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Upscale Midtown
Elegant Whitney restaurant continues lavish tradition.
T
aking over a dining icon is never
time-honored restaurant.
easy ... There is so much yester-
Best sellers today at the
year history that must be met or
Whitney include an excel-
overcome ... And when it is by someone
lently prepared and tasty Beef
whose only restaurant experience is eating
Wellington, deftly wrapped
in one, the challenge becomes a difficult
in prosciutto and mushroom
venture.
duxelle with fresh spinach
Dining at a restaurant and owning one
baked in a shiny pastry crust
are two very distinct differences ... But
and veal cabernet sauce.
this challenge, although rarely successful,
Dining at the Whitney is a
is sometimes met ... This is the case with
grand experience with favor-
the elegant and celebrated Whitney on
ite dishes prepared by fine
Woodward, between Mack and Warren,
Executive Chef Jason Gardner
Detroit.
who opened 24 Grille in
In 2007, when Arthur "Bud" Liebler
Detroit's Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel.
took over ownership of onetime lumber
Along with its quality menu selections,
baron David Whitney Jr.'s 52-room 1890s
the Whitney prides itself on the prepara-
mansion home that was turned into a lav-
tion and service of unique dishes that no
ish and honored restaurant, he
other restaurant can boast of
did so after a chance revelation
like the vegetarian entree of
... It was while searching for
Potato Osso Bucco, a hollowed
office space for another of his
baking potato stuffed with
enterprises that Bud learned
fresh vegetables and slowly
about the Whitney being for sale
roasted so that the flavors
... Having dined there before, he
blend with delicious results.
knew of its honorable existence.
Also on board is wonderful
"If it was any other restau-
Lew Wiedeman, whose table-
rant, on any other street, in any Arthur " Bud"
side preparations of Bananas
other city, he wouldn't have been Liebler
Foster and Crepe Suzette in
interested:' says Bud's brother
the third floor Ghost Bar are
Patrick Liebler.
notable standouts ... as is Lew
In June 2012, Bud finally got the knowl-
... The upscale Ghost Bar fun includes live
edgeable general manager he was looking
piano Tuesday through Saturday.
for, someone who could help continue the
With sumptuous breakfasts now also
fine, upscale dining experience for which
being enjoyed at the Whitney, its hours
the Whitney was noted ... One who could
include the morning repast Monday-
make the necessary staff changes and
Friday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. ... Otherwise
menu tweaking, and tend to all-around
the Whitney is open for dinner, Monday-
needs ... There are few better than popu-
Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday
lar Dave Dewey, whose superb experience
to 11 pm.; Sunday, 4-8 p.m. ... Also
brunch on Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
includes being general manager of the
Epoch Group and its former Tribute and
Seating at the Whitney accommodates
Forte restaurants.
150 guests on the first floor and 80 on the
The Whitney that originally opened
second floor ... plus eight stools and 40
in 1986 by John McCarthy, Ron Fox and
chairs at the bar ... The beautiful Whitney
Richard Kughn is celebrating its 27th
Garden Patio seats another 100 people.
anniversary ... with a wild estimate of
As I noted, the Whitney, for the first
more than 3 million persons visiting the
time that I know of, is serving breakfast
during the week ... Many of
the dishes are not your regular
breakfast fare, although most
desired ones are easily available
... Imagine a breakfast where
you cannot only create your
own omelet but also watch it
being prepared tableside ... This
is class. Also specialties like
Eggs Mackinac, poached eggs
nestled on pan-seared whitefish,
topped with sundried Traverse
City cherry Hollandaise, etc.
In its new incarnation, the
innovative minds of Bud and his staff seem
to have made the Whitney restaurant into
another casually fine dining inspiration.
NO PROBLEM for opening of
Cheesecake Factory at 12 Oaks Mall, Novi,
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 11 a.m. ... Erroneously
thought by some was the recently closed
Cheesecake Bistro on Monroe, being
refused a liquor license.
MANY PEOPLE will remember that
Nerio Lelli used to make his own chocolate
ice cream at the Lelli's on Woodward in
Detroit years ago ... It was like a tradi-
tion for numerous ice cream lovers to
order his premises-made specialty ...
Customers finding out are again ordering
the thick creamy treats from Nerio's own
recipe ... made by Executive Chef Chris
Merritt at Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green,
12 Mile, betweeen Halstead and Haggerty,
Farmington Hills.
SHE'S BEEN A FAVORITE ... at every
place Penny Zwick has toiled, Forte,
Bacco, Morton's, Greektown Casino Hotel
and Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn ... Her din-
ing knowledge and gracious smile is now
as the new general manager at Rocky's
of Northville, West Seven Mile Road,
Northville.
FORMER DETROIT LION football Hall
of Fame great Charlie Sanders will receive
the 2013 Alvin Foon Humanitarian Award
at this year's Michigan Jewish Sports Hall
of Fame induction dinner and ceremonies
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
FAMILY DINING
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29221 Northwestern Hwy.
(at 12 Mile)
Southfield, MI 48034
I.
Open daily from 8a.m 9p.m.
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10% DISCOUNT FOR SENIORS
EVERY DAY EXCEPT
www.rfamilydining.com
HOLIDAYS AND SPECIALS
Add Soup to any
Sandwich
for
99°
Carry Out, Catering and Delivery Available
42
August 8 • 2013
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OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT....
An American tourist in Tel Aviv was
about to enter the impressive Mann
Auditorium to take in a concert by the
Israel Philharmonic. He was admiring the
unique architecture, the sweeping lines
of the entrance and the modern decor
throughout the building. Finally he turned
to his friend and asked if the building
was named for Thomas Mann, the world-
famous author.
"No:' his friend said. "It's named for
Frederick Mann from Philadelphia.
"Really? I've never heard of him. What
did he write?"
"A check."
CONGRATS ... To Mark Grant on his
birthday ... To Morris Margulies on his
birthday ... To Suzie Friedman on her
birthday ... To Ivagene Erlich on her
70th birthday ... To Lila Lazarus on her
birthday ... To Dr. Elizabeth Hosfield on
her birthday ... To Dr. Steven and Evelyn
Rosen on their 40th anniversary. ❑
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
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IR FAMILY DINING
$ 2
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Restaurant
OFF
Any order over $10.00
Restaurant
248-351-0777
... Monday, Oct. 21, 5 p.m.
Inductees will include Dan Arnold,
Debbie Michelson, Martin Wolfe, Eli Zaret
and Rick Zussman ... Pillars of Excellence
recipients will be Herb Bernstein, Ken
Bertin, Karen Sklar Gordon, Ed Krass and
the late Fred Goldberg.
Following the strolling dinner and silent
auction, ceremonies will again be in the
Berman Center inside the West Bloomfield
Jewish Community Center on Drake ...
For tickets, call (248) 592-9323.
FIFTY THREE GUYS AND GALS from
eight states and the District of Columbia
traveled here to attend the recent biggie
60th reunion by Central High class of
1953 at Glen Oaks Country Club ... They
were part of 237 former grads who came
to whoop it up, overwhelming leaders
Debbie Michaels and Ralph Woronoff and
their committees, who originally planned
for 125.
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Before tax, off regular menu, good all day. Exp 8/23/13
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RFAmaTING
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I Buy One Breakfast 1
i get the 2nd for FREE i
1
8 a.m.-11 a.m. daily
(of equal
value)
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Before tax, off regular menu, good all day. Exp 8/23/13
1856030