all's fare
platinum plates
Adventures
In Dining
See what summer
in Detroit has to offer.
BY LISA BRODY
Angel
Summer in Metro Detroit is our reward for getting through
winter. So get out there, and enjoy the best of the area,
at all price points. 2Booli: Fresh Mediterranean Eats has
opened on West 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, offer-
A Ferndale cafe provides the meals and the art.
ing the recipes and traditions of Lebanon as well as a few
from Greece and Italy. Enjoy fresh-baked pitas, shwarma,
BY DAVID MOSS I PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN
kabobs, kafta, mujadra and the namesake tabouli salad
as well as Greek salad and spaghetti and meatballs. The
Angel's Cafe in Ferndale offers a visual and culi-
nary feast for the senses that is both calming and
inspiring. Original art adorns the walls of the two
neutrally painted dining rooms. The in-house artist
also happens to be the chef and proprietor, Keith
Floyd Pierce.
Trained in Italy and France, Pierce purchased
the space on Nine Mile Road 12 years ago for an
artist's studio. His love of cooking convinced him
to open a restaurant, now Angel's Cafe.
Everything at Angel's is made there. The meats
and produce are locally grown and organic. The
food is prepared carefully and lovingly, resulting in
a meal that offers treats for the eye and the palate.
Don't come to Angel's if you are rushing to
catch a movie. Plan to stay awhile, enjoying the art,
the sounds, the smells and the abundance of fresh
flavors.
Our first course was Crostini Mista. Crusty
Italian rolls are dipped in extra virgin olive oil,
dusted with garlic, herbs and Romano cheese, and
served with a piping-hot crock full of spring veg-
etables in a rich tomato sauce that was bursting
with flavor. Saving ourselves for the main course,
we ate about half and saved the rest to take home.
The next day, I poured the warmed sauce over pasta
and had a very nice snack.
On to the entrees. We chose the Rosemary
Lemon Chicken, which was simply amazing. A
nice-sized chicken breast is rubbed generously with
rosemary, garlic Parmesan and lemon and served
with steamed zucchini, squash and green beans over
couscous. The rosemary and garlic smelled wonder-
ful, and the chicken was juicy and flavorful.
Our other entree was Wild Caught Mahi Mahi
filet, rubbed in citrus juices and broiled with olive
oil. This dish was topped with a homemade mango
salsa and served with a rice pilaf that was loaded
with walnuts and fresh vegetables. The salsa with
this dish was delicious but a bit overwhelming for
the fish. I had to push some aside in order to really
Pb •
AUGUST 2009 • .1\ IIIiIIIIIUtIt
appreciate the flavor of the mahi mahi.
Other entrees include Garlic Chicken Breast,
topped with Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes and
artichoke hearts; Jamaican Jerk Salmon; and
several pasta dishes, including Penne Arrabiata,
with a Roman sauce of garlic, tomatoes, basil
and red chili cooked in olive oil and topped with
Romano cheese, and Florentine Cheese Ravioli in
Bechamela sauce, topped with portabella mush-
rooms, walnuts and Romano.
There are vegan entrees to choose from and at
lunchtime, several salad and sandwich options.
All desserts are homemade at Angel's each
day. The chocolate is processed in-house. There is
always a mousse and a torte. Gluten-free and aller-
gen-free baked goods are available with advance
notice. We were too full for dessert, so Chef Pierce
created a light last course of coconut mousse served
with fresh blackberries and a strawberry hand-
dipped in chocolate. This was the perfect ending to
a great meal.
Angel's Cafe is a reasonably priced restau-
rant that I could comfortably walk into and say,
"Surprise me!" The food was that good. L'
delightful Cafe Muse in Royal Oak has moved down the
street on Washington Ave. In its place, check out What
Crepe?, offering an adorable menu of sweet and savory
French crepes (thin pancakes), along with fair-trade cof-
fees and teas. Although it has a vegetarian slant, you can
find chicken and turkey on the menu. With only 26 seats,
you may have to stroll Royal Oak while you wait. Another
charming French cafe is Le Petit Zinc, on Trumbull at
Howard in Detroit. Le Petit Zinc also serves savory and
sweet crepes, baguette sandwiches, ratatouille and fresh
salads. All of the ingredients are from Eastern Market,
Avalon Bakery and other nearby proprietors. Check out
the Vietnamese cuisine at Da Nang at Main and 14 Mile
Road in Clawson. Casual, affordable, fresh and light,
it's a great addition to satisfy your Asian food craving.
Hilton Road Cafe, on Hilton Road in Ferndale, could have
its picture under "diner" in the dictionary. Enjoy the full
range of diner dishes, from wonderful egg and pancake
breakfasts to burgers, sandwiches and salads. There
is a Greek flair, from the Greek salad and spinach pie
to the desserts, and omelets are a specialty. The Rugby
Grill at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham has lightened
its look, menu and prices. Contemporary paintings give
the restaurant a fresher feel, and there are special lunch
ANGEL'S CAFE
2 12-
Mi:s, Road, Ferriday=
246 541 -C.888
and dinner offers: a $15 lunch on Mondays with three
entree choices and a $35-per-person dinner on Sundays
andeis.Pafi.oitrndaie.com
that offers a three-course chef's tasting menu. Stop in at
Sc , ..;psiSalads/Appetizers: 53.50- $ 12
taurant, to see how its menu makeover will make it more
Entrees. $ 1 1.45-S16
approachable for Detroit-area diners. Lelli's of Auburn
Saltwater at MGM Grand Detroit, the beautiful seafood res-
Hills on Opdyke is celebrating the venerable Detroit
H:\urs :
restaurant's 70th anniversary with a celebration for its
Tuesday-ThJrsday noon-9 p.m.
patrons. Enjoy its signature filet mignon dinner, antipasto
Friday-Saturday neon-10 p.m.
tray, soup, salad, pasta, filet, potatoes and spumoni for
Pr Nate parties maiba booked Sundays
$29.99 per person. And, finally, chef Artie Oliverio, owner
and Mondays Han tea service is available
of Maria's by Oliverio in West Bloomfield, has opened a
with 24
new locale, Oliverio's on Benstein, on Benstein Road in
notice
Commerce Township. Bon appetit!