arts & entertainment >> the best of everything A 'Link' To The Past Atomic Dawg's owner recalls the diggity dogs of his youth. H e was only 9 years old when Joel Cihelka, America's first certi- Bacow got hooked ... It was at fied master chef, at the former cousin Al Hacker's Hot Diggity four-star Golden Mushroom Dog restaurant on Eight Mile Road, restaurant in Southfield. Detroit, where he had his first hot dog The same noted chili that sandwich and loved it so much that Joel Al Hacker served at Hot became obsessed with someday owning Diggity Dog is now also at his own hot dog restaurant. Atomic Dawg and going over He moved to California and became a big as expected ... It's Al's biggie in the recording business ... While own secret recipe and a very living in Studio City, a favorite pastime good one ... He was one of was devouring a tasty dog at one of the the partners with Jack Meyers Pink's hot dog restaurants that originally and Bernie Glieberman at the opened in 1939 and became a Hollywood Rascal House restaurant that preceded legend. the Golden Mushroom ... Three months That opportunity came after Joel ago, when Joel opened his Atomic Dawg, moved back here and almost a year ago Al came here from Miami to show him opened his first Atomic Dawg on Coolidge how to make his luscious chili. in Berkley ... He While visiting Joel's had returned from uncle and aunt, com- California in 1985, munity-ites Lou and and when the former Evelyn Grant winter- Berkley Creamery of ing in Florida, he 55 years ago, diner and his wife, Deneen, and house behind were invited for chili built in 1921, was to at Al's Miami home be torn down, Joel to again taste what bought the prop- so many people had erty and buildings to devoured for years Atomic Dawg Owner Joel Bacow make his dream come with much gusto. and Chef Gary Brunner true. Thanks to Cousin Like Pink's, Atomic Al, Joel has that cov- Dawg is not your ordinary hot dog place, eted secret recipe for all to savor at his but it was what Joel always wanted ... 100 Atomic Dawg. percent all-beef hot dogs with variations No, this is certainly not the usual type from assorted areas ... and using the of hot dog operation you would expect ... same dogs flown in regularly from Los Sure the Detroit Coney Island is there ... Angeles as those consumed at Pink's for and going over big as anticipated ... but many years... Joel continues in the record also are a Manhattan Dog, Sante Fe Dog, business at 54 Sound Studio in Ferndale, Kingston Dog, Milwaukee Dog, New York and his hot dog restaurant is becoming Dog, Vietnamese Dog with chicken and a known as a place to go for diversified Chicago Dog ... Of course, the favorite of styles of 100 percent all-beef hotties. so many, including Al, is the Detroit Coney And it's not just anybody, either, to head Island Dog which Joel has named "the D." the making of Joel's coveted hot dogs ... Plus pickle on a stick, thin crispy fried His head chef, Gary Brunner, worked potatoes, mini-burgers, Canadian coleslaw, for nine years with Master Chef Milos etc. Seating downstairs and upstairs is a total 49 ... Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. It was 35 years ago that little Joel Bacow, son of local-ites Martin and Sarah Bacow, loved his hot dog and excellent chili at Hot Diggity Dog ... Now having his own place in the form of Atomic Dawg, it is like living an unbelievable dream that so happily came true. TARGET DATE FOR opening of the new Cheesecake Factory at Twelve-Oaks Mall in Novi is tentatively set for August ... Construction is expected to begin six weeks after all permits are in ... Opening here for the first time, Cheesecake Factory restaurant will be located between Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom, adjacent to the Twelve-Oaks valet sector. Seating will be for 225 inside and 60 on the patio. MAIL DEPT.... "I find that really good Thai restaurants that service West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills and Novi are in limited numbers. There are many but few that compare to relatively new Thai restaurants like Spicy Bangkok on 14 Mile Road in Commerce Township. Ingredients that are so abundant and excellently pre- pared are absolutely fresh and cooked to order. Spicy Bangkok is a real gem:' Alan Vosko GOOD SERVER DEPT. ... Stacey Martin combines very important efficien- cy with a gracious personality that makes patrons of Stage Delicatessen, Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, hope they are seated in her station. THANKS TO THE Detroit Tigers Foundation, a lot of attendees to the 23d Annual Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf Invitational, Monday, June 3, at Franklin Hills Country Club, will be even gladder that they came. Free door prizes at the banquet fun that follows the golf will be about 200 tickets to a home Tigers game at Comerica Park ... Among the variety of sports figures, Joe Torre, former manager of the Yankees, Dodgers, Cardinals, Mets and Braves and present executive vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball, will be on the panel answering questions and no doubt telling some of his wonderful baseball stories. By receiving the Hank Greenberg Lifetime Achievement Award, Torre joins a list of some of America's most prestigious baseball Hall of Fame members and highly celebrated personalities who have come here to be given this honor. For tickets to what many won't want to be left out of, call Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation Executive Director David Blatt, (248) 592-9323 or email dblattmichiganjewishsports.org . MARK THE DATE ... 12th Annual Walk of Ages this year has been set for Sunday, Aug. 18. OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... A couple met at a resort and fell in love and discussed how they would continue the relationship after their vacations were over. "It's only fair to warn you, dear, that I am a golf nut:' he said. "I live, eat, sleep and breathe golf' "Well, since you're being so honest, so will she said. "I'm a hooker." "Hmm:' he said. "It's probably because you're not keeping your wrists straight when you hit the ball." CONGRATS ... To Danny Cohn on his birthday ... To Joannie Tringale on her birthday ... To Ed Winkler on his birth- day ... To Sarah Hack on her birthday ... To Andrew Zarnitsky on his 15th birth- day. ❑ Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . LAS LMONOM Bloom's Passover Dinner & Ala Carte Takeout! FREE Seder Plate • FREE Passover Matzo with complete Dinner orders of 10 or more Complete Dinners; 10 person minimum • 66 March 21 • 2013 iN FREE • • • • HERB ROASTED 1/2 CHICKEN CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED HONEY APPLE 1/2 BAKED CHICKEN LEAN ROAST BEEF BRISKET • Complete dinners includes Beef Chopped Liver, Roasted Potatoes Anna or Potatoes Kugel, Chicken Matzo Ball Soup, Carrot Tzimmes, FREE Seder plate & FREE Passover matzo • • • • DELICIOUS PASSOVER BAGELS Order Now!! 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