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Pita On Wheels!

Mideast-cuisine food truck is dream of Tel Aviv native.

H

e always wanted to someday get
while going to one location per
into his own restaurant business
day, solely during lunchtime...
... a dream he had while manag-
Tal's ultimate ambition is to
ing a restaurant and bar in Tel Aviv, Israel,
someday also open a fast-
where Tal Sasson was born.
service brick-and-mortar place
But the vision of a dining concept con-
for his concept.
tinually clouded the young man's mind
The gourmet, all natural
along a direction other than that of a sit-
"World Class Artisan Pita
down eatery.
Sandwiches, stuffed in Detroit"
When Tal came to America, he discov-
include the Falafel Boy (falafel,
ered that part of his dream concept had
humus, farmer's salad, cabbage
already gained much popularity here ...
slaw, pickles and tahini sauce,
Food trucks in the East and West had
$7.50), Not Yo' Mama, but
become the rage ... and were beginning to
Shawarma!! (marinated chicken, hummus,
become popular in Metro Detroit, where
farmer's salad, cabbage slaw, pickles and
he now resides.
Tahini Sauce, $7.95), Motor City Cheese
But he noticed that they were not his
& Bisque (Muenster, Havarti and Chipotle
full dream ... His truck (and, eventually,
Jack cheeses with pesto sauce and cup of
trucks) for fresh, fast and healthy food
tomato bisque, $7.95), the Post Burger
would be quite different than those already (100 percent beef, muenster cheese, grilled
on the road.
onions, red cabbage slaw and jalapeno
Tal's concept was for a gourmet stuffed
ranch sauce, $8.50), and the Post Reuben
pita sandwich different from those at other (corned beef, Muenster cheese, red cab-
places ... a pocket pita, not a rolled one
bage slaw, jalapeno ranch and celery seed
... plus no added
sauce, $8.50).
sugar ... no added
Also var-
oil ...no trans fat
ied snacks,
... all natural.
sides, drinks
After trying
and treats like
a dozen various
Mediterranean
styles of stuffed
baklava, etc.
pitas, Tal finally
Locations
created his own
of the Pita
from authentic
Post truck are
The Pita Post food truck
Israeli recipes ...
presently in
with the visual-
Birmingham,
ization-come-true after sharing them for
Troy, Southfield, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit
production by a local baker.
... It has been present at Downtown
Tal's cooks prepare and cut the foods
Detroit and suburb events and hopes
daily within a spacious and beautiful ultra- for approval for the Eastern Market this
clean truck interior of gleaming aluminum spring ... and available for all occasions ...
... The truck is colorful and custom-built,
To find out where he is, check Tal's web-
based on his own design and layout, in
site, www.thepitapost.com
Fort Lauderdale, Fla., using top-of-the-line
Tal's bachelor's degree in economics,
equipment that, he says, "is like no other
which he completed after service in the
food truck in the country!"
Israeli army, comes in handy as a founda-
Pita Post consists currently of just one
tion with ambitious plans to eventually
truck as he gains much satisfying exposure open other ventures that include both food

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trucks and restaurants.
But his main dream come
true is the smile of success
every time he sees that first
truck.
NAME HASN'T BEEN
changed as yet of the Fox Grill
on Woodward, Bloomfield
Hills, recently purchased by
Bill Roberts ... New menu
ideas are being worked on by
Bill's Corporate Chef Patrick
Roettele ... Opening is expect-
ed this summer.
AMONG THE MANY things that Joe
Vicari is noted for is not blowing his horn
too loudly with his numerous charitable
endeavors ... Another one that he can't
hide is the program that introduces new
menu items at all 10 Andiamo restaurants
over a 10-week period.
Twenty-five percent of the proceeds of
any new appetizer or menu dish is given
to a charity ... Andiamo Novi, earlier
this month, to Gleaners Food Bank ...
Andiamo Bloomfield Township, through
March 22, to Variety Detroit-the Children's
Charity ... Andiamo, Livonia, April 6-12,
to Fallen Heroes Monument ... Andiamo
Royal Oak, May 4-10, to Gilda's Club, etc.
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT....
"Where can we get lake perch without
skin?" ... Eleanor Mendler
[Off hand, I can't think of anyplace that
skins the beautiful little devils. Last person
that I know of who made a specialty of it
was Chef Dennis Lindiger at the former
Kingsley Inn in Bloomfield Hills. Others
have also asked, and I sure wish I could
have the answer for you as well as them.
If I find out, I'll let you know. Seems like
chefs today just don't want to go through
the trouble of skinning perch when it is
requested.]
FIRST ANNIVERSARY of Bella Piatti
on Townsend, Birmingham, was quietly
feted by a group of about 100 friends
and relatives ... They got another taste of

the culinary expertise of Executive Chef
Francesco Apollonia and his staff with
delicious Venetian-style and varied Italian
hors d'oeuvres and choice wines.
Owners Liz and Nino Cutraro and
Operations Manager Kevin Mazziotta have
successfully passed the often usual one-
year jinx with loud praises given by many
for their restaurant that has taken off in a
big way.
WHERE THEY ARE DEPT. ... Ron
Forman, former deli owner veteran, is
managing the sole Detroit Bagel store in
Livonia ... Owner Richard Steinick closed
his West Bloomfield location.
"IT'S TAKEN LONGER than we
thought to reopen:' says Ron Asmar,
owner of Vineyards on Northwestern,
Farmington Hills ... "But after 30 years, I
guess Maggie and I can wait a little longer
before opening again. We don't intend to
let all our hard work go down the drain.
"In the meantime says Ron, "I'm keep-
ing Nibbles & Nuts open upstairs for party
trays and baskets. Even if the door is
locked, people can call (248) 737-8088 and
still be taken care of."
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... The
fellow wanted to take his Chihuahua into
a restaurant with him, so he put on dark
glasses and "tapped" his way into eatery.
The manager said, "Hey! You can't bring
a dog in here
The customer indignantly claimed, "I'm
blind! This is my seeing eye dog!"
The manager looked at him and said,
"You're trying to tell me that this little
Chihuahua is a seeing eye dog?"
"What?!!!:' yelled the man, "they gave
me a Chihuahua?"
CONGRATS ... To Leonard Trunsky
on his 87th birthday ... To William
"Willie" Stone on his 90th birthday ... To
Al Winkler on his birthday ... To Joan
"Joanie" Tringale on her birthday.

❑

Danny's email address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .

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