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Family Jewel
Mandaloun Bistro brings authentic Lebanese dining wonders.
E
thnic dining treasures of the world are
ing out the family-owned and operated dining
culinary jewels that often bring savory
experience is their daughter, general manager/
joy to many appreciative aficionados …
co-owner Melissa Bitar, whose efficiency and
Among the priceless gems are the exotic dishes of
smiling hostess greetings are delightful.
Lebanon.
Roasted stuffed lamb by Milake is superb,
In the talented hands of gastronomic masters,
elegantly prepared and presented on brown
Lebanese dining indeed enjoys a lofty rank.
rice, with toppings of nuts and raisins … As are
When Milake Bitar and her family formerly
her stuffed zucchini and eggplant dishes, both
opened Le Chef, she was given kudos galore on
filled with rice and ground beef in fresh tomato
her Northern Lebanese cooking style’s authentic
sauce … Other Northern Lebanese preparations
Danny Raskin
tastes and presentations … However, circum-
by Milake and Fernand including authentic
Senior Columnist
stances perhaps may have prevented more
mujadara, lentil beans and rice topped with
than a short existence at the former Le Chef in
fried onions, and burgul cracked wheat, onions
Farmington Hills.
and green peppers in a fresh tomato sauce, beef ribs grilled
So it was with thankful welcome of dining fame that the
with barbecue sauce and delicious Lebanese grape leaves,
traditional presentations of authentic fine Lebanese din-
etc., are but samples of so much outstanding goodness.
ing had been continued by Milake Bitar and her daughter,
Very few, if any, Northern Lebanese restaurants serve the
Michelle … They recently celebrated the first anniversary of
excellent Moghrabiyeh (couscous balls simmered in chicken
the opening of their authentic Mandaloun Lebanese Bistro
broth) … and specialty items not listed on the menu during
on Telegraph and 12½ Mile in Bingham Farms, previous site the week, such as Lebanese meatballs and Lebanese Alfredo
of the former Shiraz restaurant … The address change was
pasta with chicken.
highly welcomed and instantly became that of a destina-
Mandaloun is open seven days weekly … Monday-
tion restaurant because of its true Northern
Thursday, 11-10; Friday, 11-11, Saturday
Lebanese dishes that have so few equals.
4-11, Sunday 4-10 … Seating in the main
Mandaloun Bistro, like the family’s former
dining room is 150, along with 33 in the
Le Chef, is much like a restaurant that might
lounge including eight bar stools.
have begun around 150 years ago, with reci-
Consuming Northern Lebanese food
pes so difficult to beat … Especially in the
as prepared by Milake Bitar at the family-
hands of Milake, whose treatment of those
owned and operated Mandaloun is a truly
formularies, passed down for generations,
elegant authentic culinary adventure …
are hardly equaled … 31 appetizers from
One not to be missed by ethnic dining
which to select … 24 vegetarian items …
enthusiasts.
Excellent authentic Lebanese entrees from
PERMANENT PRESENCE NOW
Northern Lebanon, including dishes seldom
of Executive Chef John Somerville, for-
seen anywhere in this region along with spe-
mer chef du cuisine at the closed Lark
cialties from Milake’s golden-touch hands.
restaurant, undoubtedly zooms high the
Milake Bitar’s Lebanese cooking delights
dining prestige of Steven Lelli’s Inn on the
are like magic … They are so excellently
Green, 12 Mile, Farmington Hills … Even
Milake Bitar and daughter
prepared in the true authentic culinary ways Melissa Bitar
loftier now than before in both Italian
that genuine Lebanese cooking offers …
and American cuisine presentations …
The Northern Lebanese presentations by
The cooking prowess of 6-foot-4-inch
executive chef/co-owner Milake and husband, assistant chef
Executive Chef Somerville towers high in distinctive recog-
and butcher, Fernand, are among the finest Lebanese dishes
nition with uncanny cooking talent that has brought him
to be found … to say nothing of her abilities in preparing
numerous recognized plaudits … James Beard Award twice
dining delights from other countries as well … And round-
with nominations as best chef in the Great Lakes area, noted
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Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
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as among top chefs in the Midwest region, and so much
more.
Big news, too, is that he has also brought a number of
those fantastic Lark recipes, such as its nationally known
Rack of Lamb Genghis Khan, brushed with a hoisin sauce
marinade, Dover sole, etc. … The acquisition of John has
people still talking about Steven Lelli’s Inn owner, Mark
Zarkin, being full of surprises … Maybe someday Mark will
also add his own delicious long noodles, carrots, dill, etc.
chicken noodle soup to the fine Steven Lelli’s Inn menu.
WHILE REMINISCING with his noted brother, 74-year-
old Howie Kirschenbaum, who performed here recently
with Vocal Group Hall of Fame recording artists Jay and the
Americans, Dr. Stuart Kirschenbaum and he recalled when
they shared a bedroom together as youngsters in New York
… When going to New York restaurants with their grandfa-
ther, Jake “Spunky” Weiss, they had always wondered why
they never sat by a window or visible table … It had been
many years since Gramps was a gangland tough guy, but
“he still hadn’t forgotten his teachings,” recalled Stuart, who
remembers he and Howie also eating in restaurant kitchens
with him long before it became stylish.
Years before, their Grandpa Jake had also been one of the
owners of Cafe de Paris in New York, with Billy Rose and his
wife Fanny “Funny Girl” Brice.
Dr. Kirschenbaum is a former Michigan boxing commis-
sioner and past president of the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall
of Fame wing of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation,
whose annual Hank Greenberg Golf invitational is Monday,
June 13, at Franklin Hills Country Club in Farmington Hills.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. … Joe sees a tailor shop
named Cohen and O’Reilly and goes in telling the little
Jewish tailor how impressed he is that he and his Irish part-
ner, often at each other’s throats in the little town, had come
together like this. The little Jewish man seems unmoved.
“You’re surprised?” he asks. “Well, here’s another surprise
for you. I’m O’Reilly!”
CONGRATS … To Gertrude Matz on her birthday …
To Fonda Schwartz on her birthday … To Jason Shain on
his birthday … To Monica Fabio on her birthday … To
Adrienne Lenhoff on her birthday … To William Nosanchuk
on his 91st birthday …To Daniel and Yetta Weintraub on
their 62nd anniversary.
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