SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019 | 109

Come as you are to C.A.Y.A. 
Smokehouse Grill

the best of everything
Raskin

Smokin’ Good

C.A.Y.A. SMOKEHOUSE GRILL

W

hen the restaurant opened 
with its name, someone at 
home probably shook his 
or her head and said, “Are they kid-
ding? I just got out of the tub?”
But the name, instead of an 
abbreviation for “come as you are,” 
would suddenly turn into come 
and you’
ll ask for more … at the 
C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill on 
Commerce Road, between Pontiac 
Trail and Commerce Road in 
Wolverine Lake.
Now celebrating another anniver-
sary, C.A.Y.A., features a modern 
menu that centers around house-
smoked beef along with fresh sea-
food, steaks, chops, etc. … The 
smoked dishes are 
cooked for 10-14 
hours using hick-
ory, oak, maple, 
apple and cherry 
woods … This 
process ensures all 
meats are cooked 
through and natu-
rally tender … The 
variety of woods 
used produces a 
dark outer layer 
“bark” that carmelizes the outside of 
the meat.
Among its best-selling products, 
C.A.Y.A. has gained a reputation of 
having an array of house-smoked 
meats … But its kale salad is still a 

much asked-for item that features 
kale, apples, candied pecans and 
radishes in a creamy cider dressing 
… It is also much noted for its corn 
bread, and customers regularly ask 
Executive Chef/Co-Owner Jeff Rose 
for the secret recipe … Also pop-
ular items include the ribs, brisket 
and chicken confit that includes 
spaetzle, peas, tomato and spinach 
in a lemon juice … C.A.Y.A. does 
its own baking along with desserts 
like the popular bread pudding and 
cheesecake plus others that change 
seasonally
C.A.Y.A Smokehouse Grill is in 
the former Nifty Normans Building 
… and shows off a rustic industrial 
look that comes from a blend of 
modern metals and old-style wood.
Owners Chef Rose and Rachel 
Mandell each enjoy 25 years in the 
dining game … Chef Rose with 
his flair for great-tasting food and 
Rachel with her great passion for 
food and design.
Seating is 85 in the dining room 
and 85 on an outdoor patio … 
with 25 stools at the bar and nine 
at high-tops …Hours are Tuesday-
Thursday, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday 
4:30-11, Saturday 10 a.m-11 p.m. 
with brunch served until 3 p.m., 
and Sunday 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., with 
brunch served until 3 p.m.
C.A.Y.A. enjoys the distinction of 
having its own food truck for off-

site catering needs … and is very 
popular for participating in local 
community food truck events as 
well.
All in all, no matter what you 
may call it, C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse 
Grill is easily ranked among the top 
high-standing smokehouse restau-
rants with a growing reputation for 
much goodness.
MUMFORD HIGH’
S CLASS 
of 1954’
s 65th reunion is a Sunday 
brunch, Oct. 6, at Andiamo West, 
Telegraph and Maple … For info, 
call Jim Weitzman, (248) 736-7464 
or RSVP to mumford5reunion@
gmail.com.
DID YOU KNOW DEPT. … 
That Detroit’
s American Coney 
Island also has, besides an eatery 
in Las Vegas’
 D Hotel & Casino, 
another one at the Detroit Zoo and 
its own shipping company to send 
out those popular Coney Kits? 
QUICKIE OLDIES … He’
s so 
cheap the only time he’
ll pick up a 
check is when it’
s made out to him 
… A healthy home is a happy home 
so send your home to the doctor 
twice a year. 
CONGRATS … To Dino 
Mitropoulos on his birthday … To 
Irving Feldman on his 80th birth-
day. 
 

Email Danny at dannyraskin2132@gmail.
com.

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

Chef Jeff Rose

For info www.thewhitney.com
 (313) 832-5700

201
9
T
HE
 
WHI
T
NE
Y

 Pre-Theater Dinner Menu 

Enjoy this special menu 
before all theater, 
DSO, LCA events.

Three Courses 
$39.95

Valid on performance date

Menu & Information:
www.thewhitney.com