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Don't Forget The Beer!
Microbrewery at Big Rock Chophouse adds to the dining pleasure.
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OTPOURRI
Giving gifts and owning a gift
And the beat goes on about
store are like night and day!
restaurant owner extraordinaire
You don't know anything about
Norm LePage, whose list of successful din- being a gift store owner!" ...
ing ventures would fill volumes ... People
"I'll learn',' said Judie, and that
have been so enthused with eating at his
she did so fast and in a big
Big Rock Chophouse on South Eton Street
way.
in Birmingham, they forget that he also
In 1975, Judie opened Slades
has one of the finest microbrewery opera-
in two little rooms at the
tions there in the state, headed by Dan
old Slade House in Franklin
Rogers, Norm's fine brewmaster ... And
Village ... And "went to the
will soon have big news about this excel-
college of hard knocks:' she
lent venture.
says today, while looking
In the meantime, his excellent executive
around her large quarters in
chef, Brian Henson, continues to put out
the Orchard Mall on Orchard Lake Road,
lunch and dinner fare with top-echelon
just north of 15 Mlle, West Bloomfield,
ranking ... Even from some-
where her stockroom is bigger
thing like just a salad ... once
than that entire first gift shop
a wedge of lettuce ... to Norm
of about 400 or fewer square
and Brian's signature salad
feet.
presentation today of a head
Judie's original smatter-
of baby iceberg lettuce with
ing of gift items has grown
tomatoes and bacon bits amply
immensely, which today is a
covered with Roquefort cheese
huge credit to her effervescent
... and the delicious Buffalo
ability to find unique silver-
meatballs which are being
ware, crystal, china, decorative
added to Big Rock's fall lineup. Norm LeP age
accessories, etc., while carrying
IT WAS NO contest ... Such
a large selection of bridal reg-
a good cook that friends talked
istry objects in her inventory
of her opening a restaurant ... But even
from all over the world ... Items include
with being a wonderful cook and having
one-of-a-kind and those that no other
a fervent love of good food, she thought
gift shop has plus her uncanny and end-
little about going into the restaurant busi-
less talents that also include working with
ness ... Especially with a mind that was
customers in designing elegant rooms and
set only on her greatest adoration, that of
beautiful tables.
opening a gift shop.
Instead of food, Judie's impeccable
In addition to cooking, Judie Koploy
tastes and vibrant personality went to her
has always enjoyed going to restaurants
keen flair for finding unique gift items
and tasting various styles of food ... with
... as Slade's Gift Shop celebrates its 36th
favorites like salmon, chicken, steak and
anniversary.
pasta ... as well as having a devotion to
FOLKS ASKING WHO Aunt Bea is
giving unique and well-thought-of gifts to
on the menu at Sweet Lorraine's [Aunt
friends.
Bea's Mac n Cheese] learn that it is the
Her gift shop love won out and after tell- name of TV's Aunt Bea on the former
ing her husband, he said, "You're kidding!
Andy Griffin Show ... Lorraine Platman's
husband, Gary Sussman, origi-
nally wanted to call it "Mac n
Cheese No. 21" because it took
21 different recipe changes
to perfect it ... But Lorraine
put the kibosh on that, says
Gary ... It sells so well that
Lorraine and Gary opened a
mac n' cheese spot in the food
court at Great Lakes Crossing
Outlets in Auburn Hills called
Sweet Lorraine's Mac n' Cheez!
Kitchen that has become a big
hit, with 12 kinds of mac n'
cheese plus soups, salads and sandwiches
... So much so that he and Lorraine are
searching for new locations in Ann Arbor
and the Metro Detroit area for their popu-
lar concept.
DANDY DINING DEAL ... Chicken
with green beans and black bean sauce ...
Complete dinner includes soup, egg roll,
tea and ice cream ... $11.95 one week only,
Thursday, Oct. 27, through Thursday, Nov. 3
... Golden Phoenix, Sugar Tree, Orchard Lake
Road, north of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield.
THOSE PROVERBIAL apples that keep
falling not too far from the tree come two
at a time as grandson and granddaughter
of former local delicatessen icons, Phil and
Dorothy Moscowitz, owners of the original
Embers Deli for more than 25 years, con-
tinue in another arm of the food business.
Their continual mark is the recent
opening of a second Breadsmith opera-
tion, on Haggerty, Commerce Township,
following their first on West Maple in
Bloomfield Township.
Kevin Brand was only around 15, bus-
sing tables and helping with carryouts,
when Phil and Dorothy sold Embers 20
years ago ... Stacey Brand was one of the
fine waitresses and went on to do the same
at Steve's Deli in Bloomfield Township
where Dorothy handled the register and
Phil assisted with deliveries ... Both Phil
and Dorothy are now retired ... as their
grandchildren carve their own success in
an arm of the restaurant business.
IT TOOK A BRUNCH to bring break-
fast, and for the first time since opening
more than 17 years ago, morning fare is
now a seven-day happening at O'Mara's
Restaurant on 12 Mile and Coolidge in
Berkley... With many of owner Kevin
O'Mara's brunch customers "bugging" him
to have sit-down breakfast seven days a
week, it is now available, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
MAIL DEPT. ... "I am one of four
children of 'Big Joe' Bale, former post com-
mander who was a founding member of
the Bale Post of the Michigan Department
of the Jewish War Veterans. My dad lives in
Southern California now, age 88.
"Your article about the Bale Post being
incorporated into the Michigan Jewish
Sports Hall of Fame has nothing but
praise from our family. However, there is
one typo worth clearing up. `Big Joe' and
`Little Joe' were actually first cousins, not
brothers. But the spirit of your article and
the Distinguished Service Cross record of
little Joe's' heroic exploits are correct.
"The current recognition is long over-
due and a fitting addition to the Jewish
Hall of Fame induction ceremony." ...
David Bale
Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
Induction Dinner and Ceremony is
Monday, Nov. 7, at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek, Southfield.
CONGRATS ... To Scott Raskin on his
50th birthday ... To Melissa Litvin on
her birthday ... To Diana Richmond on
her birthday ... To Robert Friedman on
his 60th birthday ... To Sally Margolis on
her 90th birthday ... To Hy and Marilyn
Blinder on their 65th anniversary. II
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
REDISCOVER THE NEW AND IMPROVED
ANDIAMO BLOOMFIELD
Award-Winning Restaurant Designer Ron Rea has given
Andiamo Bloomfield an extreme restaurant makeover.
Doors reopen to the public on Friday, November 4.
Come an enjoy delicious food and extraordinary
ambience at Andiamo Bloomfield.
52
October 27 2011
JN
BLOOM I ELD TOWNSHIP
6676 Telegraph
Bloomfield. MI 48301
248-865-9300