arts & life
the b e s t o f
e ve r y t h i n g
It Was A Very Good Year!
L
OOKING BACK ON 2016 …
JANUARY … The end of a dining
tradition comes as Mark and Susan
Larco close Big Beaver Tavern, formerly
Larco’s Italian Chophouse, Troy … Second
edition of L’Chaim Jewish menu joins regu-
lar bill o’ fare at Andiamo Bloomfield …
Mandaloun Bistro Lebanese cuisine, former
Le Chef, opens its first year at new location
in Bingham Farms … Former Lark execu-
tive chef John Somerville brings much buzz
as new executive chef at Steven Lelli’s Inn
On the Green, Farmington Hills.
FEBRUARY … Bud Liebler and son
Patrick take the Whitney dining on
Woodward, Detroit, up more notches
than before with noted good innova-
tions … Crispelli’s changes format at West
Bloomfield location to include full-service
by waitpersons … New Jim Brady’s Detroit
opens in Royal Oak by Diamond Jim Brady’s
grandson … Maria’s, West Bloomfield, no
longer owned by Diana Walsh, has reverted
back to former owner Domenick Morda.
MARCH … Jim Hiller, former owner of
Hillers Market sold to Kroger, tries hand
at baked goods and consulting … Fifth
anniversary of Joe Muer Seafood, Detroit,
is greeted with much favorable attention
… New items are added to third L’Chaim
Jewish menu at Andiamo Bloomfield …
Uptown Parthenon Greek restaurant cele-
brates 18th anniversary in West Bloomfield’s
Crosswinds Center … Georges restaurant
hits 14th anniversary in West Bloomfield
…Cork & Rye takes over former site of
Vineyards, Farmington Hills … Mon Jin Lau
Chinese restaurant, Troy, adds Italian gelato
ice cream dessert … No more Corner Bar
at Townsend Hotel, Birmingham … Gary
Cochran, owner of former Beau Jack’s, look-
ing for new dining avenues.
APRIL … New Feng Taste, West
Bloomfield, by former first sushi head chef
at Joe Vicari’s Joe Muer Seafood Detroit Yue
Feng Cao, making favorable waves with
both Japanese and Chinese dining … Bella
Piatti, Birmingham, fetes third anniver-
sary stronger than ever with Liz and Nino
Cutraro looking ahead to even
Joe Muer Seafood, is named
more favorable attention and
2016 National Man of the Year
dining acceptance … Shangri-
by Leukemia & Lymphoma
La in West Bloomfield gets more
Society … Shangri-La, West
plaudits on its unbelievable dim
Bloomfield, is still a wonder
sum selection … Steven Lelli’s
on its 21st anniversary, and
Inn On the Green, Farmington
now open seven days a week
Hills, reaches coveted fifth
10 a.m.-2 a.m. as Michigan’s
anniversary with talk about it
only Chinese restaurant with
maybe becoming the flagship
unlocked doors that late …
restaurant of a fine dining con- Danny Raskin
especially, too, with its entire
Senior Columnist
glomerate.
menu of dim sum and regular
MAY … 32nd anniversary
Chinese fare.
is honored by Pepino’s in its new home in
AUGUST … Sposita’s Italian Restaurant,
Sylvan Lake … Beans & Cornbread’s 19th
Farmington Hills, recognized among the
anniversary brings additional recognition
top neighborhood Italian eateries, small
with award-winning soul food … Vera
wonder why it is so popular … Andiamo
Rizer at Big Rock, Birmingham, is named
Bloomfield, with whitefish brought to the
restaurant manager of the year by Michigan restaurant five days a week by the same
Restaurant Association … GreenSpace Cafe, Native Americans who catch them …
Ferndale, is opened by heart specialist Dr.
Townsend Hotel and its very fine Rugby
Joel Kahn, with emphasis on healthy din-
Grille honor 28th anniversary with national
ing … New Katherine McGregor Dessert
and worldwide recognition awards … like
Parlor at the Whitney, Detroit, adds more
2016 Best of Award of Excellence … and
world-class pastries with addition of Chef
by Wine Spectator Lifestyle magazine …
Eric Bunge … Assaggi, Ferndale, 16th anni- Golden Phoenix Cantonese restaurant, West
versary noted by many for its relaxed dining Bloomfield, given more accolades for its
and excellent presentations … Joe Vicari
Thai food as well as Chinese.
bringing movie star Sophia Loren to Detroit
SEPTEMBER … Due Venti, Clarkson,
Opera House for one-woman show.
