It's about time that I get back to this!
The Whitney is coming along very nicely, indeed. We've made a number of changes to the building and gardens and have more in the works. We're making progress. The place is looking better and better and will continue to improve. (And remember, it was already a beautiful, one of a kind place to behin with!)
We've also made a number of changes to the staff adding our new General Manager, Geoffrey Browning, earlier this summer. You may remember Geoffrey from his 20 years on the scene at Joe Muer's. He managed Joe Muer's Grill in Southfield after Joe closed his revered downtown location and later opened Deep Blue on the same site on Southfield Road. He knows restaurants and he's making The Whitney hum.
A new Executive Chef, Michael Lutes, started yesterday. Michael has years of experience in Detroit at The Golden Mushroom, Tribute, Motor City Casino, and his own venture in Grosse Pointe, Lunch Box Deli, Inc. He also spent time at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago and came to us directly from New Orleans where he was Executive Chef at Joel's Catering handling events for as few as two people to as many as 2,500. He's happy to be back home in Detroit and we're happy to have him. Watch for our menu to evolve.
A new dining room manager, Dawn Dorsey, joins the team later this month from Friday's in Sterling Heights. Dawn has years of experience in the metro Detroit area including serving as General Manager at Northern Lakes Seafood Company and a corporate trainer for the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group.
Master Sommalier Claudia Tyagi remains happily (for us!) on the scene and has given us a wonderful wine list including a wide selection of Michigan wines which are gaining in reputation as fine wines nationally, plus, of course, the California, French, German, Australian and other international wines you'd expect to find in a fine dining establishment. We have lots of wines in lots of choices -- by the glass, by the half bottle or by the bottle. Ask Claudia if you have any questions about any of them!
So we're charging ahead, getting ready for a kind of "re-Grand Opening" in the Fall. We want to make The Whitney, THE WHITNEY!, and the place to be in Detroit. It's gonna happen, ladies and gentlemen. C'mon in and check us out!
Bud
