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