nosh
10 off
CUSTOMER
APPRECIATION
PARTY R
O
AVAILAB OM
LE
up to
90 people
VOTED
%
ENTIRE BILL
Excludes alcohol, Lamb Chops, tax and
gratuity. Dine-in or carry out. Must have
coupon. Cannot be combined with
another offer. Expires 11/30/16.
DAILY
LUNCH SPECIAL
# in the 1
6
Starting at
Jewish News
4189 Orchard Lake Road, Orchard Lake Twp., MI
248.865.0000
BY ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER | Contributing Writer
$ 99
Dining Around
The D
CHOOSE TWO
SOUP, SALAD
OR SANDWICH
www.mezzagrille.com
Ferndale’s OM Cafe
NOVI
248-826-2629
43296 11 Mile Rd.
Novi, MI 48375
Give the Gift of Luxury this Holiday Season!
WEST BLOOMFIELD
248-716-7760
6563 Orchard Lake Rd.
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
$
BUY 2 GET 1
48
1 HOUR MASSAGE
OR LUXE FACIAL
FREE *
FREE HYDROLUXE MASSAGE
WITH PURCHASE
Consists of a 50-minute service and
time for consultation and dressing.
Normal rate $89. New clients only.
See spa for details. Expires 12/31/16.
Gift Cards Available!
*See spa for details. Gift cards must total $150. Free
massage or facial certificate ($74 value) must be
redeemed at the location which it was purchased.
Participating locations only. Expires 12/31/16.
2130880
Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere
SPOSITA’S
RISTORANTE
OUR PETITE FILET DINNER
IS HAPPENING AGAIN!
Sunday, November 6 through
Thursday, November 10
$ 22.95
(248) 538-8954
15%
Off
food bill
Offer Good Monday-
Thursday, dine-in only
and entrees only. Not
valid with any other
offer. With coupon only.
Not valid on holidays.
10%
Off
food bill
Offer Good Friday-
Sunday, dine-in only
and entrees only. Not
valid with any other
offer. With coupon only.
Not valid on holidays.
33210 W. 14 Mile Rd
In Simsbury Plaza, just east of Farmington Rd.
West Bloomfield
Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pmtFri: 11am-11pm
Sat: 4pm-11pmtSun: 4pm-9pm
2071900
Includes Petite Filet, antipasto plate, side of pasta,
salad, soup, potato and vegetable.
Dine-in only, not valid with any other offer.
Try Our New Boneyard
Beef Ribs!
Orchard Lake Rd. South of 14 Mile t Farmington Hills
248-851-7000
10 OFF
%
TOTAL BILL
&YDMVEJOHUBY UJQBOECFWFSBHFTt8JUIUIJTBEt$BSSZPVUPS%JOFJOt&YQJSFT+/
/PUWBMJEPO)PMJEBZT
$BUFSJOHGPSBMM0DDBTJPOTt$BSSZ0VUt0VS4QFDJBMJUZ-PX$BSC3JCT$IJDLFO-BNC3JCT
54 November 3 • 2016
Om Cafe
23136 Woodward,
Ferndale
(248) 548-1941
www.omcafe.com
$$ out of $$$$$
E
ncouraging optimal health and respecting all spe-
cies of the Earth are twin philosophies behind Om
Cafe’s focus on vegetarian, vegan and macrobiotic
cuisine.
Om Cafe — “just a peaceful-sounding name,” accord-
ing to founding owner Colleen Smiley — opened in
December 1985 on the east
side of Woodward Avenue,
north of Nine Mile, in
Ferndale.
Smiley’s son, Jason
Thibodeau, took over
when she retired. He sold
the business to Bill Blondy
in October 2014, who
continues today with busi-
ness partner/chef Jessica
Norwood.
A vegan, not eating dairy
products or meat, Norwood
was an Om Cafe diner since
childhood, later hired as a waitress and mentored by the
previous owners. Om Café became her first chance to
cook professionally.
“It’s always been my dream to own my own restau-
rant,” said Norwood, who appreciates partner Blondy’s
“constant support and cooperation since we began this
journey.”
For Om Cafe’s made-from-scratch food, “we try our
best to shop local as much as we can,” Norwood said.
Produce comes from vendors at Eastern Market in
Downtown Detroit as well as independent farms. The
restaurant has an herb garden.
Vegetarian food shouldn’t be thought of as just salads
and steamed vegetables, says the chef. She makes things
more interesting by serving “plant-based comfort cui-
sine, such as pasta dishes, nachos, tacos and stir-fries.
“A lot of my inspiration just comes from what I feel
like eating that day and the season and ingredients that
are available,” Norwood said.
A lifelong carnivore, I’m especially fond of prime rib
in a fine-dining setting, but the items I’ve tried here have
convinced me to go vegetarian more often.
I recently ordered a Friday night entree featuring
house-made barbecued seitan — a meat substitute
made with wheat protein and seasoned with tamari.
My Seitan Tacos with Romesco sauce were delightful.
Crispy-crusted seitan squares were placed over mixed
greens in three grilled-edge pita pockets. Then came the
sauce, comprised of roasted red pepper, almond, scal-
lion and smoked paprika. Guacamole and cilantro were
garnishes.
I chose Chocolate Coconut Layer Cake for dessert, a
customer favorite. I left Om Cafe feeling healthy, virtu-
ous and well-fed.
On future visits, I will try Nori Roll, a menu staple
since the beginning; El Mexicano, with pinto beans, veg-
gies and lots of add-ons; and Loaded Vegan Mac, defi-
nitely not a traditional mac and cheese with its added
kale and tofu, and a coconut-curry sauce.
Sunday and Tuesday are off days at Om Cafe, which
otherwise opens at 4 p.m. A vegan brunch, from 11 a.m.-
3 p.m. Saturday, includes blueberry pancakes, organic
eggs, scrambles, and vegan biscuits and gravy.
*