loss of Executive Chef Don Yamauchi to MGM Grand Detroit might have been felt ... but fine dining Tribute Restaurant, 12 Mile, west of Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, hasn't skipped a beat in lucking out hiring of his replace- ment. New Executive Chef Richard Davis brings quite a fine, prestigious, educational and experience background with him ... Plus attending the culinary arts programs at Schoolcraft and Oakland Community col- leges, Rich trained under Chef Milos Cihelka and Master Pastry Chef Joe Decker — there are few better — along with world-class chefs in Chicago and France. In Chicago, Rich was chef de cuisine at the classic and highly touted Les Escargot, well- noted for its French cuisine ... In Digne les Baines, France, he worked at Restaurant Le Pres d' Eugenie with Michel Girard, known worldwide as the father of spa cooking, using methods like poaching, a lot of olive oil and reductions instead of heavy cream sauces ... And at Restaurant Moulin du Mougins with Roger Berget and Retaurant Georges Blanc in Bonnards, both excellent 5-star gourmet French dining establishments. Rich also loves pastry-making and apprenticed under Decker at the former Golden Mushroom in Southfield ... But his bigger love is for the elegant cuisines like those he produced as sous chef at the Golden Mushroom, under Executive Chef Milos, and at the elegant restaurants in Chicago and France. Rich's rack of lamb is straight out of the Golden Mushroom, roasted with parsley, garlic and red wine ... his smoked salmon is Chef Milos' recipe and prob- ably can attribute its being more outstanding than many others to the amount of time the salmon is cured and smoked ... In fact, Rich's overall style seems to reflect much of the Golden Mushroom in its very prestigious heyday under owner Reid Ashton ... Including the classic game and meat dishes he executes with luscious roasted sauces. Chef Richard is a local native, attend- ing Plymouth-Canton High ... After Les Escargot, he went to nationally acclaimed Tapawingo in Ellsworth, Mich., as executive chef for eight years ... Then came his being lured to the fine Latitude in Bay Harbor ... and now, luckily for the Wisne clan, to top dog Tribute ... All in all, give huge credit to master Chef Milos Cihelka ... His train- ing of what it is likely to be a master chef is something Rich says he will never forget ... He often returns to the fundamentals of cooking that Milos showed, remarking that it is these basics that help showcase his classic cuisine and overall vision of tried and true good food. FALL MENU BY Volare Ristorante on Pontiac Trail, Wixom, reflects owner/chef Dino Grossi's passion for new items dif- ficult to find elsewhere, like his braised veal cheeks ... A choice selection, the 14- ounce American Kobe N.Y. strip is carried by few places because, unlike at Volare, in most cases any kind of Kobe, Japanese or American, can be disappointing if not pre- pared correctly. AMONG THE BIGGEST bargains in town? ... No doubt about it, and 420 people FREE broke all records to attend this year's Lights, Camera, Auction event by Variety, the Children's Charity, at Emagine Theater in Novi ... All-you-can-eat strolling dinner from 20 res- taurants that donated their time, services and goodies for Variety's wonderful Bikes for Kids program enjoyed by needy and special-needs youngsters ... Free popcorn, free candy, free wine, free soft beverages, free choice of four movies, not to mention the conviviality ... Only things folks had to shell out any green for were the cash liquor bar and silent auction with some terrific buys ... The sneak showing of Kalamazoo shot in his hometown with Kalamazoo signs and familiar sights is loved by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Restaurant fun name Franks Anatra had Chicago-style hotties, all beef topped with pickles ... Parties With Class had people lined up for Howard Waxer's usual Bananas Foster ... only thing missing from Townsend Hotel's Rugby Grill in Birmingham was its flaming dishes ... Buddy's Pizza fooled all with no pizza but a yummy Caesar salad prepared by long-time soup genius LaVerne Hatchett, etc. ... The 420 attendance was more than 100 over last year's shindig, and with so many finding out what a buy this is at $50 a person, those who plan next year's Lights, Camera, Auction may have to stretch some walls. GENERAL MANAGER at Forte, S. Woodward, Birmingham, Dave Duey, formerly of the closed Fox and Hounds, Bloomfield Hills, isn't a stranger to all his current employees ... With him are Dave's former Fox and Hounds staffers Michele Heeder, Fred Dip, Bobby Schrandt, Amy Ray and Nikki Medaugh. GOOD SERVER Dept. ... Betty Gareke at Farmington Coney Island (Leo's), Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, an amiable and efficient waitress with Leo's almost 25 years, as it celebrates its silver anniversary in November. I REMEMBER Dept. ... "My mother and father, Minnie and Morris Baron, owned Baron's in South Haven where she continu- ally made matzah meal pancakes for Martha Raye and composer David Rose, who stayed in nearby Sleepy Hollow but ate all their meals at Baron's, even though they never performed in South Haven. South Haven today is a marina with condominiums. No more a wonderful Jewish resort that brings back so many great memories." ... Shirley Baron. YEARS BACK, gents used to dream of her holding their hands ... Today, it has come true for many ... Russi Arden, Michigan's first Jewish cotton-tailed bunny at the Playboy Club on Jefferson in Detroit, is mani- curist at Anna's Barbers (the sign only says "Barbers',') in Simsbury Plaza, Farmington Road and 14 Mile, West Bloomfield. CONGRATS ... To Eric Schiffer on his birthday ... To Mona Schey on her birthday ... To Tony and Marianna Abels on their fourth anniversary ... To Dave and Fayga Dombey on their 59th anniversary. II Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet. , BLOOM: thFA AMOTUS P OOdTATN O LATKES Thru December 13th Bloom's Complete Catering in your Home, Hall or Clubhouse 248.855.9463 www.VineyardDeli.com HOLIDAY GIFT BASKETS & NUT TRAYS • Local Same Day Shipping • Guaranteed Holiday Nationwide Delivery NIBBLES & NUTS S for www.,NibblesAndNuts.com 248.737.8088 32418 NORTHWESTERN HWY. • BETWEEN 14 & MIDDLEBELT C14 November 22 • 2007 iN all oCCaSt