 MARCH 5 • 2020 | 53

Restaurant now run by family of 
Big Rock Chophouse fame.

the best of everything
Raskin

Lumen Detroit 
Shines Bright

Y

ou know the old say-
ing that if you want 
something done right, 
get someone who can do just 
that … And DTE Energy did it 
right… As previ-
ously told, after a 
nationwide search 
by the energy 
giant to complete-
ly run the restau-
rant operation at 
its new setting, 
Lumen Detroit, 
now celebrating its second 
anniversary, it finally selected 
Norm and Bonnie Lepage and 
family to completely run the 

restaurant operation at DTE 
Energy’
s newly opened Beacon 
Park on Grand River and Cass, 
Detroit.
Norm, Bonnie, along with 
son Scott and his wife, Susanne 
… plus excellent general 
manager/chef Gabby Milton, 
former head chef at Big Rock, 
owned by the LePages … have 
active parts in its success, with 
Scott often there providing 
leadership and organization 
… Norm and Bonnie are at 
Lumen at least once a week 
… Norm is also involved now 
with the relationships at DTE 
and DDP (Downtown Detroit 
Partnership.) 
The food prepared and 
served is totally New American, 
with features that change with 
the seasons … and it offers 
casual food at moderate prices 
…Depending on the time of 
year, service would include a 
variety of snacks like Mac & 
Cheese, Farmer’
s Market Bowl, 
assorted cheeses, sausage, crab 
cakes, etc. … Lunch or din-
ner with burgers, short ribs, 
eggplant parmesan, ahi tuna 

and many wonderful culinary 
presentations by courteous and 
most attentive employees … 
New York Strip steaks, mussels 
served in flavored broths, etc.
Lumen Detroit seats 120 per-
sons inside and, when weather 
permits, 150 outside on the 
spacious patio … and about 
18 stools at the bar … It is 
open Tuesday, Wednesday and 
Thursday, 3-11 p.m., Friday and 
Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-midnight 
and Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Desserts come from Norm 
and Bonnie’
s Big Rock 
Chophouse on Eton Street in 
Birmingham … and baking is 
provided by a local bakery.
It all adds up to the fact that 
Lumen Detroit is that casual 
spot many folks are looking for 
… Truly a delightful addition 
to the comeback of a wonderful 
Detroit dining scene. 
BIG RAVES ARE in for 
the carrot cake served at the 
five George Lukaj restau-
rants … Grand Tavern Troy, 
Grand Tavern Rochester Hills, 
Georges, Fifth Tavern and 
Village Palace … At each eat-

ery, the chef makes the carrot 
cake except Georges, where it 
is made by Mire Palooka, who 
also makes a great rice pudding.
MAIL DEPT. … Hello to 
all from former Detroiter 
Lou Michael … of St. Paul, 
Minnesota … celebrating more 
than 50 years as a photographer 
for various newspapers includ-
ing the American Jewish World 
… and mazel tov on his recent 
76th birthday.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … 
A fellow walks into a bar and 
asks the bartender to recom-
mend a good drink … The bar-
tender says that their grasshop-
pers are very good, so he orders 
one … On the way home, he 
notices a grasshopper on the 
ground and asks, “Do you know 
there is a drink named after 
you.” 
The grasshopper looks up 
and says, “Do you mean they 
have a drink called Irving?”
CONGRATS … To Alicia 
Diamond on her birthday. 

Danny’
s email address is 
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

PHOTOS COURTESY LUMEN DETROIT

Norma 
n, Bonnie, Susanne and 
Scott LePage

Our State. Our T
own.

Our Hospice.
Caring for Detroit's Jewish 
community since 1980

888-247-5701
www.hom.org

The sooner you call, 
the more we can help.

PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE JEWISH HOSPICE & CHAPLAINCY NETWORK

32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile)
(248) 855-0007

Please see our menu at 
www.johnnypomodoros.com

DAIRY TRAY
FRUIT TRAY
MEAT TRAY

Johnny Pomodoro’
s is your ONE STOP SHOP 

for all of your needs!

CANDY & NUT TRAY
MARTY'S COOKIES

Delivery Available
Shiva Trays, Deli Nosh Dairy and Deli Trays, Marty’
s Cookie Trays, Johnny’
s Signature Fruit & Veggie Trays

CALL JOHNNY’S FOR TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL SHIVA TRAYS. 

