Raskin: A ‘Light’ In TheRestaurant Business  08.18.2017

THE JEWISH NEWS

Many folks have their own ways of relaxing or enjoying changes of paces in life …Whether it be playing golf or maybe going on trips or whatever … Norm LePage doeshis with changing restaurant names and opening new dining spots.

He changed his Eton Street Station’s name to Big Rock Chophouse 20 years ago …Before that, he had opened Nifty Norman’s, Norm’s Oyster Bar, Norm’s Diner,Norman’s Union Station, Squire’s Table, East Side Mario’s, a couple of SalvatoreScallopini’s, etc. … And today’s Big Rock Chophouse, Griffin Claw Brewing, TheReserve, Got Rocks Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge, etc.

Now it will be another restaurant … Lumen, slated to open in early spring of 2018 byNorm, wife, Bonnie, son Scott and his wife, Susanne LePage … Norm and family werepicked by DTE Energy after a nationwide search by the energy giant to completely andsolely run the restaurant operation at their new setting … It will anchor the beautifulrecently opened DTE Energy’s Beacon Park on Cass and Grand River, Detroit … Lumenmeans light in Latin.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary as Big Rock Chophouse, Eton Street, Birmingham,menu additions now include a small plates section that features a variety of smallerentrees like Mediterranean Shrimp with artichokes, spicy tomato, spinach and lemon;Tuna Tartare with red pepper, lemon, lime jalapeno, wasabi and wonton; ParisianGnocchi with mushrooms, goat cheese and spinach; petite filet with red wine sauce;beef burger; buffalo burger, etc.

Danny Raskin

Also, the new 15-ounce Cover Crop Delmonico steak … Similar to organic and grass-fed, Cover Crop is the new healthy trend in the meat business … Big Rock is one oftwo local eateries now with a Cover Crop menu … Also big sellers on the Big Rockmenu are chilled whole artichoke with citrus aioli, sautéed scallops with peas andricotta ravioli, etc.

Excellent general manager Vera Rizer, Michigan Restaurant Association’s 2016Manager of the Year, is still doing her wonderful things in satisfying Big Rockcustomers … Her knowledge of food, wine and people is greatly acknowledged … It isbeyond realization that Vera was a bartender for Norm and Bonnie at their EatonStreet restaurant back in 1984.

Yes, Norm and Bonnie have other ways of relaxing, too … Like recently returning fromLebanon with friends Sameer and Leila Eid of Birmingham’s Phoenicia.

Has Norm stopped opening new restaurants? … I think not … In the fall, he’ll open asecond location of Griffin Claw in Rochester Hills.

He may not play golf, but Norm sure hits a hole-in-one every time he opens anotherrestaurant or site.

Norm and Bonnie

REMEMBERING … Going to Northwood Inn on Woodward to hear songstress NanCorrone sing “My Yiddishe Mama” in Italian … And Dancemaster Joe Cornell (Cornella)standing and yelling “That’s a my baby!” when she finished.”

HAVE YOU EVER eaten a Bar-Le-Duc sandwich? … You might have as a youngster oreven still do today and never knew it had such a fancy name … Many folks still lovetheirs … but know it only as a cream cheese and jelly sandwich … Numerous enjoytheir Bar-Le-Duc on a toasted English muffin, too … Hmm, doesn’t sound bad.

REARVIEW MIRROR … With mouth-watering memories of when Harry Shepherd andSol Pitt owned Shep’s Delicatessen across the street from Kosin’s Clothes on Griswold… Where waitress Shirley Kaufman regularly brought me what seemed like a wholeloaf of rye bread with my brisket of beef plate … It was during lunch hour from theJewish News when our offices were in the David Stott Building … The rye bread was to“dunk” in the luscious-tasting gravy with the terrific brisket that I usually devouredthere … In years after, when Sol had the deli at Alban’s Bottle & Basket on Woodwardin Birmingham, he never forgot and made sure that I had plenty of rye bread for hisexact same gravy and yummy brisket of beef.

OLDIE BUT GOODIE … Rabbi Friedman did a double take. There in the restaurant,clearly visible through the large window, was the president of his Orthodoxcongregation. And yes, that was a bowl of clam chowder the waitress was settingbefore him.

As the rabbi watched in horror, the main dish, jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon wasset down next to it. Oblivious to the rabbi’s disgusted look, the president ate his waythrough his dinner.

When he left the restaurant, the rabbi stopped him and said, “You of all people,leader of the congregation, supposed to be an example — how could you eat suchtreif!”

The president replied, “You saw me eat the soup? And the shrimp?”

“Yes and yes,” the rabbi replied.

“Then there is no problem,” said the president. “I ate my food under rabbinicalsupervision!”

CONGRATS … To Marissa Fournier on her birthday … to Suretta Saltz on her birthday… To Fred Schott on his birthday … To Lonnie and Gail Zimmerman on their 45thanniversary.

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