arts & entertainment >> the best of everything The Chop's New Chapter London Chop House's reopening stirs pleasant memories. London Chop House brought thanks from Sylvia Stein but turned into tears of joy after she opened a box attached to the stuffed present and discovered an engagement ring from Sid Fierman. Bartender Jose Reyes poured drinks at the LCH bar for Bea and Eddie Rogovein, who often sat there with Bea's hands in a little "fur muff" that was actu- ally their Chow dog, tiny Bikini, doing an award-winning stay- stillness with careful breathing. One of Hy Vogel's drawings from the old London Bar in 1938 James Beard called the noted is walls and floors can't talk ... London Chop House one of America's Otherwise, they could tell many 10 best restaurants... And it was many things that went on at the daily visits times compared to New York's "21" Club by the restaurant's virtual Who's Who list ... But to people like Lorraine and Sylvia, of friends and world-famous celebrities. The Chop will always be remembered as News of the world-famous "New the beginning of beautiful lives they had Yorky"-style London Chop House restau- with Marty and Sid. rant name being reincarnated no doubt So many stories about the London touched many people ... Located again Chop House, whose name comeback is downstairs in the basement of the same exciting to those who once called it a old Murphy Building stomping grounds, second home ... And the generations now called Murphy-Telegraph Building who heard so much about it from their on Congress, Detroit, The Chop will not parents and grandparents that they, too, be forgotten by numerous people like would become customers when it recent- Lorraine Blanck and Sylvia Fierman. ly opened again to the general public. Years back, Lorraine came to The Chop Its two-day pre-opening events were with a date who got a bit tipsy, and they attended by capacity crowds, many were driven home on the offer of Marty dancing to a live band and enjoying Blanck, who would later change her last champagne, wine and cocktails plus an name from Dennenberg to his by becom- excellent passed hors d'oeuvres selection ing Lorraine's husband. by Executive Chef Robert Scherer and One of the stuffed animals sold at the his kitchen staff ... Robert is only 26 I but a Culinary Institute grad and previ- pay bills ... along with the kitchen neces- ously executive sous chef at Emeril's New sities, fixtures, booths, etc. ... It was later Orleans Fish House in Las Vegas' MGM reopened and closed as the Downtown Grand Hotel ... In 1977, London Chop House, owned by when Jimmy Schmidt fol- Maurice and Venetia Adams, lowed Chef Pancho Valez at and shuttered until now the London Chop House, he It is really too much to imag- • was just 23. ine the original great London This is the fourth time Chop House eventually being that the London Chop House brought back as it previously name has been used by per- was ... However, Nico Gatsaros sons other than the Grubers and his mom and dad, Ted and and Al Woolf ... Its history Maria Gatsaros, prominent began back in 1926 when Danny Raskin longtime Detroit property Les Gruber opened his Den Senior C olurnnist developers, are making a fer- of 40 Thieves on John R and vent attempt and certainly Broadway ... Then eight deserve an A+ for trying. years later, he renamed it London Bar, MAIL DEPT. ... "I'm spending the and four years after, when moved to winter in Florida and have the Jewish the Muiphy Building on W. Congress, it News forwarded to me here. Upon read- became the London Chop House ... In ing about the food, etc., at Grangers 1941, two days after Pearl Harbor, both [Reader Mini Review by Dennis Silber, Les, his brother Sam and brother-in-law Feb. 12] I made the long ride from Boca Joe Wolfe jointly opened the Penobscot Raton and found that the food, service Club across the street ... When Les and and ambience were well worth it. I am Sam soon after entered the military, their a vegetarian and the veggie burger was Penobscot Club was closed and Al took fabulous, the best I've had in Florida. over interim sole management of the Thank you so much for the referral. I'm London Chop House ... This together- spreading the word" ... Diane Pomish ness of Les, the food and wine expert, QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. ... Sam the businessman, and Joe, the host, "You talked about Marvin's Museum and was broken when Al passed on in 1960 Tally Hall, and it brought back memories. ... Les and Sam ran it until Les became Didn't Tally Hall have a spot where you ill, and in 1982 it was bought by his could eat delicatessen and Chinese food friends, owners of Hughes & Hatcher at the same time?" ... Ernest Waserman. ... After Max passed on, Lainie found it [Yes, Larry Kravitz owned Deli Place tough sledding running LCH and sold and next door's China Express ... It was it to Detroit Heritage Fund and Heinz normal to see people eating a corned beef Prechter, who did what was said to be the sandwich with egg rolls or chow mein.] restaurant's first major renovation in 50 CONGRATS ... To Sandy Hermanoff years. on her birthday ... To Glen Rosenberg In the The Chop's final days, the hun- on his birthday ... To Jeffrey Sherbow on dreds of wonderful caricatures drawn by his 60th birthday ... To Maurie Reizen Hy Vogel that lined the walls and beams on his 93rd birthday ... To Eva Piasek on during his more than 47 years there and her birthday. ❑ at the restaurant's former locations and incarnations had to be sold at auction to Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . NEW MULTI -LEVEL BANCTET C OPENING MARCH 201 2 . ,. Whether it's a wedding, rehearsal dinner or showerNlet us design a custom event that suits your style, taste agaidget. Andiamo Novi also has the most unique barittt mitzvah space available. Book your event and Andiamo Novi will Pay You Back! Book your event between now and April 31, 2012 and recei 10% of the food portion of your bill on a gift card. Or apijil Contact Rachael Love for details at 248-348-3838 or rlove 46 March 1 2012 wards your bill. ndiamoitalia.com NoVI an ia moita 42705 GRAND RIVER AVE. NOVI, MI 48375 1248-348-3838