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Jewel By The River
Rattlesnake Club celebrates 25 years of first-class dining.
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riginally opened in 1988 by
West Bloomfield ... "I went to
nationally known chef Jimmy
Jimmy Schmidt's 50th birthday
Schmidt, who formerly had
party and he bugged me to
been executive chef at the London Chop
come back to the Rattlesnake
House, it has year-after-year continued to
Club, which I did. We also had
Madeline Triffon, the first mas-
offer creative cuisine in its status as one of
ter wine sommelier in Detroit.
Detroit's dining gems.
Constantly attaining wide notice while it
"When we first opened:'
continually gathers awards, the Rattlesnake
recalls Bob, "we were a fine-
Club at Stroh River Place, on Joseph
dining, stuffy restaurant,
Campau off East Jefferson, presents a lavish where men had to wear a
presence in its 25th year of culinary excel-
suit and tie. Times have defi-
lence as it overlooks the Windsor skyline
nitely changed. We've gone to
across the Detroit River.
business-casual dining, so no
Since the former Parke-Davis pharma-
suit and tie are required. Also, meals used
ceutical plant was renovated by Stroh, it
to average $100 per person, but meals are
has gained national prominence with its
much more reasonably priced today.
list of celebrated persons who have enjoyed
"We're still fine-dining but not stuffy or
Rattlesnake Club's fine cuisine.
intimidating, and our guests really like the
Although noted for its high-quality sea-
atmosphere. They love to come down and
sonal foods that include prime Certified
have an appetizer and a glass of wine on the
Angus Beef, non-farmed fmfish, shellfish
patio, and then come inside and enjoy our
and locally grown produce, its menu items,
exceptional filet for $36."
including best-sellers
As a restaurant whose
like Lake Ontario perch
popularity never seems
filets and barbecued
to falter from its pres-
jumbo gulf shrimp, etc.,
tigious reputation for
are geared to satisfy
all-around goodness,
many palates.
Detroit's Rattlesnake
Seating is around 150
Club is a local dining
in the dining room plus
treasure.
I HAVE A PERSONAL
another 40 in a well-
Executive Chef Christopher Franz,
appointed lounge and
General Manager Bob Sereno; Bar
"love" relationship
20 at the bar ... It also
Manager Farouk Elhaje
with Madeline Triffon,
has five private rooms
America's first woman
and areas for special events.
master sommelier and the world's second
Rattlesnake Club's hours are Tuesday-
female master sommelier ... Her late father,
Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 11:30
Christopher Triffon, owner of Christopher's
a.m.-11 p.m.; and Saturday, 5-11 p.m.
at the former King's Arms and Sultan's Table
A signature dish that has been widely
restaurant sites on Southfield and 10 Mile
enjoyed is the delicious white chocolate
roads about 40 years ago, introduced me to
ravioli made by longtime Rattlesnake Pastry the lass who would become my late wife,
Chef Marjeta Ruci.
Frieda.
General Manager Bob Sereno started
Just hearing the name Madeline Triffon
as dining room manager 22 years ago,
has made many others happy, too ... That's
leaving for a short time to help a friend
how wonderful a reputation she has got-
who had bought Wabeek Country Club in
ten since graduating from University of
• •
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w ■ VM1111V
Happy Hour
Tuesday thru Friday
3:00 fill 6:00
-
A LA CARTE
••
FOOD PURCHASE
WITH COUPON
Coupon Must Be Presented. Not valid with other specials or promotions.
Not valid Friday, Saturday or Holidays. Subject to House Rules. Expires 12/01/13.
Hours:
Tues-Thur 3pm — 10pm • Fri 3pm — 11pm
Sat 4pm — 11pm • Sun 3pm — 9pm
Closed Monday
October 31 • 2013
❑
Danny's email is dannyraskin®sbcglobaLnet.
ember's deli.*
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NOW OREN
FOR DINNER-
Monday - Friday
lam - 8pm
$5 OFF :$10 OFF:
Purchase of
$20 or more
Expires November 15, 2013.
Not valid with any other offer.
Party or
Shiva Trays
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Same Day Service Available.
3598 W. Maple at Lahser
(next to Kro
www.mikelarcos.com
2440 Orchard Lake Road • Sylvan Lake, Michigan 48320 • 248-682-9500
64
more customers going in, we gave it a try
and have been back six times in the past
month, finding the little 40-seat restaurant
the new dining gem of our area.
"The menu varies with amazing spe-
cials from day-to-day ... We have enjoyed
many items off the menu such as the daily
fresh seafood listings of snapper livornese,
lemon sole almandine and sauteed shrimps
flambe, plus delicious entrees of eggplant
parmesan, veal piccata and crispy duck
with berry and fruit sauce.
"Pricing is reasonable, far less than expect-
ed from such a creative menu, especially the
three-course dinners that they serve."
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Cuisine,
Detroit, for French turbo and lobster bisque
... To La Dolce Vita, Detroit, for roasted
duck with sherry wine.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... A fel-
low had told all of his friends about the
great steak he'd eaten downtown the day
before. A group of them decided to join him
and see if it was really as large and delicious
as he was making it out to be.
The group was seated in the back of the
restaurant. After looking over the menu,
they ordered and waited, hungrily, for their
large, delicious, gigantic steaks.
To their collective disappointments, the
waiter brought out some of the smallest
steaks they have ever seen.
"Hey:' the very embarrassed gent said to
the waiter. "Yesterday, when I came down
here you served me a big, juicy steak.
Today, when I have my friends with me,
you serve tiny steaks! What gives?"
"Yesterday," replied the waiter, "you were
sitting by the window."
CONGRATS ... To Melissa Litvin on her
birthday ... To Wilbert "Willie" Blake on his
75th birthday ... To Hazel Bender on her
birthday ... To Tracey Martin on her birth-
day ... To Mark and Gilda Kopitz on their
50th anniversary.
em,
L) 6 CW44 t
Mike
CarCCO'S
10% OFF
Michigan and, in 1977, becom-
ing sommelier at La Fontaine in
the newly opened Renaissance
Center, Detroit.
About 50 people paid $98
each to join the evening's guest,
Madeline, now Plum Market's
master sommelier, who has
many years at local restaurants
(London Chop House, Jimmy
Schmidt eateries, Unique
Restaurant Corporation, etc.)
for an intimate wine tasting at
Joe Vicari's Italian Steakhouse
on Telegraph and 15 Mile, Bloomfield
Township.
She joined Andiamo sommeliers Lisa
Ribaudo and Kathleen Hawkins ... as Joe's
executive chef there, Travis Waynick came
up with his usual fine original menu of
goodies ... Lake trout with lingonberry pre-
serves and red caviar, wild boar bacon with
hard-cooked eggs, tenderloin medallion in
a cognac veal glaze and spiced gingerbread
pudding with pumpkin gelato ... each
course included a fine paired wine.
WHEN THE NEW Matt Prentice's
Artisan Deli opens in November at the
site of his former Unique Deli on Orchard
Lake Road, just south of 15 Mile, West
Bloomfield, it will be, says Matt, "a com-
bination deli and creative 2013 version of
what I think a deli should be. It will have
almost everything made in-house, and
there will be a focus on healthy items that
go against traditional deli."
His two Socialite Bistro Bar and Cigar
Lounge eateries, also opening in November,
Matt says, will have only one-third smoking
area at the West Bloomfield location and
one-half in Novi ... Nonsmokers should
have no issue whatsoever with them.
READER MINI REVIEW ... by Dennis
Silber ... "A short time ago, a wonderful
small place called Pasta Fever on Federal
Highway opened here in Boca Raton, Fla.
... After driving by and each time seeing
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