arts & life

fre s s i n g wi th
f i s h man

T

here’s been a lot said (mostly nega-
tive) about the recently announced
name of the Red Wings’ new home
— Little Caesars Arena. The project is the
centerpiece of some $1.2 billion invested
in the Cass Corridor by the Illitch fam-
ily, and to say they’ve earned the right to
celebrate their brand is — in my book — a
total understatement.
Little Caesars is a nationally
recognized name with a story
that quintessentially embod-
ies the spirit of the Michigan
worker. The story behind Mike
Illitch’s unbridled success starts
with his parents, first-generation
Macedonian immigrants. Mike’s
father, Sotir, was a tool-and-
Ryan
handle maker. In 1959, Mike and Fishman
his wife, Marian, opened their
first restaurant, Little Caesars Pizza Treat
in Garden City. From that little shop, they
built a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. I’d
certainly say that’s an accomplishment
worth celebrating with an homage of this
magnitude.
Could they have carried on the memory
of Joe Louis? Sure. A tribute to Motown
and the city’s music scene? I guess. But to
me, nothing says more clearly to the world
that Detroit’s a place where you can arrive
with nothing but a dream and chutzpah
and reach the highest heights of commem-
orating the restaurant where everything
started for an immigrant family almost 60
years ago.

QUICK TAKES
Chef Marc Bogoff and Eli Boyer (who
helped spearhead the wildly success-
ful opening of Gold Cash Gold) have
announced plans to debut a new sea-

food restaurant and raw bar in Ferndale
later this year near Nine Mile Road
and Woodward at 600 Vester St. The
1,400-square-foot space will seat 40. The
city approved their site plan in late April,
and it will likely launch in the fall. The
pair have said they are also working on
other prospective concepts with more
details forthcoming.
Corktown will welcome a new
casual breakfast spot and lunch
counter later this year with the
opening of Pudding Head,
expected this fall (2051 Rosa
Parks Boulevard). Owner Roseann
Micallef ’s focus is on fast service,
affordability and locally sourced
ingredients that will make for
healthier fare.
The restaurant will feature daily
soups and salads, and the menu will likely
center around an international assortment
of pies — everything from Michigan’s own
pasties to Jamaican beef pies, samosas and
calzones. There will seating for 75 and
an outdoor patio space for the warmer
months.
It’s finally May, and with (hopefully)
better weather comes a chance to grab a
bite outside if you live, work or just play in
the city of Southfield. Food truck rallies
are scheduled for June 9, July 14, Aug. 11
and Sept. 8 in the Civic Center area near
the Town Center complex. Lunch will be
served from noon-2 p.m. and dinners
from 4-7 p.m. with a micro-brewery in
the evening. Expect live music and plenty
of good eats — including Josh Charlip’s
Eskimo Jacks and Tal Sasson’s The Pita
Post.
Last week the Metro Times announced
its 2016 Best of Detroit winners. Taking its

Olympia Development

What’s In A Name?

Conceptual rendering of Little Caesars arena

Look for these food trucks in Southfield this summer.

place at the top of the best restaurants in
Oakland County was Royal Oak’s Bistro
82. Jim Brady’s Detroit was named the
county’s best new restaurant. Also making
the list in Oakland County were Toast for
best breakfast, Bigalora for best specialty
pizza, Big Rock Chophouse for best steak-
house, Iron Horse for best tacos, Anita’s
Kitchen for best Middle Eastern restau-
rant and Peking House for best Chinese.
Taking the top spots for best restaurant
and best new restaurant in Wayne County
were Selden Standard and Republic,
respectively.
Online music publication Consequence

of Sound also praised the Detroit music
scene last week, including three area
fixtures on its list of the 100 Greatest
American Music Venues. Pontiac’s Crofoot
came in at no. 92; Detroit’s The UFO
Factory took the no. 74 spot; Ann Arbor’s
The Blind Pig ranked no. 52.

MAZEL TOV …
To Justin Jacobs and Monique Junkunc on
their engagement.
Happy birthday to Colleen Weiss,
Rachel Salle, Steven Miesowicz, Hannah
Gershenson, Seth Rogers, Sara Bloomberg
and Tess Garoon.

*

2077360

May 5 • 2016

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