Business & Professional
'REPRENEUR
GROUP
On-site Cooking
Hiller's expands Polly's line to include
her homemade Jewish dishes.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2009
7 P.M. - 12 A.M.
Hiller's CEO
Jim Hiller
says Polly
Carpenter's
stuffed
cabbage is
better than his
grandmother's.
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All groups welcome (2, 4, 8, I 0 or more) - family, friends and co-workers.
We'll keep track of the reservations so you can enjoy some holiday fun!
BUFFET MENU
Chef's Selection of Hors d'oeuvres
Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor
p
olly Carpenter of West
Bloomfield is the Jewish
mother of Hiller's Markets.
She started with her homemade baked
goods more than three years ago; now
she's whipping up nine homemade
prepared dishes that could proudly
grace any holiday table.
Brisket, mile-high kugel, chicken
soup with matzah balls, sweet and
sour cabbage, glazed meatloaf — all
exclusive to Hiller's and made on the
premises in one of the store kitchens.
"One day, I was doing a demo, pass-
ing out samples of cakes and talking
to customers and Victor [Iagnemma,
Hiller's general manager] overheard
me',' Carpenter recalled. "He said, `I bet
you're a good cook: I said, 'I am, but
I'm a better cook than baker.'"
He dared her to prove it. So
Carpenter prepared some traditional
Jewish dishes and brought them to a
corporate meeting also attended by
some Hiller's chefs.
"Victor said it was the best chicken
soup he'd ever tasted:' she said.
Hiller's started offering her pre-
pared dishes at the West Bloomfield
store in August and at the Commerce
store at the end of September. She
cooks in the stores and says she is
given free reign.
"I just love to cook — that's me:'
Carpenter said.
Now she's a Hiller's brand, with her
own distinctive, old-fashioned label fea-
turing a caricature of herself in an apron.
"I never thought it would turn into
this — it's exploded;' Carpenter said.
She's gone from baking everything
herself to hiring several cooks to work
with her. And she's still doing store
demos on weekends.
"I'm finally starting to make money,
and I'm reinvesting it in the business:'
she said. "Four years later, Jim Hiller is
still my guardian angel; he has helped
me so much to be a success:'
Hiller, CEO of the local, family-
owned company with area seven stores,
believes in supporting local entrepre-
neurs. He helped launch Jack Aronson's
Garden Fresh Salsa Co. in Ferndale
by selling his products in his stores.
Laura's Delicate Desserts made by Laura
Garelik of Farmington Hills are gluten-
free and sold exclusively at Hiller's. And
now he's offering products made by
Yossi Benjamin of Yossi's Israeli Cuisine
in West Bloomfield and baked goods
from the Beirut Bakery in Redford.
"Hiller's has a long history of this','
Hiller said. "We seek local people
striving to build careers in the food
business and work with them. This is
one of the things we do that's just a
part of our community involvement
and support; it's very important:'
But he has a special spot in his
heart for Polly Carpenter.
"Polly is the real thine he said.
"You seldom meet someone with such
impeccable work ethic. She has the spirit
and the drive of a lion, and she produces
wonderful products. Her stuffed cabbage
is even better than my grandmother's.
What's not to be supportive of?
"It's been a privilege to be able to
mentor her and watch her success. It's
the history of all our families — we
started small and got better and bet-
ter. That's my hope for her." I I
Housemade Rolls And Breads
Butternut Squash Soup
Mixed Greens With Carrots,
Cucumbers,Tomatoes
Asian Salad With Napa, Red And Green
Cabbage, Carrots and Wonton, Ginger
Mustard Dressing
Beef Carving Station
Chestnut Bread Pudding
Togarashi Crusted Salmon
Basmati Rice
Teriyaki Sauce
Grilled Vegetable Lasagna
With Pesto And Ricotta Cheese
Panko And Herb Crusted Chicken
Roasted Red Potato, Boursin Cream
Chef's Selection Of Seasonal Vegetables
Holiday Dessert Table
Coffee,Tea And Soft Drinks
¶SO par porten t inClitliVIA of tax v
gratuity and valet parking,
Advance ticket males, cash bar,
Space it lirnitedt ratervationt
are required,
oritiPhilik6*
&ow?, $.2riemive gedinak;9,1,
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For ticket, contact Laurie Oy.ja. : at
_Qp7 I -00t.gw.coprier at .2.40. 647a17.7410..
.toigrocko
248.647.7774
245 S. Eton St, Birmingham, MI 48009
bigrockchophouse • thereservebirmingham.com "4
November 19 • 2009
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