F INE C HINESE D INING

“A wonderful adventure in fine dining” ~ Danny Raskin

CREDIT: NARA HIBACHI & HOT ROCKS

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Nara Hibachi & Hot Rocks

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Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner
Catering and carryout available
Gift certificates

27925 Orchard Lake Rd., North of 12 Mile, Farmington Hills

248-489-2280

www.honghuafinedining.com

“For 40 years, Gallery Restaurant has served up masterpieces”

~ Danny Raskin

THE GALLERY RESTAURANT

Daily Special to choose from for lunch & dinner…

Dinner specials come with complimentary rice or chocolate pudding or jello

OPEN 7 DAYS:

Now Serving
Beer & Wine

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www.thegalleryrestaurant2.com

Holiday Open House

November 9-10

Cheeses Paired with Wine and Beer
Demos, Gifts, and Raffl es Times
will be announced on Facebook.

Special Offer

Order & Pay for Holiday Gift Baskets

Get 10% Off

Only during Holiday Open House

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Start your holiday shopping early.
We have many gift ideas for the
Cheese Lovers in your life.

33041 Grand River Ave, Farmington, Michigan

(248) 957-9581

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64

November 1 • 2018

jn

delicious way
to socialize
with friends is
sitting at the perim-
eter of a Japanese
hibachi grill, watch-
ing a personable,
Esther Allweiss knife-wielding chef
Ingber
quickly and efficiently
Contributing Writer
prepare food to order.
One of the best practitioners in
the business is Executive Chef Teddy
Quinones of Nara Hibachi & Hot
Rocks on West Maple Road in West
Bloomfield. It’s the site of a former
Shogun restaurant. Open since Sept.
25, Nara was named for a former
Japanese capital city.
Chef Teddy developed the restau-
rant-lounge’s Asian fusion-inspired
menu with his business partner,
Chef Howie Barnes. A third partner,
Stoli Liti, also is general manager of
Prime29, the steakhouse across the
street. Trina Gegovic is Nara’s general
manager.
A scratch kitchen, Nara does its
own butchering and hand-cutting of
meat from Fairway Packing in Eastern
Market. The USDA Prime beef under-
goes a 29-day wet aging process.
The restaurant’s seafood is flown
in from the
East Coast. “It’s
NARA HIBACHI fresh — never
& HOT ROCKS frozen,” Chef
5656 W. Maple Road, Teddy said.
West Bloomfield
Dinner res-
(248) 325-9420 ervations at
naragrille.com Nara start at 4
$$$ out of $$$$ p.m., except for
2 on Sunday.
Appetizers,
soups, salads, sliders, sides and
desserts are listed inside a blos-
som-adorned folded menu. The high-
lighted hibachi entrees are steak, filet
mignon, chicken, scallops, salmon,
lobster and calamari steak, plus vege-
tables with optional tofu. The “Double
Up” pairs steak or chicken with

another protein, while five “Triple
Joy” combinations are available.
My recent hibachi meal began with
a delightful beef-based, clear onion
soup, with mushrooms, green onions
and tiny onion rings, and Ginger
Salad, including a creamy ginger
dressing.
At the grill, Chef Teddy deftly
chopped a medley of mushrooms,
onions and zucchini and thin spa-
ghetti. The main course was cooked
next, including rice and two “compli-
mentary” shrimp.
I had the best scallops of my life —
seared, flavorful and the opposite of
rubbery. My tender filet was properly
seasoned and cooked perfectly. I tast-
ed three sauces provided, but didn’t
feel my food needed enhancement.
Yakitori is a personalized hot
rock grilling experience. Diners grill
skewers of their chosen protein on
a natural volcanic stone heated to
824 degrees. That prime temperature
allows each bite to remain hot. Two
available meats include lamb chops
and Angus ribeye. Yakitori Hot Rocks
meals come with onion soup and
French fries. A cart holding the hot
rock can be moved anywhere in the
dining area and also to the lounge or
patio.
A Japanese-style roof covers the
brick building’s entrance and part
of the patio. The open-air side has
woven chairs.
The partners worked with a design-
er to create Nara’s contemporary
décor. Red accents the neutral color
scheme. Look for panels of snow-
topped mountains and bamboo in
various-sized containers.
Nara Lounge, painted red, offers
happy hour and special late-night
appetizers and alcoholic beverag-
es. I sipped chilled Hana Awake, a
light-tasting, sparkling flower sake.
Remember this spacious, pretty
venue for hosting private events and
parties. ■