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Down-Home Ambiance

Casual comfort food at the new Yardbird Smoked Meats.

T

he transformation could hardly be
with more change ... Upscale din-
ing is usually noted for its cuisine
style with "chic casual" and jacket or dress
garb ... When originally opened, this was
the higher-class Jeremy Restaurant, owned
by Culinary Institute of America graduate
Jeremy Grandon and his wife, Paula.
The dining look now at the onetime
Jeremy site on Cass Lake Road, Keego
Harbor, is as different as the sun and the
moon glowing from opposite directions.
This former Jeremy locale, now Yardbird
Smoked Meats, is owned by the previous
eatery owner, Jeremy Grandon, along with
Brad Couzens ... The two had cultivated a
friendship that developed into a business
partnership with each having the same
idea of reinventing the site into a smoke-
house with old-fashioned griddle burgers
and hot dogs, etc. in a setting reminiscent
of an authentic Texas barbecue ... As fate
would have it, they also discovered that
both graduated from the same West Hills
Middle School in West Bloomfield.
And so, it now is a very casual neigh-
borhood restaurant with the locale taking
another route by Jeremy, in partnership
with Brad.
The new menu is strange for the
address, with old-fashioned griddle burg-
ers and dogs, comfort food with a variety
of smoked beef, fish and chicken, Yard
Burgers cooked on a griddle, Angus Beef
Yard Hotdogs, smoked salmon filets, mac
and cheese, fried green tomatoes, etc.

Jeremy Grandon and Brad Couzens

Brad took over its design,
aesthetics and management in
front of the restaurant ... The
comfortable come-as-you-are
feel found in Yardbird's decor
is now throughout the interior
and exterior ... Reclaimed
lumber, old iron skillets hang-
ing on a wall, dark wood, alu-
minum seating and a restored
terrazzo floor characterize the
interior ... An American flag
made from recycled glass hangs
prominently over one of the main windows
of the entrance, and an array of black and
white Yardbird-themed photos, etc. ... A
custom-branded vintage bicycle that will
be used to make local carryout deliveries
starting next summer is parked on a rack
that includes space for customers' bikes.
Grandon is his own executive chef at
Yardbird and did much in bringing out the
new eatery concept while taking over the
kitchen ... The Culinary Institute alumni
also developed its menu.
"The Yardbird reflects today's prefer-
ences for a more casual and less expensive
dining experience Jeremy says. On this,
Brad concurs, adding that people in Keego
Harbor and the surrounding communi-
ties resemble those that live in Southern
California. "They have money:' says Brad,
"but they want to wear flip flops and
unwind in an inviting, no-fuss environ-
ment with a menu that's also less fussy."
The new menu certainly reflects these
feelings ... Five burgers, four hotdogs, beef
brisket, dry-rubbed and glazed chicken or
ribs, smoked salmon filet, salads, sand-
wiches, soups, chili, smoked barbecued
wings, etc.
When summer comes, folks will also see
outside a rustic split-rail fence outlining an
outdoor patio that will offer both wrought
iron and wood picnic table seating ... Light
bulbs will be strung overhead to give the
patio a backyard barbecue feel.

A big change from before?
... Quite!
IT MAY BE ONE of the
very few acts of its kind that is
booked so many times in the
same year ... at the same place
... and sold out just about
every appearance.
The Scintas appeared
recently at Andiamo Celebrity
Showroom, 14 Mile, between
Mound and Van Dyke, Warren,
and, as usual, the place was
packed ... Accompanied by the fine Johnny
Trudell band, they sang, did comedy,
impersonations, played musical instru-
ments, etc., in rapid-fire precision perfor-
mances that literally raised the roof with
standing audience applause.
The fantastic Scintas, headed by brothers
Frank and Joe, drummer Peter "honorary
Scinta" O'Donnell and lovely singer Janien
Valentine, will appear again next year at
the Andiamo Showroom on Saturday, June
6 ... and again on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, Dec. 4, 5, 6 ... Try not to miss the
Scintas ... a wonderful Las Vegas favorite.
THE HEAVY NOISE is almost gone at
Beau's (former Beau Jack's) on 15 Mile,
west of Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills ...
Acoustical tile was put on the ceiling along
with whatever other additives may have
been needed in muffling much of the noise
that might have come from opening the
area into one large room ... This was real-
ized at the beginning by its owners who
must be commended on doing something
about it.
You'll recognize the evening hostess at
Beau's ... Gina Lysak, who left her native
Hungary years ago and couldn't speak
English while working at the Blue Danube
Supper Club in Hazel Park ... After three
years and learning the English language,
she applied for a job as waitress at the
former Beau Jack's and was there about 25
years.

THE HONOR GOES TO ... Joe Morgan,
considered to be among baseball's great-
est second basemen and a member of
Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame ...
He'll receive the 2015 Hank Greenberg
Achievement Award at the Hank Greenberg
Memorial Golf Invitational, Monday,
June 1, at Franklin Hills Country Club,
Farmington Hills.
Plus his baseball exploits, "Little Joe
as he used to be called, has been a part of
baseball broadcast teams on ABC, NBC
and ESPN plus playoff games and numer-
ous World Series championships, etc.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... For their 70th
anniversary, a man goes to buy his wife the
sheerest lingerie he can find. The woman
behind the counter leaves and brings out
an outfit.
"This is $200:' she says.
"I want one that's sheerer:' says the fel-
low.
"This one is $350."
"I want it even sheerer than that."
"This is the most sheer we have. It's
$500."
"I'll take it!"
The man goes home to his wife and gives
it to her, saying, "Put this on and come
down to model it for me."
His wife goes upstairs, opens the box and
thinks, "this thing is so see-through that he
won't even know if I'm wearing it or not.
I can take this back for a refund, and he
won't know the difference."
His wife comes out wearing nothing
at all and strikes a pose at the top of the
stairs. "So, how do you like it?" she asks.
"Darn it:' he says. "You'd think for $500
they'd iron the damn thing!"
CONGRATS ... To John "Johnny" Katz
on his birthday ... To Molly Abraham on
her birthday ... To Gino Baratta on his
birthday.

❑

Danny's email address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobathet.

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December 18 • 2014