OCTOBER 17 • 2019 | 53

M

enu items drawn
on a blackboard
got me anticipating
the new deli coming to West
Bloomfield.
With Val’
s Delicatessen,
immigrant Val Uzilov is
climbing the next rung of
his American
dream ladder.
This time, he
has a business
partner in
Carey Gerchak.
Members of
both families
fill out the team
that will oper-
ate what Carey
called a “
casual, New York-
style deli.” The location is
Crosswinds Mall, on Orchard
Lake Road at Lone Pine.
Chef Val worked 25 years
previously at Steve’
s Deli in
Bloomfield Township, becom-
ing famous for his chicken
soup. Brimming with noodles,
white chicken and carrots,
Chef Val’
s soup has won nine
trophies in the professional
category of Congregation Shir
Shalom’
s annual Chicken Soup
Cook-off in West Bloomfield.
Born in Azerbaijan, in the
former Soviet Union, Val
continues a family tradition of
chefs with their own restau-
rants.
At age 13, he began working
in Uncle Lazar Uzilov’
s “big
restaurant in Russia.” After
this uncle moved to West
Bloomfield, he sponsored
Val and family to join him in
1993.
“He came for a better life,
bigger opportunities,” said
Val’
s daughter, Shifra Uzilov.
At first, Chef Val assisted
his uncle at Orchard Family
Restaurant, now Greek Islands
Coney Restaurant, in West

Bloomfield. Two
more uncles, both
local, have owned
restaurants.
Val’
s
Delicatessen will
have a scratch
kitchen. Breakfast
will be big with a
separate menu and
items throughout
the day.
On weekends,
“we’
ll feature spe-
cial things Val’
s
going to cook,
so there’
s always
something differ-
ent,” Carey said.
The website and a
chalkboard will list
specials.
Hot and cold display cases
will contain carryout entrees.
Among the rotating choices
will be more Chef Val spe-
cialties: stuffed cabbage, short
ribs, lamb chops, chicken pot
pie, gefilte fish, and chicken
baked with cranberry, apricot
or lemon.
Besides daily
soups, regular
choices will
include beef bar-
ley, mushroom
barley, chicken
noodle, chicken
rice, matzah ball
and kreplach.
Dinners consist of entrée,
soup or salad and two sides,
such as vegetables, potatoes
and rice. Prices should be
affordable for middle-class
diners.
Chef Val will cater Jewish
and non-Jewish holidays and
events.
“Customers with big carry-
out orders can pull up in front
or around the back for easy
access,” Carey said.

At the new deli, Toma Uzeli
will again serve as her hus-
band’
s sous chef, son Erik will
do back inventory, prep and
cleanup, and Shifra will be a
server and co-manager with
pastry chef Alexis Gerchak.
The crew delivering through-
out Metro Detroit are Erik,
Carey’
s husband, Richard, and
Alexis’
boy-
friend, Alan,
who is design-
ing the website.
“We’
ll all be
doing a little
bit of every-
thing,” said
Carey, who
met Chef Val at Steve’
s Deli.
She will continue teaching at
nearby Doherty Elementary,
where Shifra’
s two children
attend.
The 3,000-square-foot
space still being put together
features an open kitchen and
a grab-and-go case. Black and
white were chosen for a sim-
ple, elegant look.
Val’
s Deli opens the end of
October. Hours will be from 8
a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

Nosh

dining around the D

Val’s
Delicatessen

4301 Orchard Lake Road,

West Bloomfield

(248) 973-8037

Business partners Val Uzilov and Carey Gerchak

BY ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER

I

t turns out that even if
you can’
t make the trip
to Ireland, it’
s possible to
experience true Irish hospital-
ity right here in Michigan.
Sullivan’
s Public House,
known for its farm-to-table
menu and dedication to Irish
food, beer, whisky and tradi-
tion, just earned the highest
honor possible. It has topped
the list of the world’
s best
Irish Pubs — located outside
of Ireland. IrishCentral.com
shared the news recently,
which followed a poll of more
than 5 million readers.
“What makes an Irish pub
so special?” the article on
IrishCentral.com reads. “No
matter where you are in the
world the Irish pub is like an
unofficial embassy, a bastion
for Irish people abroad and a
haven for those who love the
Irish, their food, drink and
culture … Our poll in search
of the best Irish pub outside
of Ireland had a clear winner
with entrants from all over
the world. And the winner is
… Sullivan’
s Public House, in
Oxford, Michigan.”
Husband and wife Jerry
and Jamie Cremin opened
Sullivan’
s Public House
five years ago with a strong
emphasis on hospitality.
Sullivan’
s Public House is
ocated at 23 N. Washington
St. in downtown Oxford. Visit
sullivanspublichouse.com for
more information.

Esther
Allweiss
Ingber
Contributing
Writer

JERRY CREMIN/SULLIVAN’
S PUBLIC HOUSE

Val’s
Delicatessen

Sullivan’
s Public House
Named “Best Irish Pub”