arts & life

th e b e s t o f
eve r y t h i n g

A Northern Italian Gem

Due Venti serves authentic cuisine in an intimate venue.

D

edicated pride plays a huge role
room … David is responsible
grandmother, who painted nearly
in the success of many restau-
for the Northern Italian culi-
300 paintings from 1964-2007.
rants … Where owners’ satisfac-
nary presentations enjoyed by
Her artwork is like a theme for the
tion in their preparation and presentation is
their devoted customers.
restaurant’s presence.
usually wrapped up in a pretty bow for the
Best-sellers include cauli-
The many regular patrons of
appreciative diner.
flower fritters with aioli, herbs
this little culinary gem swear by
And this pride is one thing that a hus-
and tomato caponata, Chilean
the presentations of Due Venti,
band-and-wife venture might have over
sea bass encrusted with pista-
whose intimate scene and per-
many other operations of culinary worth in
chios and breadcrumbs, home-
sonal touches go so hand-in-hand
various parts of the country.
made gelato, Piedmontese filet Danny Raskin
with the dining enjoyment it
Much like one discovered in this
of beef, roasted rack of lamb,
presents.
Senior Columnist
Metropolitan Detroit locale … Due Venti on
fresh figs stuffed with sausage,
QUESTION & ANSWER
Main Street, south of 14 Mile in Clawson,
seasonal homemade soup,
DEPT. … “I am trying to remem-
owned by David and Nicole Seals.
braised spare ribs, hand-cut pasta tossed
ber the name of a small restaurant on Larned
Theirs is not a large restaurant … Only 45 with wild mushrooms, fennel, toasted wal-
or Congress streets in Downtown Detroit in
seats plus another 16 on an outdoor patio … nuts, butter and mushroom stock, etc.
the ’50s and ’60s or maybe after. The waiters
and full bar.
And for dessert, there are yummy pears
wore tuxes, and the tablecloths were check-
Although small, it is revered as an upscale poached in port wine served over mascar-
ered red and white.
restaurant that treats its employees like fam-
pone gelato, warm dark chocolate polenta-
“Judges and attorneys were the main
ily … cooking dinner for them a few times a pudding cake splashed with Frangelico,
patrons at lunchtime. I was in my middle
week, taking them to baseball games, work-
cheesecake made with goat cheese and
20s and on my first job in accounting. We
ing together with them, etc.
escorted with walnut stuffed apricots,
often ate lunch there in the early ’60s. The
David and Nicole met following her gradu- orange-clove sorbetto, caramel-fennel gelato, name may have been Gurney’s Chop House.
ation from the Culinary Institute of America
etc.
Can you help me with the name?” … Milton
(CIA) in Hyde Park, N.Y., returning here and
Celebrating its eighth anniversary, Due
Einstandig.
working for Matt Prentice at Northern Lakes Venti is open only Tuesday-Saturday, 5-11
(You could be right about it being Gurney’s
Seafood … David was corporate chef at
p.m.
Chop House, but I don’t remember it having
Federal Mogul world headquarters and at an
As with most such dining operations, all
waitpersons in tuxedos. At the same time,
industry gathering … Without realizing it at
dishes are prepared in-house … including
Caucus Club on Congress had both red and
the time, it was the beginning of a beautiful
soups and sauces, breads, pastas, smoked
white checkered tablecloths and waitpersons
dream come true for both … To be husband
meats, gelato and sorbet, etc … Due Venti
wearing tuxedos. City officials, judges, attor-
and wife and own their own restaurant.
prides itself on its superb cheeses and cured
neys, etc., jammed the place at lunchtime.)
The name Due Venti is from its present
meats imported directly from Northern Italy
READER MINI REVIEW … from Dennis
restaurant address (220)
… David and Nicole prepare Green … “Once each month, alumni mem-
two and 20 … And, coinci-
menu items from old family
bers of Tau Epsilon Phi (TEP) fraternity of
dently, is also the number
recipes and authentic age-
Wayne State University enjoy dinner together
of miles from Rome to
old handcrafting practices
at a different restaurant. The August din-
Ascoli Piceno, Northern
of Italian cuisine inspired by
ner was held at the Grill Restaurant & Bar,
Italy, the area where her
Italy’s northern regions along Orchard Lake Road, north of Middlebelt,
family is from.
with subtle hints of Austria,
Sylvan Lake.
In much togetherness,
Switzerland and France.
“Sandy Marks, Leonard Borman, Jerry
Nicole prepares the pas-
The interior quaintness
Hoffman and Dennis Chatlin each raved
tries, works on the line with
of Due Venti inside and
about the flavorful and generous portion
David and, on weekends,
outdoors is enhanced by
of their potato-encrusted walleye, prepared
Nicole and David Seals
also manages the dining
the paintings of Nicole’s late
with potato crumbs, pan-fried and served

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248-862-5747

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Lunch Delivery Available

56 September 1 • 2016

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

Wine Tasting Every Thursday
5pm-8pm

QUART OF KREPLACH OR MATZA BALL SOUP
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BLOOM’S Jewish Cuisine Now Available

RECEIVE A FREE

Deli Sandwiches or Shawarma

with potato and choice of broccoli or cole-
slaw. Denny, a former chef, said that he sel-
dom orders fish in restaurants, but this was
superb.
“Herb Morrison had a thick juicy bacon
cheeseburger, served with onion tangles and
cheddar-jack cheese. Wally Caplan enjoyed
his ground beef melt with American cheese.
Bobby Niskar had a juicy and delicious
chicken fajita wrap with onions, peppers,
Mexican rice and cheddar-jack cheese. I had
a wonderful half slab of baby back ribs with
French fries and coleslaw.”
ABOUT 200 folks enjoyed the lovely smile
and gracious ways of Ceremonies Mistress
Lila Lazarus as they blended with the display
of Yiannis Karimalis’ wonderful paintings
recently … The showing of Yiannis’ art at
his home, with sales going to Planet Lori Art
Camp, was a splendid occasion accompanied
by a delicious choice of passed hors d’oeuvres
as the crowd enjoyed Lila and the framed
artworks of hair-stylist-to-the-stars Yiannis.
MORE CELEBRITY showings may be
on tap for Saturday, Nov. 19 … That’s when
Mumford High’s 1966 graduating class has
slated its biggie 50th reunion at Glen Oaks
Country Club, Farmington Hills … Contact
Jeri Fishman at (248) 933-2838 or
jerifish74@gmail.com.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. …The
elderly lady is upset. Her 85-year-old hus-
band of 60 years says he is in love with some-
one else. She leaves the room and comes
back with a gun, and puts it to her head.
The husband begs and pleads with her not
to shoot herself.
Hysterically, the woman yells to her hus-
band, “Shut up! You’re next!”
CONGRATS … To Harold “Hal” Brenner
on his 80th birthday … To Mark and Elaine
Schonberger on their 43rd anniversary.

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