Known Far and Wide

The Whitney is going international...well sort of. Jim Fox, a writer and member of the Visit Detroit magazine family, recently wrote an article titled '48 Hours in the Detroit'. The article featured a number of Metro Detroit's local favorites including Greenfield Village, The Riverwalk, Motown, classic cars and of course, The Whitney. It was quickly picked up by The London Free Press and ran on the front page of their Travel Section.

You can read the full article in The London Free Press below, but since then,
the article has run far and wide through syndication, including all major cities in Canada - Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, London, etc. and on the Sun/Quebecor Media website, Canoe.com, with links throughout
the world on other websites, such as USA Today.com, etc.


48 hours in <http://www.lfpress.com/travel/2010/08/04/14920806.html>
Detroit | Travel | London Free Press

Detroit Restaurant Week at The Whitney

Detroit Restaurant Week has been a continuous success story here at The Whitney so once again we will happily join in to make the City of Detroit alive and buzzing with business, September 24 – October 3.

Our menu is sure to entice your senses and bring flavor to your palate. The enchanting atmosphere of the historic mansion will make your evening one to remember.

Guests will enjoy a three-course meal for only $28 (exclusive of beverages, tax and gratuity)

Make your reservations today by calling 313.832.5700!

http://detroitrestaurantweek.com/DRW/TheWhitney.html

First Course:

Soup of the Day

Chesapeake Blue Crab "cake"
Served with Sauce Remoulade, Siracha and Warm Spinach

The Whitney House Salad
Mixed Greens, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Onions, Herbed Vinaigrette


Second Course:

Javanese Rack of Lamb
Served with Basmati Rice and Fresh Vegetables

Sauteed Michigan Perch
Buerre Noisette, Sauteed Spinach and Sweet Baby Carrot

Neo-Classic Chicken Cacciatore
Sweet Peppers, Fingerling Potatoes and Fresh Vegetables

Lemon Artichoke Risotto
Fresh Thyme and Shaved Romano

Char-Broiled Filet of Beef

Potato Puree, Fresh Vegetables and Demi-Glace


Third Course

Classic Creme Brulee
Fresh Berries and Vanilla Tuille

Chocolate Mousse
Fried Crepes, Fresh Strawberries


Add a Glass of Our House Wine
House Cabernet $6.00 House Chardonnay $6.00
House Merlot $6.00 House Riesling $6.00

The Whitney Scores 5 out 5 Stars from Associated Content.com

Sarah Sichman’s experience is one to remember, “The inventive and tasty dishes, superior service and great atmosphere make this restaurant absolutely first-class. If you're in the area, it's a dining experience not to be missed.”

Read more here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2698433/review_the_whitney_restaurant_in_detroit.html?cat=22

A Bit of Good News from The Whitney

(drum roll, please)…. The Whitney increased revenue in 2009 versus 2008 by a healthy 9%! We know that the economy is still tough, but we were thrilled to see such a meaningful increase during such a difficult year. We want to thank all of our patrons who contributed to our success in 2009. We understand that Detroiters are stretching their entertainment dollars further, and are looking for meals and experiences that are truly memorable. Our fabulous food, stunning atmosphere and authentic Detroit venue in the heart of MidTown, all at affordable prices seems to be resonating with our guests. Thank you, thank you. We look forward to seeing you again in 2010!

Chef Dan Maurer Hits the Spotlight!

With dreadlocks cascading down his back (but wrapped in a tight bun while in the kitchen) and tattoos decorating the length of his arms, Executive Chef Dan Maurer has stepped out into the spotlight with his wit, personality, down-to-earth manner and his distinguished skill in the kitchen.

Ryan Hooper, a well-known blogger, recently interviewed Maurer. As a result of this one blog post, Maurer woke up the next morning with several messages from reporters, radio stations and people genuinely interested in learning more about him. Here are some clips from the blog.


“Maurer’s interest in cooking would slowly bloom … as he went from washing dishes to working the line. But Maurer’s interest wouldn’t truly be peeked in the culinary arts until Chef Brian Brenner took over D’Amato’s. “I remember the way he taught me how to sauté a specific bell pepper in a specific way by caramelizing sugar in the pan first and then throwing in the pepper … hitting it with a little vinegar. It was a real simple thing … but immediately, I figured out that this is what I wanted to do — being a chef is what I wanted to do.” Brenner would move onto Fiddlehead’s and Maurer was quick to follow. Brenner would later take the executive chef position at Bayview Yacht Club and Maurer’s mentor, Tim Voss, would step in.

“Voss … opened up Tribute and ran Forte for almost a decade,” says Maurer. “When he came into the picture, he blew my mind. He took me from enjoying it to craving it. Every day, I learned more under him than I had in the five or six years I had spent cooking. He was my most important teacher. Most importantly, he taught delegation — the importance of spreading around responsibilities in the kitchen to alleviate stress and make the kitchen fun. Keeping trust among your staff is one of the most important things of being a chef.”

