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Busting Through The Walls!

Popular Le Chef Bistro is expanding both its restaurant and Lebanese selections.

A

mong the marks of a good eth-
pers and zucchini; Aubergine,
Being what might be con-
nic restaurant is an ability to
bulgur-stuffed sun-dried egg-
sidered this sector's most
continually add items from its
plants with tomato sauce; and
prominent authentic Lebanese
country along with the present menu ...
more to come.
restaurant is taking another
This feature can only be accomplished by
Because of the added space
big step in a continued look-
the presence of a chef with such a master- for Malake, she will be able
out for betterment that never
ful capability.
to feature more rapid presen-
seems to stop at Le Chef
The authentic Lebanese food at Le Chef
tations of specialized items
Bistro.
Bistro off Northwestern, south of 14 Mile... direct from Lebanon with
VERY POPULAR Tony and
at the large roadside sign to Sam's Club
the French touch ... Delicious
brother
Chris Hadjisofroniou
Danny Raskin
and Home Depbt, certainly allows for this
northern Lebanese dining
are
no
longer
at Uptown
Senior Columnist
... Especially when that person is not only
selections seldom, if ever,
Parthenon in West Bloomfield.
the head chef but also one of the owners.
found elsewhere along with
MUCH CUSTOMER gloom
Business has been so brisk for Le Chef
more choices from the thousands of years
came with news that the 60-year-old
Bistro, the authentic Lebanese restaurant
preparations that only the very wealthy
Caucus Club may possibly close at the
with familiar Middle-Eastern names on
and royalty of Turkey, northern Syria,
end of this month.
its menu but altogether different Lebanese
northern Lebanon, Greece, Armenia, etc.
If so, it is certainly hoped that owner
tastes, that the necessity has mandated
could enjoy.
Mary Belloni will continue to appear on
additional space.
The new look will also provide addi-
the local restaurant scene ... She is too
Le Chef's requirement to prepare even
tional white-tablecloth seating for almost
good a dining gal for her talents and flair
more of the luscious dishes and the expec-
200 from the present 80 in the dining
for making friends not to be utilized.
tation of larger customer traffic has neces-
room and 26 on its outdoor patio ... And
WITH BOTH restaurants now serving
sitated this acquisition.
a comfortable lounge
barbecued beef ribs ... Boneyard, Orchard
As a result, it will take
with sofa, modern tables
Lake Road, south of 14 Mile, Farmington
over the large space next
and chairs for additional
Hills ... and Brass Pointe, Orchard Lake
door that was formerly
relaxed dining and drink-
Road, north of 10 Mile, Farmington Hills
occupied by Jimmy John's
ing.
... the palates of many community-ites
... Renovations that will
No more needing to
who requested them are being satisfied.
include the removal of
turn away people with
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Cork
walls is expected to be
'larger parties because of
Wine Pub, Royal Oak, for pan-seared
completed by the end of
the space limitations ...
duck breast ... To Blue Nile, Ferndale,
this year.
And the expansion will
for Ethiopian culinary delights ... To
The final result will
also provide enough room Eurasian Grill, West Bloomfield, for hali-
include an enlarged kitch-
for entertainment with
but with curry ... To O'Brien's Crabhouse,
Executive Chef /Partner
en for the constant mak-
live music on Thursday,
Auburn Hills, for Ipswich clams.
ing of authentic dishes by Malake Bitar
Friday and Saturday eve-
BACK IN 1987, he was asked to cater a
Executive Chef Malake
nings ... with near future
party for Aretha Franklin ... The dessert
Bitar like those not yet on the menu
hopes for dancing license availability.
she wanted for her menu was Aretha's
but recently made available at Le Chef
The new capacity also means more
favorite ... Bananas Foster.
Bistro like Fatti Laban, sauteed eggplant
room for Malake to prepare her luscious
Aretha didn't realize it then, but
with chickpeas, yogurt, pine nuts; Vegan
desserts like Namoura, squares of coco-
Howard Waxer and his Parties With Class
Kibbee, sauteed Swiss chard stuffed pota-
nut and almonds ... and Kashta cheese
catering has become somewhat synony-
to kibbee on sauteed onions; Kafta Tahini
concoction with almonds, bananas and
mous with this great dessert also loved
steak topped with potatoes, portabella
honey plus a delicious Kashta ice cream
by so many ... Since then, not only has
and sauteed onions; bulgur-stuffed pep-
made from the Kashta cheese.
he made the luscious servings for her

.

numerous more times, but also for many
others, including celebrities of show busi-
ness, sports, etc.
Bananas Foster by Howard Waxer has
also become the trademark item for his
Parties With Class catering operation
... He has served it 23 years at Variety,
the Children's Charity's annual Lights,
Camera, Auction fundraiser, where many
attending look forward to seeing him.
In 2001, Howard's Bananas Foster at
Arts, Beats & Eats, held then in Pontiac,
was voted Best of the Fest for that year.
Like a wild forest fire, those Bananas
Fosters have spread with much favor ...
Aretha Franklin's party was the beginning
of something nobody could envision ...
Howard has gone through about 16,000
lbs. of bananas, more than 5,500 lbs. of
brown sugar, around 2,500 lbs. of butter,
more than 3,500 gallons of ice cream and
just a small amount of Bacardi 151 Rum
(10 cases).
All told, almost 100,000 servings of
his Bananas Foster have brought a lot of
smiles of lip-smacking contentment.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... Two
men were in a restaurant and ordered
fish ... The waiter brought a dish with two
fish, one larger than the other ... "Please
help yourself," said one ... and the other
fellow said, "OK" and took the larger fish.
After a tense silence, the first one said,
"If you had offered me the first choice, I
would have taken the smaller fish!" ... The
other gent replied, "So what are you com-
plaining about, you've got it, haven't you!"
CONGRATS ... To Martha Bornstein on
her 100th birthday ... To Susan Trigger on
her 61st birthday ... To Rose Light on her
82nd birthday ... To Boris and Jan Shain
on their 50th anniversary. E

Danny's email address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobalmet.

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October 18 • 2012

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