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the best of everything

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Former Tribute Site Off To A Good Start

T

Danny Raskin

Senior Columnist

Chef’s Table 12

is well worth

a visit.

Ophilia Gojcaj

he dream of a restaurant
that would be considered
as the leading operation
or flagship restaurant of his mini
chain … Willow Tree eateries in
Saginaw and West Branch … was
never realized by Tony Gojcaj
with his passing before it opened
in February this year.
When talented co-owner
wife, Ophilia Gojcaj, imme-
diately took over the reins of
their newest restaurant, Chef ’s
Table 12, at the former site of
the closed upscale Tribute on 12
Mile, just west of Orchard Lake
Road, Farmington Hills, it was
with added impetus to make
it another culinary favorite of
theirs … Along with its glittering
atmosphere and fine selective
menu of upscale dining plus
prices not as high as those of the
previous Tribute, Chef ’s Table 12
has made certain to include the
know-how of highly experienced
dining personnel.
There may have been some
thought among a few people
that Executive Chefs Takashi
Yagahashi and Don Yamaguchi
and General Manager Mickey
Bakst at the previous Tribute
might have worn shoes too large
to be filled … But recent visits
there by localites and promi-
nent personalities have found
much to dispel this thinking …
The independent Chef ’s Table
12 kitchen personnel is very
capably manned by Executive
Chef Karim Habra who did his

food mastery in Germany work-
ing with a prestigious Michelin
three-star executive chef … And
his present kitchen partner
in dining goodness at Chef ’s
Table 12 is Chef Stephen Jalbert,
who toiled with prominence at
California’s magnificent French
Laundry restaurant and the fine
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dearborn
… Two very high-powered stints
indeed!
Now only open for dinner 5-10
p.m. Monday through Thursday;
Friday and Saturday until 11
p.m., Chef ’s Table 12 may soon
open for lunch as well.
The elegant surroundings of
colorful chandeliers in the soft-
looking stylish 100-person seat-
ing main dining room with its
high tufted booths and comfort-
able tables … downstairs kitchen
level with a chef ’s table for 12,
six-stool bar in the restaurant’s
entrance foyer, 12 in lounge, etc.
… bring out a highly delightful
class of much sophistication.
Coupled with the presence
of a striking and large wine list
of exquisite selections in its
own bill of fare, the ample food
menu includes excellent culinary
presentations that deliciously
feature black tiger prawns with
a lemon sweet and sour sauce
side, mushroom bisque with
a so-very-good savory delight,
innovative salads, top-quality
South African lobster tail with a
citrus beurre monte, dissected at
the table if you choose, 8-ounce

filet, Colorado lamb chops, dry-
aged New York strip, excellent
fish selections, etc. … Dishes
that at Chef ’s Table 12 thor-
oughly exemplify the meaning
of goodness … Also, the strict
adherence to dietary and gluten-
free requests … Since food is
prepared only when ordered,
such wishes among others are
easily acknowledged … Even my
“Arnold Palmer” was made with
fresh lemonade and fresh tea.
In all-around fine dining spirit,
it is with much meaningful
appraisal that the new Chef ’s
Table 12 is without question a
thoroughly delightful comeback
to a restaurant that will and
already has commanded much
culinary appeal.
QUESTION & ANSWER
DEPT. … “When is the Caucus
Club going to open again?” …
Millicent Foreman.
(The original Caucus Club
owned by Les and Sam Gruber
and sold to Mary Belloni has no
date to reopen. The current use
of the space and Caucus Club
name by others is not of the
original restaurant or owners.)
REARVIEW MIRROR … On
Monroe Avenue, Detroit, yester-
years’ Grecian Gardens was the
most expensive of its Greektown
eateries … and notorious for
Mafia attendances … Liquor
in cups were filled in the back
room, groups like Billy Rose Trio
strolled among the tables … And
bumper stickers outside were

seen saying, “Support Your Local
Police Force — Patronize The
Grecian Gardens” … (Not by the
Mafia patrons you can be sure!)
DO YOU REMEMBER a
favorite restaurant of yester-
years? … Tell me about it in 100
or 150 words or so … They’re
part of the column honoring the
Jewish News’ and my 75th anni-
versary at the paper.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT.
… Repeated by request …
The senior citizen drove his
new car past the speed limit.
Looking into h is rearview mirror,
he saw a state trooper’s flashing
blue light and floored the pedal.
Suddenly he thought, “What am
I doing? I’m too old for this!”
The trooper walked up to the
car, looked at his watch and said,
“Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes.
Today is Friday. If you can give
me a new reason for speeding,
one I’ve never heard before, I’ll
let you go.”
The elderly gent paused and
replied, “Three years ago, my
wife ran off with a state trooper.
I thought you were bringing her
back.”
“Have a good day, sir,” said the
trooper.
CONGRATS … To Elaine
Schonberger on her birth-
day … To Norman Maher on
his birthday … To Mark and
Lorene Gutman on their 25th
anniversary. •

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July 6 • 2017

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