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Morels Sprouts Again!
Matt Prentice's upscale gem to be reborn at former Macaroni Grill site.
S
remember how good the pizza
ince receiving striking trans-
is. The visit however, reminded
formations it has been called
me of this and what else is now
many things, including "the
awesome on Buddy's menu.
most beautiful unoccupied building on
Between myself and other fam-
Northwestern Highway:' etc.
ily members I had opportunities
Given a new outer skin of beauty and
to try a couple of other items.
the beginnings of an electrifying inside
"I had forgotten how amaz-
transformation, the completely gutted
former Macaroni Grill previously intended ing the chicken strips and ranch
to become Mykonos Greek Taverna, will be dressing are. They are so meaty
reopened again ... but under a new name, and tender, and the seasoning is
great. The minestro-
new operator and new theme.
ne soup is another
The beautiful rejuvenated
favorite. It's thicker than a
return of Morels takes over
broth and full of veggies.
on Northwestern Highway
"My sister Christine had a
just south of 14 Mile Road,
tuna salad. I had to try it. It's
Farmington Hills.
a fresh and clean-tasting tuna
Instead of being another
with just the right amount of
Robert Asmar develop-
Wit dressing and veggies mixed in.
ment (Asmar and son Vince
"Michael tried the new-to-
Asmar own the nearby R.J.'s
Matt Prent ice
us Robby Burger. The Robby
American Grille), it will
Sauce was delicious and the
remain his property but with
shredded lettuce and pickles were all the
a long-term lease to CEO Matt Prentice
sandwich needed to complete a great and
and the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group.
flavorful burger.
Projected opening again of the onetime
"A wonderful gluten-free pizza is now
very popular Morels that became Shiraz
available. My Aunt Kathy Vasco has celiac
on Telegraph Road in Bingham Farms, is
disease and she told us about this new
loosely slated for late in March.
offering on the Buddy's menu. I was curi-
Somewhat like the former Macaroni
ous about the flavor as I love the regular
Grill and Chili's, the location will also
crust pizza and couldn't imagine this
give people a double choice on different
pizza would be as good. I was pleasantly
American dining selections as Morels will
surprised by its flavor. It's thicker than the
no doubt retain its upscale popularity.
normal crust but very good. Because my
Opening plans call for Morels to tenta-
aunt has to eat gluten-free, she has tried
tively serve only dinner at the beginning.
many gluten-free products, and said this
The Matt Prentice Restaurant Group
and its former name of Unique Restaurant was the first item that actually tasted nor-
mal to her. She loves it and recommends
Corp. have been a Jewish community din-
all celiacs give it a try. They won't be dis-
ing and catering favorite since the early
appointed.
1980s.
"Thank you Buddy's Pizza for continuing
MAIL DEPT. ... "My husband, Michael,
to amaze us with your food and for making
and I moved away years ago. We recently
choices like bringing in a gluten-free pizza.
came back to visit family and went to our
I wish we lived doser!" ... Laurie Toth
old favorite, Buddy's Pizza. Growing up, I
READER MINI REVIEW
... From Dennis Silber ...
"Many have long considered
Joe's Stone Crab in South
Beach one of the great
restaurants in America. It
is going on 100 years, and
the lines to get in are still
anywhere from one to three
hours long. Since moving
permanently to Boca Raton
about 10 years ago, Debbie
and I haven't allowed the
extra driving distance to get in the way of
our Joe's addiction.
"In addition to the spectacular out-
of-this-world stone crabs, we've become
hooked on the many great side dishes.
Upon being seated in one of the four
adjoining dining rooms, the very profes-
sional waitstaff immediately set the table
with generous cocktails of our choice,
scrumptious trays of breads and rolls and
the first course of Joe's famous coleslaw,
which is not just any coleslaw, so tasty and
topped with a large dollop of relish and
tomato slice.
"After deciding on which size stone
crabs (medium, large or colossal) served
on chilled platters of 15 to 20 of each
with Joe's super special mustard sauce,
the knowledgeable wait persons help you
decide on one of the potato side dishes of
french-fried sweet chips, skinny sweets
and parsley garlic, hashed brown, lyon-
naise, garlic and others. Having a few
couples at our table allowed us to choose
several varieties and split them among us.
The vegetable side dishes are large and
gourmet-style ... Grilled tomatoes baked
with cheese and spinach, spinach steamed,
creamed or creamed in garlic, are special
highlights.
"Joe's Stone Crab also offers fine sea-
food, steaks and chops. Regardless of
LET ANDIAMO NOVI MAKE YOUR. SPECIAL DAY COMPLETE
■
WITH AN Fvf NTT AT ANDIAMO I TOVI
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your choice, they present a creative dining
experience.
"We have not found better key lime pie
anywhere, chilled and graham-cracker
crusted, plus a wonderful apple pie that in
my opinion is second to none'
SELLING D'PAULI'S in Sugar Tree
Plaza, West Bloomfield, after only two-
and-a-half years, was a decision that Paul
and Dina Demaz had to make, she says,
when they discovered her pregnancy
and the future of starting a family ...
"Traveling between our two restaurants
was going to be difficult. Our baby is
due in the beginning of July" ... Dina
and Paul's restaurant, Theo's Family
Restaurant, is located at 1669 Range Road
at I-94's exit 269, Port Huron, (810) 365-
1199.
HE MAY BE A semi-retired optometrist
but at 81 his eyesight is still probably bet-
ter than many of those he still examines
on call ... It had to be for Dr. Seymour
Rosen to steer his way as a winner in this
year's Cruiser Mackinaw, also known as
the Cocktail Cruise Regatta.
He is captain of his yacht Zebulon that
took first place in the all sail, no motor
race from Presque Isle Harbor to Rogers
City, among 19 participants in the four-
legged regatta ... It is called the cocktail
Regatta because of participants enjoying a
cocktail while in search of the four ports.
CONGRATS ... To Storm Kirschenbaum
on his 34th birthday ... To Barbara
Cohen on her birthday ... To Mitchell
Goldstein on his 62nd birthday ... To
Morrie Wasserman on his 94th birthday
... To Molly Berg on her 90th birthday ...
To Debbie Hoberman on her birthday ...
(Correction: To Gert Matz, not Metz, on her
birthday) ... To Jay and Marion Grant on
their 69th anniversary.
❑
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
To kick off our newly designed
multi-level banquet space, you can
ENTER TO WIN OUR
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)Ati Nether it's a wedding, rehearsal dinnerior shower, Jet us
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• Full service event planning staff • Never a Roonfif ,
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Exquisite menus starting at $16.00 per person
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Contact Allison Melvin, Catering Sales Manager at 248-348-3838
40
February 2 • 2012
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N ovi
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42705 GRAND RIVER AVE.
NOVI, MI 48375 1248-348-3838
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