Arts & Entertainment

BEST OF EVERYTHING

-

Northern Lebanese With A French Twist

Le Chef's unique creations raise ethnic dining to an art form.

B

ack in an era that could be called
many kudos for its interesting
the Paris of the Middle East ...
the heyday of restaurants, two
and tasty preparations ... A
There are no cans ... Almost
of the many Detroit standouts
chef who is also a prideful co-
everything is prepared from
in ethnic dining were Cedars of Lebanon,
owner is worth a ton, not to
scratch ... Its stuffed cabbage
owned by Chuck and Dorothy Joseph, and
mention an integral part of a
accompanied with premises-
the Sheik, owned by Esther Michaels.
devoted family operation that
made yogurt, is served at room
Their successes were due to abilities in
presents a delightful culinary
temperature ... A wonderful
presenting good authentic Lebanese dishes experience ... While Malaki
vegetarian dinner is the difficult
unknown in this area ... But even they
heads the kitchen, washing
to find MS/V3A, charbroiled
would have been hard-pressed to come
her tabouleh salad seven
eggplant made from the whole
Danny Raskin
up with rarely found dining specials like
times before allowing it to be
eggplant before peeling, pre-
Senior Columnist
Mulukhiyeh Stew, usually enjoyed with
served, hubby Fernand does
pared with tomatoes, chopped
chicken, and Fasolia, the noted Lebanese
the butchering of fish, meat
onions and olive oil ... If look-
main dish served with white bean stew
and chicken for her ... Their
ing elsewhere for appetizers
and tenderloin tips ... Or menu items like
son Edward Bitar is co-owner/general
Kibbe Halabeyeh, ground beef mixed with
Kousa Mihshi (stuffed zucchini) with rice
manager/chef, and daughter Melissa Bitar
cracked wheat, onion and Halabi spices, or
and ground beef and either red tomato
is assistant manager and hostess.
Samki Harra, the fish with seven imported
sauce or yogurt and chopped
Family-owned restaurant
seasonings mixed by Fernand and topped
garlic and dry mint leaves
operations are among those
with tahini sauce, or Shanklish, dry aged
... Or another big-seller dish
of which there are few better
goat cheese, onions, tomatoes and olive oil,
that nobody else has, the
... Especially when per-
plus others, chances are that you may not
lamb shank bamia/rice, an
sonal pride is apparent in the
find them ... Fernand also makes the fine
okra stew cooked with lamb
presentation of its food ...
Sujak, sausage with selected spices
shank or vegetarian.
All the authentic Lebanese
Seven-day hours weekly are ... Monday-
These are among the fine
cuisine at Le Chef is made
Thursday, 10:30-10; Friday, 10-30-11;
authentic dishes now served
in-house, and it even rolls
Saturday 11-11; Sunday, noon-9 ... Seating
at Le Chef, Northwestern
its own thin-skinned grape
in the dining room is 110 with its outdoor
Highway, south of 14 Mile,
leaves.
co-owners a nd chefs:
patio serving another 30.
Farmington Hills, on the
Numerous Le Chef's
Ed Bitar and his mom,
Count Le Chef as another very clean pre-
road to Home Depot and
dishes may sound familiar,
Milaki Biter.
ferred Michigan ethnic dining destination
Sam's Club.
but each seems to have a dis- selection.
Ethnic dining, in itself, always presents
tinctly different taste that might be expect-
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. ...
interesting characteristics for many palates ed from the use of various spices unknown "I'm told that Dan Gilbert, owner of the
... And when it offers added flairs to the
to many ... This along with items that can- Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team, also
traditional that style takes added and high- not be gotten anywhere else in this region
has connections in the restaurant business
ly acceptable dimensions of satisfaction.
are important factors in destination dining. here. Is this true? And what restaurant is
The Le Chef name fits the person
A French influence is apparent at Le
it?" ... Ernie Kohlin.
responsible for Lebanese cooking at its
Chef, with Lebanon gaining its indepen-
[The only restaurant connection that
best ... She is co-owner/chef Malaki Bitar
dence from France in 1943 ... Edward was
I am aware of in which Dan Gilbert, also
whose Northern Lebanese fare is receiving
born in Beirut, sometimes referred to as
owner of Quicken Loans, has or had any

dining game association is that of being
the son of the late Sam Gilbert, former
co-owner with Irving Sacks at Saksey's
Lounge years ago on Woodward in Detroit,
and Dan was just a little tot back then.]
MAIL DEPT. ... "I lived in Detroit for
39 years and many of the early years were
spent on Clairmount. My three children
live in Michigan, and I have been very
homesick but cannot travel to visit or live. I
need your help. Several of us senior women
meet, greet, eat and talk about the Detroit
we remember, families, girlfriends, boy-
friends, neighborhoods, restaurants, etc.
the last Wednesday of every month. If any-
one lives near or is visiting in Woodland
Hills, San Fernando Valley, Calif., where the
restaurant is located, we would love to have
them join us. My phone number is (818)
225-8487." ... Elizabeth Layne.
THE AMOUNT OF golfers who have
gotten an "on the fly" hole-in-one is small,
and David Lippitt joins that select number
... His recent shot never hit the ground
and flew directly into the 155-yard par 3
hole at Huron Meadows Golf Course, play-
ing with brother Allen, son Richard and
Steve Fishman.
CONGRATS ... To Jan Shain on her
birthday ... To Eileen Foon on her birth-
day ... To Helen Ritter on her 100th birth-
day ... To Mollie Yarsike on her 18th birth-
day ... To Leonard Galper on his birthday
... To Bonnie Raskin on her birthday ...
To Leonard and Pearl Galper on their 61st
anniversary ... To Johnny and Suzie Katz
on their 40th anniversary.

Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

20% OFF CATERING IF YOU BOOK BY AUGUST 31ST AT:

COACH INSIGNIA
Samantha Sher
(313) 567-2622

CROWNE PLAZA
Kathy Charnley
(248) 348-5000 ext. 624

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Lizz Smith
(248) 646-0370 ext. 402

SHIRAZ
Samantha McCrossin
(248) 646-0370 ext. 218

RADISSON
Florina Boyle or Donna Rosen
(248) 644-1400 ext. 534

11 1114.

www.mattprenticerg.com

56

July 22 . 2010