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A Birmingham Delight

Two longtime restaurant veterans join to create The Stand Gastro Bistro.

N

o doubt there were many names
Whitney, Detroit, and open-
that might have been thought of ing his Cuisine, Detroit, in
for a restaurant whose owners
2001.
are considered to be an almost perfect
Seating at The Stand is
combination of restaurant experience.
about 190 including 16 bar
Deciding on one of the several names
stools, a communal center
turned out to be difficult ... The eventual high-top table for 12 and
title chosen was probably one that wasn't
10 seats in front of an open
even thought of.
kitchen ... Open Monday-
The one that co-partners John Kelly
Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday
and Paul Grosz came up with, The Stand
and Saturday, 5 p.m.-mid-
Gastro Bistro, that opened on Woodward, night, Tuesday-Friday, lunch
between Brown and Maple, Birmingham, and dinner 11-11.
sounds like a last resort.
There are two separate
menus, one for dining room relaxing and
Credit goes to John's young son
Gabriel, who used to operate a little
another for ordering in the bar lounge.
lemonade stand in his earlier years ...
The food at The Stand might be con-
So how about John and Paul giving some
sidered modern with French or European
consideration this summer to a signature techniques prepared in the open kitchen
lemonade drink?
and downstairs prep kitch-
As a partnership of
en, both totaling about
personality and opera-
4,000 square feet.
tions, it may be difficult
Three styles of bread are
to beat the blending of
served daily at The Stand,
John and Paul ...
which makes its own regu-
John with his dining
lar servings along with one
specialty for dining con-
expertise at Boodles
while going to college at
sumption.
University of Michigan,
With a chef as proficient
Dearborn campus,
as Paul Grosz, it is small
before giving up attor-
wonder that The Stand
ney studies and catch-
should feature dishes not
ing on at Second City,
seen at other restaurants
then general manager at
... Like beet-cured salmon,
D'Amato's in Royal Oak,
olive oil poached beef ten-
dining room manager at John Kelly and Paul Grosz
derloin, mushroom dusted
Andiamo in Bloomfield
sturgeon and scallop min-
Township and manag-
estrone ... Many of the
ing partner at Capital Grille in Troy.
dishes may be found on other restaurant
Teaming with Paul, noted as one of
menus, but tend to have a Stand stamp
of originality ... Best-seller is the dining
this area's finest executive chefs as well
as owner of Cuisine in Detroit, is almost
standby, beef short ribs, but with its own
like a culinary match made in Heaven ...
character.
Like John, Paul also has an impressive
When John took over the former
track record ... with Chef Remy Berdy
Zazio's location, his first want as a part-
at the Sheraton-Oaks, Novi, at Raphael's
ner was someone who knew food ... The
with Chef Keith Famie, La Francaise
first name that came to mind was his
in Chicago, La Rotisserie in Dearborn,
friend, Paul, whose Cuisine restaurant

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has made a prominent mark
... Whereas Cuisine's presen-
tations lean more toward sea-
food, further emphasis at The
Stand is steaks and chops.
If you desire any fare from
Cuisine at The Stand, give
Paul a day's notice and he says
he will have it there for serv-
ing.
The Stand has made evi-
dence of being another good
restaurant to be enjoyed ...
With the leadership of John
Kelly and Paul Grosz, it joins the parade
of local dining adventures.
WHEN THE NEW OWNER of the
Penobscot Building, Detroit, came here
from Canada, he was not able to work
out an agreement with Caucus Club
owner Mary Belloni ... and the historic
restaurant that was once the sister eatery
of the London Chop House, across the
street on Congress, closed following its
60th anniversary in 2012 ... It is still not
occupied.
THE SIGN outside says "International
Dining" under the restaurant name ...
But the table of Asian diners were pleas-
antly surprised after failing to find what
they had come for.
"We took a chance said one of the
group, "and ordered from the menu
without knowing what it was."
The authentic Russian food they had
at Fiddler restaurant on Orchard Lake
Road, West Bloomfield, was very much
different than the Asian fare they origi-
nally wanted ... and was enjoyed.
READER MINI REVIEW ... From
Dennis Silber ... "A longtime standby for
Debbie and me has been the Bagels with
Deli, owned by Robert Bloom in Delray
Beach, Fla. We have been steady custom-
ers because it has so many Detroit favor-
ites, like the artisan-baked bagels with
their own special flour recipe.
"The name Bloom comes from a

Orchard Lake Rd. South of 14 Mile • Farmington Hills

851-7000

Original House of Pancakes 248-351-0777

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eed

onok TOTAL

— — —

OFF

MEI I

New Hours: Monday-Saturday 7AM - 4PM, Sunday 7AM - 4PM

29221 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield (248) 351 0777

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34

July 3 • 2014

FOOD
BILL.

Original House of Pancakes 248-351-0777

With coupon. Dine-in Only. Not valid with any other
offer, discount or special. Expires 8/7/14.
• ----- — — — — — — — — — -----

Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

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Detroit history. Robert's father, Harvey
Bloom, owned Bloom's Kosher Catering,
and his aunt Shirley Bloom is a tradi-
tional and comforting name to all those
who enjoy good, just-like-home cooked
meals.
"Bagels with Deli, celebrating nine
years in Delray Beach, has another loca-
tion in Parkland, about 10 miles away.
Both have 65 seats indoors and out.
We always enjoy the chicken soup, just
like Shirley Bloom's, and their to-order
chopped salads, turkey off the frame
and all the cooked-on-premises meats
served on double-baked rye bread (sweet
memories of Detroit). Their bagels, often
voted as Delray's best bagel, rounds out
our many reasons for going back each
time."
REUNION DEPT. ... 50th by 1964
class at Oak Park High School is set for
Saturday, Sept. 13, at Tam-O-Shanter
Country Club, Orchard Lake Road, West
Bloomfield ... Contact Caryn Jaeger,
(248) 539-1113, or caryn@jaegerjournal.
com for more info.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT....
Fellow goes to the doctor for a check-
up. After extensive tests, the doctor tells
him, "I'm afraid I have some bad news
for you. You only have six months to
live."
The fellow is dumbstruck. After a
while he replies, "That's terrible doc-
tor. But I must admit to you that I can't
afford to pay your bill."
"OK:' says the doctor. "I'll give you a
year to live:'
CONGRATS ... To Alan Borsen on
his birthday ... To Henry Abrams on his
birthday ... To Estelle Robinson on her
birthday ... To James "Jim" Wagenheim
on his 75th birthday ... To Sheri
Schwartz on her birthday ... To Bernard
"Bernie" and Muriel Moray on their 53rd
anniversary. ❑

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