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The Taste Of Success

Find pure enjoyment at Birmingham’s luscious Bella Piatti.

S

ome speculated that its popularity
satisfaction … And because of
year that it participated tells
couldn’t last … That the restaurant
this, Liz and Nino have earned
much about the baked goods
wouldn’t continue at the same fast
a large reputation of having
by the Crispelli’s Pizzeria &
pace as when it opened … But here it is,
a true restaurant destination
Bakery restaurants in West
still going strong on its third anniversary.
spot … Where people will
Bloomfield and Berkley … It
Few things are forever, but some get
travel miles to enjoy one of the
came in heavy competition at
better with time … One of the latter is
region’s best dining empori-
the annual biggie Girl Scouts
Bella Piatti, on Townsend, across from the
ums.
of America’s Southeastern
Townsend Hotel, Birmingham.
Along with its fine presenta-
Michigan Cookie Gala, held
Those who know Liz and Nino Cutraro
tions of desired Italian cuisine, Danny Raskin
this year for more than 500
would just smile … They knew as much … Bella Piatti takes much pride
folks
… Ladies and gents in the
Senior Columnist
A solid determination has always been in
in its top-selling items like an
large crowd selected Crispelli’s
their blood and, for many years, the back-
18-ounce bone-in New York
for the People’s Choice Award
bone of success for this wonderful couple.
strip steak, branzino, quail, veal chop,
at the DTE Energy headquarters in Detroit
Past restaurant ownership experience
orata, gnocchetti, swordfish, octopus, etc.
… Other awards for texture, flavor, pre-
never hurts in dining destination owner-
Few restaurants, if any, have items like
sentation, creativity and use of a Girl Scout
ship … In fact, Liz and Nino’s expertise
gnocchi faragliona, a homemade potato
Cookie, came from the six tasters serving
gives them distinct advantages … There
dumpling made Venetian-style topped with as judges … We know how good Girl Scout
is normally no such thing as a “waiting
a Bolognese tomato meat sauce … or the
Cookies are … and Crispelli’s is also getting
period” for numerous
Adriatic specialty of
many plaudits for its baked goods.
problems that must
lobster tail cooked in a
ONE OF THE MOST misused designa-
be taken care of …
tomato sauce.
tions of restaurant styles may be “delicates-
The owners of new
Executive Chef
sen” … It can be a shop that sells cooked
restaurants, whoever
Francesco Apollonia
or prepared food or ready-to-eat food or
they may be, and there
improved his fine
exotic, expensive food, etc. … Or it can
are many, might recall
kitchen staff with the
be a Jewish deli, Russian deli, Italian deli,
going through some
addition of Salvatore
German, etc. … or whatever the owner or
rights and wrongs of
Arru, who has brought owners want to call it.
operating a successful
the luscious aspects of
As an example, Main Street Deli, on
restaurant.
Sardinia’s rustic cui-
North Main Street, Rochester … Using Sy
Considering Liz and
sine … And popular
Ginsburg corned beef does not make it
Nino’s vast restaurant
General Manager Ken
a Jewish deli … Nor does pastrami from
ownership experience, Liz and Nino Cutraro
Mazziotta has few
another source … Although it might come
to be sure, if problems
equals.
the closest with beef barley soup, Reubens,
needed attention
Dining room capacity etc., sandwiches, potato salad, etc. … The
they would immediately be taken care of
is still a delightful 65 along with 10 in its
eight styles of HoneyBaked Ham sandwich-
… Some establishments other than those
bar lounge … It is open Tuesday through
es among others or Greek pita might make
owned by the Cutraros might have suffered Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday, 5 p.m.-11 it a good American deli.
because of little or no attention to the res-
p.m.
MAIL DEPT. … “I was told by a friend
taurant’s difficulties.
Bella Piatti has made a fine impression
about her being taken to have lobster filled
Bella Piatti is one of those restaurants
on many … and proves that experience
with lobster, crabmeat and mushrooms,
whose owners’ wealth of experience
almost always wins out if goodness is a
but she didn’t remember the place but said
enables them to immediately do whatever
prime factor in its existence.
that it was delicious. Do you know who
necessary to ensure customer pleasure and
WINNING AN AWARD the first
serves this?” … Alicia Goodman.

(The only place I know of that has such
a dish is either Rochester Chop House or
its Kabin Kruser venue in front of the chop
house restaurant. Both eateries are together
on Main Street in Rochester.)
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. … Once
upon a time, there lived a king who had a
Jewish adviser. The king relied so much on
him that he decided to make him his head
adviser.
The other advisers objected. It was bad
enough just to sit in counsel with a Jew, but
to allow one to “lord” over them was too
much to bear.
Being a compassionate ruler, the king
agreed with them and ordered the Jew to
convert. As soon as the act was done, the
Jew felt great remorse for this decision.
His remorse turned to despondency
and took its toll on his health. He became
weaker and weaker. Finally, he could stand
it no longer. He burst in on the king and
cried, “I was born a Jew, and a Jew I must
die. Do what you want with me, but I can
no longer deny my faith.”
“If that is how you feel,” said the king,
“then the other advisers will have to live
with it. Your counsel is too important to do
without. Go and be a Jew again.”
The Jew felt elated. He hurried back
home and felt the strength surge back
into his body as he ran. Finally, he burst
into the house and called out to his wife,
“Sarah! Sarah! We can be Jews again! We
can be Jews again!”
His wife glared back at him angrily and
said, “What, you couldn’t wait until after
Passover?!”
CONGRATS … To Cortney Chimoff on
her birthday … To Barbara Garfinkel on
her birthday … To Warren Tessler on his
birthday.

*

Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

NEW! EXPANDED FULL SERVICE DINING FROM 4PM DAILY

15%OFF

Only valid at West Bloomfield location after 4pm.
Expires 4-30-16.
3/31/16. Some restrictions may apply.

6690 Orchard Lake Road | West Bloomfield, MI 48322 | (248) 254-4760 | www.crispellis.com

88 April 14 • 2016

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