an upscale restaurant celebrates its eighth
JUNE … Bacco Ristorante hits 14th year
anniversary, owned by David and Nicole
in Southfield as a recognized top upscale
Seals, one of those mom-and-pop eater-
dining operation … Former longtime Oak
ies that people dream about … C.A.Y.A.,
Park Mayor Jerry Naftaly’s book, Images of
Wolverine Lake, is the kind of restaurant
Modern America — Northland Mall is slated
that Chef Jeff Rose always wanted as it
for an August release … Ale Mary, Royal Oak, marks its third anniversary … Big Rock
is lauded by Men’s Journal as having “One
Chophouse, Birmingham, not only fetes its
of the Best Burgers in America” … O’Brien’s 18th birthday, but also celebrates Norm and
Crabhouse fetes 26th anniversary in Auburn Bonnie LePage’s general manager Vera Riser’s
Hills … People concerned that if legendary
honor as Michigan Restaurant Association’s
Caucus Club, Detroit, is not opened again
Manager of the Year and winner of MRA’s
by Mary Bellone, it will not be the same.
Industry Champion Award … Opening of
JULY … Cuisine restaurant, Detroit,
a second Joe Muer Seafood by Joe Vicari at
honors 15th anniversary as a fine-dining
Bloomfield Hills’ Kingsley Inn location early
French restaurant by both owner and
part of 2017 will be same as his present spot
Executive Chef Paul Grosz … Pickles &
in the Renaissance Center, Detroit … Saffron
Rye, West Bloomfield, hits second anni-
Northern Indian restaurant, Farmington
versary with passing grades … Joe Vicari,
Hills, is owned by former owner and head
founder of Andiamo chain and today’s
chef of top-rated fine Taste of India.
15% OFF
Honoring All Competitors Specials (bring in ad)
All Craft Beer
CORK & RYE
ACME NOVA LOX
3pm-8pm Daily
52 December 29 • 2016
Exp. 01/07/17
Your New Year’s Gift Basket
and Holiday Tray Headquarters!
Exp. 01/07/17
20% OFF New Year’s
& SuperBowl Catering
(compared to $29.99 lb.)
CORK & RYE Exp. 01/07/17
CORK & RYE
Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
CORK & RYE
$16.99 LB.
Get a Mini FREE!
*
20% Off All Gift Baskets
and Holiday Trays
Exp. 01/07/17
Buy One Sandwich
OCTOBER … Osteria 22, Dearborn, is
the second-year sleeper Italian and Sicilian-
style restaurant that people are fast discov-
ering … Joe Muer Seafood, Detroit, hits
fifth anniversary with huge accolades on
its larger-than-expected success in taking
over a “name” … Mario’s, Detroit, fetes its
68th birthday as one of this region’s oldest
restaurants … Indo makes a big hit with its
authentic Indonesian restaurant offerings
… Tom’s Oyster Bar, Royal Oak, continuing
what has become a 22-year-old tradition.
NOVEMBER … Steven Lelli’s Inn On
the Green, Farmington Hills, is honored
on sixth anniversary along with announce-
ment that it will present “A Night at the
Golden Mushroom” with Certified Master
Chef Milos Cihelka … 18th anniversary of
Camelia’s Mexican Grill is now at its new
location in Farmington Hills.
DECEMBER … Lox & bagel platters at
Jewish delis acclaimed among top Sunday
breakfast pleasures … Owner Mark Larkin
and staff of Steven Lelli’s Inn On the Green,
Farmington Hills, host more than 150 guests
at its successful “A Night at the Golden
Mushroom” with plans for honoring of
more former restaurants … Diamond Jim
Brady’s Bistro observes first birthday of its
name change and new location in Novi’s
Town Center … Sunrise Cafe and Fiddler
continue to operate under separate owner-
ships, and Maya Kuchersky’s Maya’s Skin
Center in West Bloomfield is acclaimed as
one of Michigan’s finest beauty operations
… Mark Zarkin is invited by President and
Mrs. Barack Obama to holiday reception at
the White House in Washington, D.C.
2016 YEAR-ENDING CONGRATS
… To David Blatt on his birthday … To
Marilyn Frommer on her birthday … To
Heidi Martin on her birthday … To Norman
Wauldron on his 99th birthday ... To Ed
Sosnick on his birthday.
BEST WISHES to everyone for a very
healthy and happy 2017 new year!!
Cork & Rye Exp. 01/07/17
32418 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills
248-862-5747
M-Thurs 10a-10p; F-Sat 10a-12mid; Sun 11a-8p
Visit us at CorkandRye.com
Lunch Delivery Available
2117870