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They've Got The Knack!
Experienced restaurateurs create an Italian treasure in Birmingham.
p
ast restaurant ownership experience
never hurts in dining destination
ownership ... In fact, having it gives
the owner or owners distinct advantages
... There is normally no such thing as a
"waiting period" for the so-called bugs to
be taken out ... The owners may have gone
through the rights and wrongs of operat-
ing a successful restaurant and apply those
learnings, if needed, to their new dining
spot.
Such is the case of one like Bella Piatti,
Townsend Avenue, Birmingham, into its
third-year anniversary among those who
have created a reputation of being a restau-
rant destination regardless of traveling dis-
tance ... It may be among the best because
it's already acclaimed as one of this region's
top dining emporiums.
Owners Nino and Liz Cutraro, as former
owners of Taboo, Vis a Vis, Intermezzo,
Baci-Arbbracci, Amici Italian Village,
LaVilla Musicafe, Hola Tapas Cafe, Ultimate
Sports bars, Sangria Tapas Cafe and Enoteca
Campo Marzio, certainly have amassed a
large repertoire of rights and wrongs when
it comes to running a restaurant ... and
putting out food that people enjoy.
Executive Chef Francesco Apollonia
continues to head the kitchen and prepare
his fine Italian dishes with Venetian influ-
ences ... Along with Chef Apollonia in the
Liz an Nino Cutraro
kitchen now is the addition of
Chef Salvatore Arru with his
flavors and recipes from the
Italian island of Sardinia, second
to Sicily as the Mediterranean's
largest isle, and where rustic
cuisine is highly enjoyed.
With new additions to the
Belle Piatti selection of dishes,
best-sellers like orate fish,
18-ounce bone-in New York
strip, pasta, risotto, branzino,
quail, gnocchetti, swordfish,
octopus, veal chop, etc. may soon have com-
pany in dining favorites.
Being across the street from the
Townsend Hotel gives many of the stars
who stay there when in town many
Birmingham restaurants from which to
choose ... Bella Piatti is highly regarded
among them ... serving many dishes that
are not available at many restaurants, if any
... Have you ever had lobster tail cooked
in tomato sauce ... Or gnocchi faragliona,
a homemade potato dumpling made
Venetian-style, topped with a Bolognese
tomato meat sauce? ... They are two of the
features, among others, that go over in a big
way.
Bella Piatti is open Tuesday-Friday, 11
a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m-11 p.m. ...
Cozy seating for 65 in the dining room and
10 at the well-appointed bar.
Previous restaurant experience by its
owner or owners is big in knowing what
most people want in the way of food, ser-
vice and price ... Bella Piatti's presentation
knowhow is priceless.
THE DINING BARGAIN HAS gone over
so big that originally set as just a one-time
offer has turned into being twice monthly
... The petite filet dinner complete with
antipasto tray, minestrone soup, salad, pasta
side, potato and vegetable ... $21.95 ...
Sposita's Italian Ristorante, 14 Mile between
Orchard Lake Road and Farmington Road,
West Bloomfield ... It's in the Busch Market
shopping center at the far right
area if entering from 14 Mile.
READER MINI REVIEW
... by Susan Sherbow ... "Mark
and I recently visited Trattoria
da Luigi on Washington, Royal
Oak. The lightly toasted Italian
bread came with three toppings,
fresh tomatoes with basil and
oil, caponata (pickled eggplant
tossed with olives, pine nuts and
celery) and tapenade made of
brined and ground olives.
Mark had a side of Bolognese, which
was large al dente rigatoni with a meaty
and tasty tomato sauce. The potato gnocchi
dish that I had was soft pillows in a not-
overly-thick white cheese sauce. Small bits
of sauteed sausage added a surprising kick
to the sauce.
Mark's Chicken Tosca was delicately bat-
tered and served on top of a butter lemon
sauce. The broccoli on this dish was al dente
and the sliced potatoes sauteed in garlic and
butter."
MANY PEOPLE WILL agree with TV
chef queen Paula Deen, who rates Hunter
House on Woodward, Birmingham, among
"The Best Burgers in America" ... She lists
only 10 of them in her Cooking With Paula
Deen magazine.
MAIL DEPT.... "We just got in from
New York and saw your column about fried
matzah with all the trimmings. Herman
and I had some with pecans and walnuts at
one deli and crushed pineapple at another.
Both were delicious, but we like the one
with pineapple the best. The owner said
that it was alright for Passover7 ... Henrietta
Blumenthal
TICKETS TO FINAL sixth dinner in
its present series by Seasoned Chefs are
going fast ... The gourmet dinner by seven
chefs is Wednesday, April 29, cocktail
reception 6 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. ... at the
Reserve on South Eton, Birmingham (by
Big Rock Chophouse) ... Jeff Rose, CAYA
Smokehouse Grill; Eric Voigt, Big Rock
Chophouse; Matthew Fichett, Big Rock
Chophouse and the Reserve; Alan Merhar,
Evans Street Station; Benjamin Meyer,
Iridescence, Motor City Casino; Jay Grundy,
Cork Restaurant; and Chris Johnson, the
Meeting House; quite an array of dining tal-
ent! ... Passed appetizers, paired wines, etc.
... $190 per person also includes valet park-
ing, tip and tax ... Call (248) 647-7774.
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Antonio's, 12
Mile, Farmington Hills, for linguine with
red clam sauce ... To J. Baldwin's, 18 Mile,
Clinton Township, for Chicken Romesco
... To Cafe Muse, South Washington, Royal
Oak, for duck breast.
THE FLYING FINGERS of world noted
former localite David Syme, brings his
piano-styling mixture of jazz, classical
and novelty tunes to Temple Israel, West
Bloomfield, Thursday, May 7, 1-2 p.m. ...
David puts on a most entertaining show.
Try not to miss him.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... Max had spent
his first night at a very expensive hotel. As
soon as he awakes, Max phones the hotel's
reception desk.
"So how are you on this lovely morning,
Mr. Schwartz?" asks the receptionist.
"If you must know:' replies Max, "I'm
fuming. In fact, I'm fuming so much that
I'm ready to plotz" (burst, explode).
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that:' says the
receptionist. "So how can I help you?"
"I'm sure you've heard of the straw that
broke the camel's back:' replies Max.
"Of course I have replies the reception-
ist.
"Well, I've just spent the night sleeping on
it!" says Max.
CONGRATS ... To James "Jimmy"
Gottfurth on his 75th birthday ... To
Seymour and Janet Rosen on their 50th
anniversary.
-
❑
Danny's email address is
dannyraskin®sbcglobal.net
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April 23 • 2015