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Diamonds Are Forever

Famed Diamond Jim Brady's Bistro & Bar reopens in new Novi location.

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hat do you look for when
house salad with toasted pine
selecting a restaurant to visit?
nuts, plus premises-made
... Longevity is a feature,
garlic rolls, served by smiling
but only if continually retained ... Menu
highly experienced wait per-
selection has its value ... Price, of course,
sons.
is important if the same quality and por-
Enjoy appetizers like shrimp
tion as usual is also kept.
cakes, farmer's plate, mussels,
All these attributes among many oth-
etc., plus the very popular crisp
ers are what American Culinary Certified
flatbreads with prosciutto and
Executive Chef Mary Brady and new chef/
goat cheese or with fresh moz-
business partner Susan Juergens have
zarella, roasted tomato, etc.
attained with innovative creations in one
And few will not remem-
cozy and comfortable package ... Their
ber those great Diamond Jim
Diamond Jim Brady's Bistro & Bar in a new Brady's burgers ... now served
location of the same Novi Town Center
amid the comfortable surroundings at
with its four-sided clock on Novi Road
the new DJB with the same bar counter as
south of 1-96 is a destination that is already years ago in the Southfield Town Center,
attracting former and new customers to
and the large stove and iron horse from
the fresh look.
Seven Mile Road,
The previous
Detroit, etc. ...
larger dining room
Diamond Jim's Big
has given way to a
Burger, Charlie
smaller, but more
Brown Burger and
relaxed 65-seater
Pancho Burger ...
that oozes charm
as good as ever ...
and intimacy ...
as is the great Jim
This, coupled with
Brady's chili with
Mary's and Susan's
its classic 1954
culinary expertise,
recipe ... And
makes for good
Mary is looking
solid enjoyable
as good as ever,
dining ... Add to
too ... All never-
this an all-year
to-be-forgotten by
patio for 25 with
generations.
Mary Brady and Susan Juergens
heat lamps and
Moving to
drapes when needed during inclement
another location has its advantages and
weather.
disadvantages ... But there is one thing
The charming casual, but contemporary that cannot be removed ... the reputation
menu with diversified selections include
for consistency of a restaurant such as
items not seen at Diamond Jim Brady's
Diamond Jim Brady's.
before ... like a modern innovation in
This Mary had built up through the
potato-crusted Lake Superior whitefish,
years, and now with a former student of
crusty mustard chicken breast, etc., plus
hers whose ideals are in close proximity
DJB's wonderful Scottish salmon ... All
with Mary's as a working partner/chef, the
come with a delightful Caesar salad or
reputation is enhanced even more.

For many restaurateurs
going from a larger-space
operation to a smaller venue
might constitute a problem ...
But folks are not talking about
just anyone ... Mary Brady is
a chef/owner who could make
culinary magic in a small dan-
delion-sized patch and have it
come out smelling like a field
of orchids ... She is that good.
The togetherness of Mary
and Susan is like a dining mar-
riage made in heaven ... Mary's
thorough expertise coupled with Susan's
prominent capabilities, formerly 12 years
as executive chef at Streetside Seafood in
Birmingham, the twosome make for a fine
presentation of even more dining delight at
Novi's Diamond Jim Brady's Bistro & Bar.
GRAND RE OPENING of Morel's res-
taurant by Matt Prentice, Northwestern
Highway south of 14 Mile, Farmington
Hills (next to RJ's American Grill), is set
for Wednesday, April 11, as a benefit with
all proceeds to Variety — The Children's
Charity ... $100 per person includes four-
course dinner choice off Morel's menu
and wine pairings ... Event chairperson is
Judith Tappero ... Reservation hours will
be 6:15-7:45 p.m. ... Call (248) 258-5511
or email variety@variety5detroit.com.
READER MINI REVIEW ... By Dennis
Green ... "Sharon and I dined recently at
Maisano's Italian Restaurant in Novi. Nestled
in a small strip center on Novi Road just
north of 10 Mile, this family-oriented place
has been an area favorite for over 30 years.
"For starters, we both partook of the
delicious Maisano Salad. For entrees, our
pleasant waitress suggested the cheese
ravioli for Sharon with palomino sauce
instead of the traditional marinara. I
opted for the Maisano Trio, a healthy sam-
ple of cannelloni, lasagna and pasta with

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meat sauce. Both dishes were served hot,
very flavorful and abundant portions.
"For dessert, we shared a Canolli stuffed
with chocolate chips. Sharon and I will
definitely go back."
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT.... "I
love Southern-fried chicken but my boy-
friend will not order anything unless it is
kosher. Where can we buy kosher Southern-
fried chicken here?" ... Dana Rubens
[Others have asked this too, Dana, and I
don't know but will check. I do remember
that Lil Bloom used to have it years back
in buckets or trays on Coolidge in Oak
Park at the kosher carryout counter run by
her daughter Shirlee Bloom, who is now at
Vineyards in Farmington Hills.]
MORE QUESTIONS ABOUND as main-
tenance of good health dining in restaurants
gains much prominence ... As to whether
short-order cooks are required to wear
gloves, they absolutely cannot touch ready-
to-eat foods with bare hands ... Disposable
gloves are one way to prevent bare-hand con-
tact with ready-to-eat foods ... Another way
is to use forks, tongs or spatulas.
GRAND MARSHALS for this year's W.R.
& Lillian Kemler Walk of Ages by Jewish
Senior Life, Sunday, Aug. 26, will be Howard
and Steve Tapper ... The 2012 chairper-
sons for the event at West Bloomfield JCC's
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Campus,
are Wendy Heller Kippleman, Nori Rubin
and Linda Solomon.
CONGRATS ... To Danny Cohn on
his birthday ... to Howard Rosen on his
birthday ... To Honora Lipson on her 90th
birthday ... To Ed Winkler on his birthday
... To Jeff Jacobs on his 41st birthday ...
To David Rogovein on his 60th birthday
... To Muriel "Murt" Sherbow on her 87th
birthday ... To Maurice "Bud" Sherbow on
his 87th birthday. ❑

Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .

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