arts & life >> the best of everything Deli Difference Innovation makes Pickles & Rye stand out from many others. B eing called "the different Jewish delicatessen" by many, Pickles & Rye Deli, in the West Bloomfield Plaza, Orchard Lake Road, between 14 and 15 Mile, West Bloomfield, will celebrate its first anniversary this June. Among its many features are the highly popular multiple-size sandwiches that might have simmered down irate deli cus- tomers who have had to pay for a whole sandwich even though able to eat just half. One of the original developers of multiple-size sandwiches years back at Southfield's Plaza Deli was Rick Therrien, now co-owner of Pickles & Rye Deli with Linda Collins ... and customers are showing much gratitude for it ... Pickles & Rye pres- ently has two sizes at lower prices ... Six ounces of meat and 12 ounces of meat ... A new menu coming out this spring will also include a 4-ounce sandwich. A big favorite carryout feature, now mak- ing huge waves at Pickles & Rye, is the take- out offering of a half-pound of Sy Ginsberg corned beef, a half-pound of roast turkey, a quart of mushroom barley or chicken noodle soup, new and old dill pickles, a half-pint of Russian dressing and loaf of sliced rye bread, $24. 'we Linda Collins and Rick Therrien This spring and summer will also include two different styles of pickles to go with the staple new and old dills ... A turmeric bread-and-butter pickle and a beef and horseradish pickle. Pickles & Rye Deli also differs in offering choices not found at too many other delicatessens ... Like dill pickle soup every Wednesday, its new mushroom barley soup with a blend of wild mushrooms that seems to be an exclusive concoction of Rick and Linda ... Also, exclusive desserts like a gluten- free cherry and walnut kugel and chocolate bagel bread-pudding. And have you ever heard of a low-fat Cranberry Dill Tuna? ... It's a delicious pro- tein very popular among folks restricting their intake of fat ... or the Wild and Cherry sandwich that is built with a wild mush- room compote and melted gooey Swiss cheese on grilled nine-grain wheat bread. Another big seller at Pickles & Rye is the grilled kosher salami, pastrami and pepper jack cheese on an onion roll with whole grain mustard. Also, soon being presented will be a lite menu of smaller portions and lower prices for many items ... designed for smaller eat- ers, senior citizens and diet watchers. Rick is in the kitchen, cooking on the hot line and working prep among his other duties ... Linda plies her trade of being among the best trainers in town, along with greeting folks with a smile. Pickles & Rye Deli may be the sleeping deli giant that has been slowly awakening big time ... In many ways, this is a good thing ... Restaurant owners who walk slowly, so to speak, before easing into a rapid pace are more apt to achieve success ... The word about Pickles & Rye has been too quiet not to have something big brewing ... It is like a slow-filling bubble that is about to burst open. That it has taken a deliberate pace since Pickles & Rye Deli's opening last year, says much ... Being different demands snail- like movement to successfully realize its goal. WORD IS GAINING momentum that ace restau- rateur Joe Vicari is looking to open a second Joe Muer Seafood restaurant in a north- west suburb ... It would be like his Joe Muer Seafood in the Renaissance Center, Detroit ... Another Andiamo eatery by Joe is slated to open around April or May at Metro Airport. READER MINI REVIEW ... from Susan Sherbow ... "Mark and I stopped into the Luxe Bar and Grill on North Old Woodward in Birmingham for lunch and have added it to our list of fine lunch spots. Burgers seem to be a specialty, and we were delighted with our choices. The one-third-pound size was served with a grape tomato, cornichon and green olive skewered through the sandwich. Our cheeseburgers were served on homemade white brioche and topped with pickles and shredded lettuce. Also, what made the burger better than most was the special Luxe sauce, an aioli with onion and garlic that added a distinc- tive flavor. We added regular and sweet potato fries that were thin, crispy and salted. Friends who have been to Luxe enjoy the small plate with burrata, heirloom toma- toes, arugula and white balsamic; the spe- cial vegetarian burger; a chicken sandwich with bacon, avocado, onion and gruyere cheese; and a three-cheese grilled sandwich with arugula and pickled jalapeno, served with tomato soup7 v*:" *** ° MATT PRENTICE .1 .1. of 1, - THE THOUGHT comes to mind that 2015 would have been the 63rd anniversary of the now-closed Caucus Club on Congress in Downtown Detroit ... What if the Penobscot Building, its home of all those years, had been sold to local people instead of to an out-of-America firm that never heard of the fame or tradition the Caucus Club had attained throughout the years? The wonderful dining resurgence of Detroit now going on would certainly have been a huge boon for the former Caucus Club as well ... So many public leaders, poli- ticians, sports figures, etc., prayed along with the regular John and Jane Does that the res- taurant's presence would again be continued. From the date over 63 years ago that Les and Sam Gruber opened the Caucus Club across from their London Chop House, to the days of Mary Belloni, the former wait- ress there who bought the dining icon and continued its precious reputation, it will for- ever be remembered ... Wouldn't it be won- derful if the Caucus Club, as it was, arose again ... even if in another location? OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... Morris locks himself out of his car on a hot sum- mer day. He looks in the trunk and finds an old coat hanger. As soon as he shoves the wire through the slightly open window, his wife, Sadie, starts telling him what to do. "Morris, move it more to the right. Now more to the left. Higher! Lower!" Finally Sadie says, "What's taking you so long?" Perspiring in the torrid sun, Morris huffs and puffs and says, "Sadie, it's easy for you to say, sitting inside an air conditioned car!" CONGRATS ... To Jackie Headapohl on her 48th birthday ... To Rhonda Ginsberg on her birthday ... To Jeremy Brand on his 60th birthday ... To David Syme on his birthday Congrats to Joseph "Joey" and Anita Goldberg on their 40th anniversary. ❑ Danny's email is dannyraskin®sbcglobaLnet. PARS RESTAURANT AUTHENTIC Persian Cuisine WitiGinary xperzence A And ready to cater your event—with the excellent quality and creativity he is known for! 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