August 1 • 2019 53
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Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
raskin
the best of everything
Big Rock for the Ages
I
t is said many times that attending a bar
or bat mitzvah often plays a role in the
gaining of successful endeavors in life
… This might have happened when devel-
oper Eric Lutz attended one given at Nifty
Norman’
s, owned years ago by Norman and
Bonnie LePage.
Eric was enthralled at the fine event put
on by Norman and Bonnie … and that so
many people would enjoy being at a place
much off the beaten path in Wolverine
Lake … He called Norman, and they met
for breakfast at a nearby delicatessen … A
deal was consummated where Norm and
Bonnie would move their Nifty Norman’
s,
change the name, and open in Eric’
s closed
historic Grand Trunk Train Station on Eton
Street in Birmingham, which he had just
bought.
In August 1997, Big Rock Chophouse
was born … on South Eton Street,
Birmingham … owned by Norman and
Bonnie with partners Ray and Mary
Nicholson … and became one of the finest
restaurants in Michigan … One that would
also be among the recipients of the presti-
gious Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
for more than 20 consecutive years … plus
receiving the much-esteemed American
Culinary Achievement Award … One of
only three Michigan restaurants to do so …
with a mouthwatering menu that included
flavorful recipes centered around enor-
mous, hand-cut aged steaks, delicious lamb
chops and very fresh seafood among other
tasty delights.
The lively, energetic atmosphere at Big
Rock presents a fitting complement to the
high quality presented by Executive Chef
Eric Voigt and his staff, a team of 30 people
who create and oversee the fine restaurant’
s
award-winning menus … Including com-
plimentary words for the steak bites served
with homemade chop sauce and calamari,
two of its very popular appetizers … And
bills of fare that include Mediterranean
shrimp, petite filets, Bolognese seafood
chowder, short ribs, duck, Dover sole, etc.
With Executive Chef Eric helming the
kitchen, he and his staff produce excel-
lent presentations … Like the very special
20-ounce Imperial Wagyu Strip Steak that
is aged 56 days.
Desserts on the menus are all made
in-house … cheesecake, coconut cream pie,
poached apple, truffles, ice cream, sorbet
and so much more.
And there is wonderful General Manager
Vera Riser … So very much the right, left
and whatever hands of Norm, Bonnie and
their staff.
Big Rock Chophouse seats 397 plus 28
stools at a well-appointed bar … Lunch
is served Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.- 4
p.m., Saturday noon-4 p.m. (dinner, too,
on Saturday) … Dinner is served Monday
through Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday and
Saturday 4-11 p.m.
That mammoth rock in front? … Norm
and Bonnie searched high and low for one
… Canada, Upper North in Michigan,
everywhere they could think of except
nearby Rochester … where the huge rock
was to be found … and bought by them for
$3,000 … A mere pittance compared to the
$10,000 it took to get it there … Cranes at
both ends, 80,000 pounds, 40 tons … but
oh-so-beautiful granite on the property …
A true showpiece for so many look-sees …
and camera-shootings … along with a won-
derful lunch or dinner.
Big Rock Chophouse has indeed made
a bar mitzvah wish come true … It is, for
certain, one of Michigan’
s finest restaurants
… combining the rustic feel of a mountain
lodge in an elegant dining experience.
I HAVE BEEN asked several times why
some prices for the same item and size at
delicatessens are different … I don’
t think
this will ever change … Deli men and
women might have tried to do this years
ago with buying power together, but it
didn’
t last long …
REUNION DEPT. … Mumford High’
s
1959 Reunion is Saturday, Aug. 24 at
Knollwood Country Club, West Bloomfield
… For more info, contact Edie Goldman:
(248) 788-740l or tootieg@aol.com.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … Isaac
Fleaglebaum’
s attorneys handled a jury trial
in a tough business case. The client was out
of town when the jury came back with its
decision.
The lead lawyer, a youngish man with a
flair for prose, immediately emailed a note
to his client saying, “justice triumphed.”
Mr. Fleaglebaum replied, “
Appeal at once!”
CONGRATS … To Ray Horenstein on
his birthday … To Joe Horenstein on his
birthday. ■
Danny’
s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
Popular
Birmingham
eatery remains
among the fi
nest
in Metro Detroit.
Bonnie and Norman LePage
FOOD PHOTOS VIA BIG ROCK FACEBOOK
Contact Larry Al
l
an
can’
t enj
oy j
ewel
ry i
f i
t’
s si
tti
ng i
n your safe
deposi
t box.
Sel
l
or borrow on i
t for i
mmedi
ate cash.
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i
n j
ewel
ry,
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amonds and coi
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