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'Hyde' Is Hip
The "beautiful people" discover another Birmingham hangout.
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OTPOURRI ... It has been
THE TEMPORARY closing
open only weeks, but the new
of Opus One on East Lamed,
Hyde Park Steakhouse on Old
Detroit, gives owner Jim Kokas
Woodward, south of Maple, Birmingham,
an opportunity to return to the
site of the former Forte, is already making
culinary roots of casual dining
crowded and happy waves ... It was espe-
... After opening Opus One in
cially so on this Saturday evening.
1987, it had a successful run
The previous Forte interior has been com-
as one of this region's finest
pletely gutted and replaced with a rich look upscale dining restaurants.
of wood paneling and framed oil paintings at
When it reopens again in
what has apparently become a new "in" place November, it will be as a casu-
for the beautiful people it attracts.
al-type eatery ... More like
Hyde Park Steakhouse in Birmingham
when Jim was general manager
is led by personable General Manager
and owner with his father, Gus
Daniel Cosenzi, formerly GM at Toasted
Kokas, at their Chambertin restaurant next
Oak in Novi, and, prior to that, the presti-
to the Holiday Inn on Michigan Avenue in
gious Palm restaurants in Atlanta, Chicago Dearborn.
and San Diego.
Fine dining is far from being on its
If the hostess also looks familiar, it is
deathbed ... But operators like Jim prefer
because she, too, is unforgetta-
to follow a trend of today in
ble ... Diana Walsh is the same
reverting back to casual, but still
previous owner of the former
somewhat upscale dining.
Commerce Grille in Commerce
Knowing Jim, I think he will
Township, who now continues
still have a semblance of finer
to lend much-added radiance
dining but more at casual dining
and pleasant greetings to Hyde
prices that are called for in these
Park Steakhouse customers.
troubled economic days ... Also,
Her past venture into the
a menu that will still include
upscale restaurant business
the
wonderful garlic sauce -
Hyde Park 's
without ever being in the din-
among
other dishes that he and
General M anager
ing game was an invaluable
his
dad
used to serve from his
Daniel Cos enzi
experience that has remained
Continental cuisine restaurant at
in Diana's blood and she
the Chambertin.
returns because of it ... Diana always did
NO MORE CONFUSION ... Finally,
love to entertain, being a former nightclub after 15 years, seven of them on Orchard
ballroom dancer, owning her own dance
Lake Road, Farmington Hills, and the Oast
studio and enjoying ownership involve-
eight years on Northwestern Highway,
ment in a Las Vegas casino.
West Bloomfield, the "George's Honey Tree"
Hyde Park Steakhouse in Birmingham,
name is being changed ... A new name,
open seven days for dining from 5 p.m.
"George's Restaurant:' by the same owner,
and bar from 4:30, seems to be one of the
George Lukaj, will finally take over to do
few national chain operations that have so
away with the problem that got out of
many former local employees with famil-
hand and ultimately had to be recognized.
iar looks as it bounces onto the local scene
The name George's Honey Tree will be
with a flourish.
no more after years of many very con-
fused customers of this and
the Honey Tree chain owned
by Tom Gula ... Ordering an
item at one or the other and
being told that it was never on
the menu became a mess.
DANDY DINING DEAL .
Lunch special ... Any chicken
sandwich and choice of soup,
including the highly popular
house-made tomato basil, $5.79,
one week only, Thursday, July
5-Thursday, July 12, 11 a.m.-4
p.m.... D'Pauli's Gourmet
Family Restaurant, Sugar Tree Plaza, Orchard
Lake Road, north of Maple, West Bloomfield.
ACCORDING TO Bob Golding of
Fortune Fish Co. and recently installed
Chaine de Rotisseurs of Michigan
Gastronomic Society bailie, he hears that
Cheesecake Factory has intentions of
building a restaurant next to Cobo Hall
in Detroit ... Alethea Rowe, senior direc-
tor, marketing and PR, the Cheesecake
Factory, says, "There are no plans to
open a restaurant in the Michigan area.
However, our restaurant development
team is always on the lookout for A-1 sites
that fit our criteria for success:'.
MAIL DEPT. ... "We used to love
going to Chic-N Ribs by Miles before it
was closed when on Woodward in Royal
Oak. About eight years ago, we moved to
West Bloomfield from Southfield and were
ecstatic when Miles opened up at 12 Mile
and Orchard Lake Road in Farmington
Hills about a year or so ago.
We use to eat there about three times a
month. The food was great. One Sunday,
however,we went there for dinner and it
was closed. The sign was even taken down.
We were saddened and have been wonder-
ing if you know whether Miles is planning
to open anywhere else" ... Alan Shulak.
[At present, Miles and wife, Olga, have no
thoughts of opening Chic-N Ribs by Miles
again. Many people are wishing they do.
SCENE & HEARD DEPT. ... Dr. Mel
Rubenfire looking like anything but a
noted heart specialist in his very casual
boating garb ... 90-degree weather and
Mitch Newman refusing to remove his
ever-present hat ... No, says Mitch's wife,
Jean, he doesn't sleep in one ... Bill Rosen
and his firm handshake.
Bernie Glieberman and his winning
smile, eating food like that served at his
Rascal House years back before the site
became Golden Mushroom on 10 Mile,
Southfield ... Bernie was partners with Al
Hacker and Jack Meyers when they built
the Rascal House on property owned by
Jack Peltz
Peltz was originally expected
to open a second House of Foods on the
site, like the one he had on Seven Mile and
Schaefer, Detroit.
THANK YOU with enormous heartfelt
feelings on the wonderful congratulations
sent to me and the Detroit Jewish News
from so many parts of the country on the
recent celebration of our 70th anniversary
together ... Sure wish it was possible to
thank each one personally.
CORRECTION DEPT. ... The Mumford
graduating class is 1962, not 1952, hav-
ing its 50th reunion Saturday, Aug. 25, 7
p.m. at Somerset Inn, Troy ... Call Joannie
(Stegman) Simon, 248-851-0272.
CONGRATS ... To Newton Berlin on
his 90th birthday ... To Susie Saraguse on
her 70th birthday ... To Annette Langwald
on her 70th birthday ... To Arlene Gross
on her 65th birthday ... To Don Gross on
his 68th birthday ... To Estelle Robinson
on her birthday ... To Glen and Iris
Goldstrum on their 60th anniversary ...
To Alan Borsen on his birthday ... To
Henry Abrams on his 60th birthday. ❑
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
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38
July 5 • 2012
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