DECEMBER 19 • 2019 | 69
Matt Prentice returns to the dining
scene with Three Cats in Clawson.
the best of everything
Raskin
Welcome
Back!
T
he return of a restaurant
icon is always most wel-
come … Especially when
that person is someone whose
past record in
the gastronom-
ic business is
impeccable.
Such is that of
Matt Prentice…
Although the
new Three Cats
in Clawson may not be in the
same dining vein as his previous
ones, Matt’
s culinary experience
is such that he is seldom wrong
when it comes to filling a per-
son’
s tummy with satisfaction.
Being a manager and exec-
utive chef is far from his days
of glory heading Matt’
s smaller
restaurants and then a dining
empire that featured some
of this area’
s finest eateries…
However, this is probably a
stepping-stone for Matt after
being away from his din-
ing scene and back after
five years.
Three Cats, 14 Mile
Road, between Main
and Crooks, Clawson,
is the former site of the
historic Clawson Theater
… Matt is in partner-
ship with Mary Liz
Curtin and her husband,
Stephen Scannell, own-
ers of Leon and Lulu, in
a blending that may be
the first of its kind or
close to it, combining a
retail operation with fine
dining.
The small plates menu, which
is continually updated, is with
emphasis on Michigan’
s boun-
ty … Seasonally inspired and
freshly harvested food is served
as the new eatery enters its first
year of business … All baking
is done on the premises, includ-
ing breads, rolls, pastries, etc.,
including the bevy of choice
deserts.
The small plates menus are
interesting and combine lunch
and dinner offerings seldom
seen in this region.
Matt and Mary met in early
2019 and decided on opening
a full-fledged restaurant inside
the old theater … They built
a large commercial kitchen at
the back of the building and
soon after a couple of trial runs,
opened what they hoped was a
huge step in the right direction.
Three Cats is open seven
days … Monday-Thursday, 10
a.m.-10 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-11
p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
and Sunday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. …
Seating is 99 with 40 outdoors
with permitting weather … and
five chairs at a bar.
Matt, of course, continues his
excellent catering with different
styles on and off the premises.
Being back in dining action
again, in itself, is a much-wel-
comed experience for both
Matt Prentice and his many
followers.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE …
The gent called his mother in
Florida. “Mom, how are you?”
he asks.
“Not too good,
” said the
mother. “I’
ve been very weak.
”
The son said, “Why are you
so weak?”
She says, “Because I haven’
t
eaten in 38 days.
”
The son said, “That’
s terrible.
Why haven’
t you eaten in 38
days?”
The mother answered,
“Because I didn’
t want my
mouth to be filled if you should
call!”
CONGRATS … To Fran
Seasons on her birthday … To
Howard and Linda Nudell on
their 52nd anniversary.
Danny’
s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
PHOTOS VIA THREE CATS FACEBOOK
Mary Liz Curtin and Matt Prentice
Reservations at www.thewhitney.com
(313) 832-5700
201
9
T
HE
WHI
T
NE
Y
Afternoon Tea
Elegant four course
Tea Luncheon
Everyday at
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