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Master Knows Best

Steve & Rocky's fairly priced, upscale restaurant is among America's finest.

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Seating in the dining room is
ourmet magazine has called it
200, with additional seats for
"One of the best restaurants in
20 more at the bar.
America:'
Not many restaurants can
And it is much to the credit of its
make the claims of this award-
owner/chefs Steve Allen and Chuck
winning gourmet restaurant
"Rocky" Rachwitz that their Steve &
... Like buying live oysters,
Rocky's restaurant never since rested on
lobsters and mussels ... Fin
the many dining laurels it has amassed.
Now celebrating its 13th anniversary on fish caught the same day and
fresh scallops, etc. ... Suppliers
Grand River, Novi, Steve & Rocky's con-
of restaurant products attest to
tinues to receive accolades for its culinary
Steve and Rocky accepting only
presentations as an upscale restaurant
the best available ... During
with fair prices.
the summer months, Steve also
The two partners have proven to be
grows organic produce for the restaurant
a very good match ... Rocky with his
on his personal micro-farm at home.
gastronomic expertise as the late Chuck
The menu of Steve & Rocky's is heavy
Muer's corporate executive chef and
on
seafood, but quite diverse with beef,
owner of his own restaurants ... Steve
chicken and many other favorite foods.
as the excellent executive chef of the for-
Its lunch and dinner menus are printed
mer Golden Mushroom owned by Reid
daily and continually include fresh catches
Ashton and Master Chef Milos Cihelka ...
and unusual cuts of uniquely prepared
Although both knew each other as mem-
meat, including wild game.
bers of the Michigan Chefs de Cuisine
It is notable that the expertise and
organization, their togetherness came only
abilities of Steve
after both were "intro-
and Rocky also give
duced" again by Master
them the culinary
Chef Cihelka.
smarts to provide
The last 13 years has
gluten-free, vegan,
seen almost a million-
vegetarian and
and-a-half people din-
lactose-free items as
ing at Steve & Rocky's
well as the accom-
... Both chefs being
modation of most
steeped in seafood
guests' dietary
preparation, many of
needs.
their most popular
Since opening in
dishes are of the water Owner/Chefs Stev e Allen and
1998, the success
creatures ... Like more Chuck "Rocky" R achwitz
of Steve & Rocky's
than 70,000 pounds
restaurant has proven Milos Cihelka to
of perch and about 50,000 pounds of
be more than a great master chef ...
whitefish ... Diners have also enjoyed big
sellers including 90,000 pounds of chicken Certainly also an astute discerner of two
talented chefs that could and did mold
breast and almost 50,000 gallons of Milo's
into a successful restaurant partnership.
wonderful recipe of Golden Mushroom
MAIL DEPT. ... "Mark and I were at
soup that is still a very huge favorite, etc.
Steve & Rocky's is a seven-day operation Bacco [Northwestern Hwy., Southfield]
... Open Monday-Thursday, 11-10; Friday, the other night and were excited to know
that now is the time of year when Bacco
11-11; Saturday, noon-11; Sunday 1-9 ...

makes its wonderful Zucchini
Flowers. This is a seasonal
item on the menu, and it will
run through the end of sum-
mer. It is so delicious! Its moz-
zarella and prosciutto-stuffed
zucchini flowers are lightly
tempura battered with a coco-
nut paprika aioli.
Also, sometimes Bacco does
it with a lemon ricotta filling.
Along with being delicious, the
presentation is really pretty.
Having this as an appetizer
along with a glass of Italian wine from its
wonderful list, well, what can I say? It is all
so very good! ... Ida Nemzin
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. ...
"Please help me settle a gentleman's bet
with Aaron Stone. He and I have a small
wager at a dinner chosen by you on what
the Golden Mushroom was before it
became a top restaurant. I said it was a
restaurant and he said that it was a mar-
ket." ... Sid Waybin
[You win, Sid. Sorry I can't pick the
restaurant for you... But if it were still
open I might have picked the Golden
Mushroom ... The wonderful eating spot
was formerly the Rascal House owned by
Bernie Glieberman, Al Hacker and Jack
Meyers ... The property was previously
owned by Jack Peltz, who had the House of
Foods grocery at Seven Mile and Schaefer,
Detroit.]
WHEN THE rice pudding now comes
to diners at George's Honey Tree on
Northwestern, West Bloomfield, the reason
why it doesn't look the same and seems to
taste better could be because of coming in
a high, cocktail glass instead of a shallow,
unappetizing-looking ceramic saucer.
DURING THE HOT summer months,
its surprising that more restaurants do
not have cold soup like gazpacho, vichys-
soise or even beet borscht ... Those like
Vineyards on Northwestern, Farmington

ANDIAMO NOV[ OFFERS UNIQUE SPACES FOR

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Hills, are among the few smart enough to
serve gazpacho all seven days of the week.
The cold Spanish-oriented soup is made
with a tomato base and chock full of veg-
etables ... I've had it both with tomato
and avocado foundations ... But however
it is made, gazpacho is a delicious chilled
vegetable soup.
WHEN EATING IN a restaurant, it is
well to remember that the respect you
give a wait person will in most instances
be given back to you ... A meal out in a
dining spot can be a much more pleasant
experience if you are aware of the way you
treat waiters and waitresses ... In most
instances, they provide a higher quality
service to pleasant customers ... You will
enjoy the meal further if you treat your
server as you would like to be treated
yourself, with respect and dignity.
SHE UTTERED JUST an amazed
"Wow!" but one that to many on the
course at the time might usually have
suggested one thing ... Someone had hit
a doozy of a shot at the Springdale Golf
Course in Birmingham ... Sure enough,
Jane Mendelsohn had gotten her first hole-
in-one, using a seven iron on the sixth
hole while playing with Jane's regular golf
buddy, Linda Michaels.
REUNION DEPT. ... 60th by Detroit
Central High School graduating class
is Sunday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m., at Bay Point
Golf Club, Haggerty, West Bloomfield ...
Contact Janet Lowinger Halper, (248) 682-
4986, or Joanne Satovsky Shatanoff, (248)
682-8555.
CONGRATS ... To Dee Shapiro on her
birthday ... To Martin Gaynor on his 59th
birthday ... To Ethel Klavons on her 101st
birthday ... To Roger Richmond on his
66th birthday ... To Jerry and Mary Ellis
on their 45th anniversary ... To Barry and
Barbara Grant on their 40th anniversary. II

Danny's email address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

BAR/BAT MITZVAHS!

e would be excited to design a custom event

that would suit your style. taste & budget!

Book with a deposit before October 31
and receive a 20% Food Discount.

Also booking Showers. Baby Naming/Bris',
Corporate Events & Luncheons

Prices starting at $19.00 Per Person Pius tax and citatuity

Contact: Allison Melvin, Catering Sales Manager of
Andiamo Novi 248-348-3838/arnelvin@andiamoitalia.com

NCI\ I

42705 GRAND RIVER AVE.
NOVI, MI 48375 248-348-3833

andiamoitalia.c ola

August 18 2011

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