>> dining around the d

E I e
" "
HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Common Grill

S

ituated west of Ann Arbor,
Chelsea is a famous small town.
The local mill that's produced
Jiffy-brand baking mixes since 1930
offer tours. Intriguing and often original
productions are staged at Purple Rose
Theatre, founded in 1991 by native son
Jeff Daniels, the acclaimed
actor/playwright/musician. He
still has a home here.
Also making Chelsea worth
the trip from Metro Detroit is
the marvelous Common Grill.
The venture came about
because of Jeff Daniels' father.
Bob Daniels felt Chelsea
needed a great place for dining
and drinking, within walk-
ing distance of Purple Rose,
to encourage theatergoers to
stay put and boost the local
economy.
Daniels approached Craig Common,
a self-taught cook born in Dearborn
Heights. Common was receptive to relo-
cating to Chelsea and becoming executive
chef/owner of a new restaurant-bar.
"I'd worked 12 years for the C.A. Muer
Corp. but wanted to do something on my
own," Common said. His wife, Donna,
handles the bookwork for their namesake
restaurant.
Common Grill was created in a former
department store. White walls in the
flowing space are dominated by Barney
Judge's colorful murals and historic
photographs, all evocative of Chelsea.
A chalkboard above the center dining
counter lists daily specials. Having bare
wooden tables and floors, it can get noisy.
That makes the atmosphere more excit-
ing than romantic.
"We are a fun, upscale-casual res-
taurant specializing in seafood:' said
Common, whose main supplier is Steve
Conley Seafood in Boston. Parmesan-
crusted whitefish and seafood risotto are
the most popular dishes.
The chef comes up with special items
and daily features while depending on
kitchen manager Mark Eder for day-to-
day cooking.
"About 45 percent of our menu chang-
es in spring and far Common said.
A perfect chance to learn about many
items happened during my group dinner
with friends after a Purple Rose matinee.
The complimentary warm bread was
hard to resist. Then, I was among those
choosing luscious Tuscan pear salad,
including Bibb lettuce, honey pears,
sugared walnuts and gorgonzola cheese.
Herb-balsamic vinaigrette complements
it well.
Our enthusiastic waittress, a 23-year
employee of the Grill, convinced me to
try the paella when she said the classic
Spanish dish would have lots of stuff —

One lucky winner will
receive one round trip
ticket to Israel
cou rt esy of El Al

srae l

Join us for a 5K Run!

roasted chicken, shrimp, mussels, clams,
salmon, halibut, Chorizo sausage and
lobster — and much less saffron rice. At
$30, it was an indulgent taste treat and
also the second-most expensive dinner
entree after grilled Black Angus beef ten-
derloin medallions.
The women in my party
were willing to comment,
anonymously, for this report.
Nobody chose beef this night.
One who ordered Grill's
bouillabaisse praised the
tomato-fennel-saffron broth
for its "fabulous flavor:' say-
ing it had "enough seafood
and fish to truly fill up two
people:'
Another woman enjoyed
her crispy buttermilk fried
chicken breast, but felt the
portion was small. She appre-
ciated the sprig of fennel included for
"taste and enhancement of presentation:'
A diner having salad topped with
grilled salmon said it was "generously
portioned, and the dressing was light
and tasty:' Those words, "light and tasty:'
were how another woman described
the lemon-caper sauce served with her
pan-fried lake perch. A second person
described the same dish as "greasy."
One who chose a fish entree liked that
it was "not overwhelmed or neutralized
by the sauce — a very light mixture of
olive oil and garlic:'
The house-made desserts are definitely
worth trying. We adored our taste or
two of "very chocolaty" warm chocolate
souffle cake.
One happy woman said, "The coconut
custard pie was the best I have ever tasted
— freshly baked, not too sweet, light,
with a bit of toasted coconut for crunch:'
The group consensus: "We'd go back."
Parties of six minimum may reserve;
otherwise, it's best to call ahead for the
waiting list.
For a great in-town bed and breakfast, I
personally can recommend Kim and Jim
Myles' Chelsea House Victorian Inn.

❑

Tirmili OMR

mai

'common Grill

112 S. Main St.
Chelsea, Ml 48118
(734) 475-0470
www.commongrill.com
$$$$ out of $$$$$

Airl ines, the
ci ai
offial
the Walk For Israel.
Raffle will be cond r
'ne of
the day of the walk
and announced th ct ed
same day. Must be present to
win. e

Registration Required

I

JlJ

20th Anniversary
of Federation's
1993 Michigan
Miracle Mission I

All Mega Mission
Participants Walk for Israel!

• 8:00 am - Run starts (from Temple Shir Shalom)

• 10:30 am - Walk Programs Start/Open to the Public

• 11:00 am - Lecture by Steven Pomerantz, Associate Executive

Director of JINSA (Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs),

former Assistant Director of the FBI

• 12:00 pm - Kosher Lunch (no charge)

DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS

• 1:00 pm - Walk Starts

Community-wide Event
Hosted by Temple Shir Shalom

(3999 Walnut Lake Rd., corner of
Orchard Lake and Walnut Lake Rd.)

Proud Sponsor

Convenient nearby parking & shuttle service available.

WWW.WALKFORISRAEL.ORG

Silver Sponsor

cg7 -4 -1

Ford Motor Company Fund

Co-Sponsors*

d,

Temple Shir Shalom
Adat Shalom Synagogue
Friends of Israel
Scyllaweb
The Detroit Jewish News
Zionist Organization of America
Michigan Region
Chaldean American Chamber of
Commerce
Amy & Andre Douville
Jiffy Signs Inc. & JS Printing
jbrooksdesign, inc.
B'nai B'rith Great Lakes Region
Volunteers for Israel

Stand With Us-Michigan
Jewish Community Relations Council
Jewish War Veterans
Art Fishman
Anne & Euge Greenstein
Akiva Hebrew Day School
Birmingham Temple
Suretta & Alan Must
B'nai Israel Synagogue
Congregation B'nai Moshe
Congregation Beth Ahm
Congregation Beth El

Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit
Fran Bell
National Council of Jewish Women
Temple Emanu-El
Temple Israel
Temple Kol Ami
Frankel Jewish Academy
Republican Jewish Coalition

Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah

Holocaust Memorial Center

Hillel Foundation of Metro Detroit

Michigan Israel Business Bridge

Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah

Jewish National Fund

Hillel Day School

As of 3-15-13. For latest sponsorship list visit our
website. Additional sponsors are welcome.

Ad Design Donated

by:

ibrooksdesign>

March 21 • 2013

23