arts & entertainment >> the best of everything Soul Food Heaven Beans & Cornbread's acclaimed cooking was inspired by Grandma. A s he sat with eyes partly closed cherishing every bite of the holiday dinners he enjoyed so much at the home of his grandmother, the youngster may not have realized it then, but it was to be the beginning of a cher- ished career as a restaurant owner. Winning an award recently as one of America's best soul food restaurants has placed Beans & Cornbread in the top echelon position it deserves with south- ern dishes that owner Patrick Coleman remembers served on Whitney near Dexter Boulevard by Grandma June Cooper who today lives with his mother, Yvonne Coleman, in Arizona. The Southfield restau- rant on Northwestern Highway between 12 Patrick and Inkster recently Coleman celebrated anniversary No. 14, amazing patrons with its consistency of soul food varieties. From the day it first opened its doors, customers knew that they were in the midst of something different as they perused the menu and selected choice items like the prize-winning gumbo, salm- on croquettes, macaroni and cheese, etc. ... But also discovering that items not on the menu included something they can- not get at too many soul food operations ... Like Swamp Thing, catfish filet on a bed of rice smothered in Louisiana-style gumbo and topped with collard greens and shrimp ... Along with orders for Louisiana crab cakes, fried lobster tails, etc. Patrick has combined his experience in fine dining with authentic soul food presentations of items like portobello mushrooms and French-style sauces with linen tablecloths ... Another huge asset that makes B&C much different from other soul food restaurants is more health- conscious food with no lard or trans-fat content ... In all the food preparation at Beans & Cornbread absolute attention is given to the accommodation of every restricted dietary need ... Also daily features that include fresh fish specials. In the 14 years since opening, it is estimated that Beans & Cornbread has seen more than a million people come through its doors to eat almost 180,000 pounds of baby back ribs, about 650,000 pounds of chicken, around 300,000 pounds of salmon and almost 7 million authentic cornbread muffins, of which B&C is one of the few soul food restau- rants in America that uses real corn bread. Beans & Cornbread is noted, too, as the nation's only restaurant to have the popu- lar and delicious Sweet Potato Muffins ... When B&C first opened, they were created by Patrick's executive chef then and today have resulted in almost 9 million gobbled up for dining-in or carryout, and around 190,000 gallons of gumbo ... Plus, the restaurant's luscious Sweet Potato Muffins are also available now at Hiller's in Commerce Township and West Bloomfield, Plum in West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Township. Big sellers at B&C continue as fried chicken, catfish over rice smothered in gumbo and topped with shrimp and collard greens, and delicious salmon cro- quettes. Taking off big has been the new Sunday brunch 11-2 with live entertainment and the abutting Red Velvet Lounge with seat- ing for 60 that includes four two-person high-top tables and a well-stocked bar ... The main dining room seats 80 more. B&C is a seven-day-a-week operation ... Mon.-Thurs., 11 - 9:30; Friday, 11-10:30; Saturday, noon-10:30; Sunday, 11-9:30. Yes, in celebrating its 14th anniversary, Beans & Cornbread has made an indelible mark in the world of dining ... And, certainly, is highly deserving of the many accolades it has received and is still receiv- ing as one of American's finest soul food restaurants. READER MINI REVIEW ... "I recently returned from a business trip to Chicago and enjoyed dinner at what is prob- ably one of the best-kept secrets among Windy City visitors. It is the Half Shell on Diversey Street, an incredible seafood restaurant that features some of the best Alaskan king crab legs anywhere, with almost two pounds of crab legs cooked to perfection for under $35. Its Mulligan stew is magnificently chocked full of sea- food and fish in a delightful assortment that combines to present a delicious taste. The Half Shell's shrimp selection is one of the largest you'll see anywhere as are the Dungeness crab. This is truly a dining favorite of seafood aficionados." REMEMBERING WHEN Dept. ... From Norman Prady "I received a phone call from the Jewish News some years ago. It seems that my ad agency had run an ad for a client, a chain of shoe stores, urging folks to consider new foot- wear when they dressed for the upcoming High Holy Days. The ad featured a full- page photo of a man walking to services, carrying his prayer shawl in a beautifully embroidered velvet bag. "'We've got a problem with the shoe ad, said the Jewish News caller. `People are calling and saying it was sacrilegious to use the Star of David in an advertisement: "(Is that in the Torah?' I asked. `Are there religious laws about advertising? It's hard to imagine anyone got to that thousands of years ago: "'I don't know, said the Jewish News caller, 'but they are very upset. What shall I say to them about the Star of David in this ad?' I remember asking him how they feel about it on a salami. "The ad ran." MICHIGAN JEWISH Sports Foundation's 22nd annual Hank Greenberg Memorial Invitational will be Monday, June 4, at Franklin Hills Country Club ... 10th annual William J. & Lillian Kemler Walk of Ages at the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Campus, West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center, is set for Sunday, Aug. 26. THE LARGE ATTENDANCE at the recent Chicken Soup Contest by Temple Shir Shalom at its nearby religious school made it a three-way tie with their People's Choice votes from attendees ... Steve's Deli, Sherry Fealk and Amy Gers Judge's selections were Steve's Deli for best matzah ball soup, Tony's Deli for best noo- dle soup and Zoup for best contemporary chicken soup ... Other winners were Vicki Goldsmith, Stacey Shimones, Jan Jacobs- Walt and Amy Gers, again. CONGRATS ... To Sy Manello on his 75th birthday ... To Paula Weiser on her birthday ... To Mark Sherbow on his 66th birthday ... To Stephanie Freedman on her birthday ... To Betty Benson on her 92nd birthday ... To Rhonda Ginsburg on her birthday ... 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