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Family Ties
New John D Bistro another good Ferndale dining addition.
f you said that the restaurant's name of
John D stands for John D. Rockefeller,
you were wrong ... The new and
interesting John D. American Bistro Bar,
former Bart's on Woodward, about three
stores south of Nine Mile Road, Ferndale,
is named after the John D that was the
building's original builder or architect in
the 1920s.
Same walls with original terra cotta
block, same original cement over the
bricks, same entrance with its original
archway.
John D's owner, Ed Farah Jr., is the son
of Ed Farah Sr., who owns the long-stand-
ing family restaurant Alia's on Greenfield
and 11 Mile Road, Southfield ...
Ed Jr. was its manager.
People walking by can easily look into
the large glass frame window open in the
summer with a wrought iron fence where
an insulated overhead garage door opens
and closes ... Warm-weather passersby
probably mutter how interesting the place
looks with its interior somewhat remi-
niscent of those years ago in New York's
Greenwich Village.
Except for Sundays, John D is open only
for dinner from 5 p.m. ... Tuesday and
Wednesday until 11 p.m.; Thursday until
1 a.m.; Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. ...
Sunday breakfast/brunch is from 11 to 3
... Regular menu, breakfast/brunch menu
and late-hour menu.
John D's
kitchen is run
by Executive
Chef Adis Celic,
formerly of
Kruse & Muer
in Rochester, a
graduate of the
Le Cordon Bleu
Ed Farah Jr. of John D
Culinary School
American Bistro Bar
in Pasadena,
in Ferndale
California ... In
the kitchen with Chef Celic
is his mother, Rajka, and
father, Rahmija, prepping and
assisting in the butchering
chores ... Chef Celic's mom
is a Vienna culinary school
graduate.
The restaurant is also being
noted for its baking of bread
and pastries plus dressings
that include a Caesar-like
togetherness.
Not on the menu, but avail-
able, is a Beef Wellington
made by Chef Celic, among other elegant
dishes not shown ... All entrees, like four
lamb chops, $29; filet, $27; salmon, $17;
etc. include side dishes that change daily
... Many of the sauces not made by him
are obtained from brother, Etienne, who
owns Apolonia Natural Dressings, with
bottles in Hiller's, Papa Joe's, Market Fresh
and Holiday Markets ... Etienne is also
director of entertainment and host for Ed
Jr. with "showtime" every Thursday, Friday
and Saturday.
Seating is only for about 58, but the
food and relaxed ambience at John D are
conducive to gracious informal dining.
THE BIG DINING BOOM associated
annually with the Detroit Auto Show's
recent Preview Week brought more than
5,000 guests to Andiamo Riverfront and
Joe Muer at Renaissance Center, says
bossman Joe Vicari ... Dan Gilbert, Nate
Forbes, Brian Hermelin, etc. etc. etc. ...
So many from around the world very
impressed with Detroit.
HOPE HAD BEEN raised halfway to
the sky when it was originally supposed
that the vacant Ford plant across the street
would be taken over to make batteries and
solar products.
It was to be a much-wanted shot again
in the arm for Moe Leon's Family Dining
on Wixom Road in Wixom ... a former
dining favorite where Ford
employees, among many others,
flooded in to enjoy the good
food put out by Leon's.
But sad fate deemed oth-
erwise and the take-over deal
never materialized ... However,
as in some cases, things have a
way of turning out in a happy
way with the previous plant to
perhaps become a retail center.
If so, this will be a huge boon
to the business of Moe Leon,
whose Moe's on Ten Family
Dining restaurant is also a big favorite ...
The Wixom transaction looks to become
a reality and is happening to a really nice
guy.
READER MINI REVIEW ... From
Sandy Hermanoff ... "Michael and I
enjoyed a trip to Venice and were thrilled
at the world-famous Harry's Bar where
Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Orson
Wells, Barbara Hutton, Aristotle Onassis
and so many other glitterati hung out and
is still the watering hole for the rich and
famous.
"The bread we had at Harry's, with a
custard stuffing and crust, melts in your
mouth. The Bellini, its signature drink, is
a combination of pureed white peaches
and Italian champagne. Our tablecloth was
changed from cream to pale yellow just
before dessert was served.
"The decor is simple, elegant and light,
with a nautical touch. The waiters are
meticulously attired. The waitpersons
handpick everything for their guests. The
stemware, as example, must be perfect.
"We started our dinner with fabu-
lous Bellinis. Michael had Taglioni with
Cuttlefish, and I ordered the Piedmontese
Ravioli. The food was absolutely wonder-
ful. We thoroughly enjoyed beautiful and
delicious Harry's Dolci Meringata Al la
Creme Cake for dessert, and our waiter
brought a delightful Sabayon Meringue for
us to taste. Persons at another table were
thoroughly enjoying Harry's Carpaccio
that our waiter had created many years
ago for a Contessa who could not eat
any cooked meat. Carpaccio is thinly
sliced raw meat with a white sauce. It has
become famous all over the globe, as has
the Bellini.
"The Italian Ministry for Cultural
Affairs has declared Harry's a national
landmark as one of the world's most cel-
ebrated restaurants"
GOOD SERVER DEPT. ... Brittany
Rosenbaum in the lounge at Ocean Prime,
Troy, gets huge plaudits for her efficiency
and ways of pleasing customer ... Her
pretty smile is a big part of Brittany's
makeup and makes for pleasant dining
and drinking ... Folks who have been to
the Ocean Prime in Scottsdale, Ariz., may
remember her from that sector.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... Sitting in
a Chinese restaurant, a fellow asked the
waiter if there were Jews in China. The
server said he didn't know and would
ask in the kitchen and came back saying,
"No, sir. No Chinese Jews" When the gent
asked, "Are you sure?" the waiter went to
find out again and returned saying, "Sir,
no Chinese Jews." The fellow said, "Are you
sure? I can't believe there are no Chinese
Jews"
"Sir, I asked everyone the waiter
replied exasperated. "We have orange Jews,
prune Jews, tomato Jews and grape Jews,
but no one ever heard of Chinese Jews!"
CONGRATS ... To Morrie Wasserman
on his 95th birthday ... To Storm
Kirschenbaum on his 34th birthday ... To
Tamara Friedman on her birthday ... To
Marion and Jay Grant on their 70th anni-
versary.
❑
Danny's email address is
dannyraskin®sbcglobaLnet.
"New Big Daddy's in Livonia has them coming back for more" - Danny Raskin •
RAtNti BIG DADDY'S
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Starting February 10th
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February 14th for Valentine's Day
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Mon - Thurs 11:00 to 10:00 - Fri & Sat 11:00 to 11:00
Sun 10:30 to 10:00
Jan 17th, 2013
Includes Dining-in, Carry-out
and Catering.
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www.newbigdaddys.com
19333 Victor Parkway • Livonia, MI (between 7 & 8 Mile next to Embassy Suites) 734-744-5555
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January 31 • 2013
JN