“Every chef I’ve worked under has taught me 90 different ways to cook a button mushroom,” laughs Maurer. “What makes me unique is mixing all the techniques I’ve learned into my own style and letting it develop. I chose to isolate myself from the pop culture culinary world. I never want to follow what someone else is doing." And, in that sense, Maurer is truly changing the culture at the Whitney from the kitchen up. He’s even lightening up the formerly the intimidating nature of the Whitney by trying to get his friends to come sample his foodie passions rather than taking on some “bigger fight or greater cause.”

“I will always bend my style for the customer – particularly for Michigan customers –which is a basic rule of being a chef. In a place like Detroit , if you make something too fancy they won’t get it – they’ll be enjoying it for the ridiculous amount of money they dropped, a sort of obligation to liking it simply because they paid so much. I never dumb my food down, but I do think about who is eating it and why they come to a place like The Whitney.”

For more of this article, visit http:
www.frank151.com/blog/2010/01/0/kitchen_culture_the_whitneys_dan_maurer

As mentioned before, this article sparked interest throughout the media. Just this week, Detroit Public Radio featured Maurer, Mosaic’s Executive Chef Tim Voss and D’Amato’s Executive Chef Myles McVay on the Craig Fahle Show.

There are sure to be more appearances by our own Chef Dan Maurer, so keep listening and we’ll bring you the latest. You can also book a reservation and meet the man himself as he wines and dines you with his amazing cuisine.

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

As we wrap up another year here at The Whitney, I would like to take a minute to remember some great times had at the restaurant over the past 12 months.

This year was the first year for our Motown Mimosa Brunch on Sundays which turned out to be a huge success. Guests enjoyed the musical stylings of Detroit's classic Motown artists, bottomless mimosas and fabulous food prepared by The Whitney's chefs.
Our brunch attendance jumped from 40 per Sunday to over 100 on average with the introduction to the Motown sound.

It was also a successful year for our Pre Theatre Menu and DSO Package (these are still offered throughout the winter). The Pre Theatre is a four-course menu offered at a fixed price of $45 per person and can be enjoyed before your show. The DSO Package includes two floor seats to a DSO show of your choosing and dinner for two with us, all for just $180! Thank you all who took advantage of these great deals over the year!
If you were around during the summer, you would remember our "oasis in the city" a.k.a garden patio. We hosted Rain or Shine Happy Hour, Twilight Tuesdays, Thursday's 89x Garden Parties, and Detroit's premiere DJ's on the weekends. Whether rocking out to the 89x bands or dancing into the night on Tuesdays with DJ Capnt 20, the garden was the hottest place to be this summer (as I type this, I am looking out the window at the furious blizzard and wishing that it was summer in the garden).

We also had the opportunity to host fundraising events here at the mansion. Early in the year we hosted several current Channel 56 donors as well as a number of key prospects for the station. Then in September we kicked off our “Flora’s Tea Room” service with an event featuring Mr. Song Millinery, the world-famed designer of the “Aretha” hat from President Obama’s Inauguration. Mr. Song’s "Day of Fashion" at the mansion in September was a great success with beautiful women in beautiful chapeaux, all for the benefit of Susan G. Komen for The Cure. The day was split into two events: a high tea debuting the launch of The Whitney's High Tea service and a cocktail garden event in the evening, both featured a fashion show by Mr. Song. Fashionable hats were encouraged and definitely represented!

Another successful fundraiser was a special Sunday Brunch for the Michigan Opera Theatre in October which raised over $7,000 for Michigan’s premier opera company.

And we have one more benefit to go – this Thursday evening’s New Year’s Eve celebration featuring members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra plus “The People’s Choice” band, a popular, upbeat band that will rock loose around the midnight hour.Proceeds from the New Year’s Eve gala, which will feature three individual dinner seatings as well as an exclusive “after party,” will go to the DSO.

There have so been many good times spent here over the past year, (including more than 30 weddings which took advantage of the mansion’s opulent settings and surroundings!), and just this last month of holiday cheer has been our best yet. We have been jammed packed every week with Detroiters and visiting out-of-towners looking to celebrate the wintery season. We had the opportunity to welcome a bunch of new faces into the restaurant and hopefully they were surprised and delighted by their experiences here and will come back soon.

We now go into the New Year with hopes of having another successful one. Speaking for all of us here at The Whitney, we wish you and your family all the very best this holiday season and a New Year full of only good and positive things!

People are talking and they are saying some great things about The Whitney. Don't want to be left out? Search The Whitney at www.opentable.com and post your reviews. We appreciate all your comments!

"I have been to The Whitney twice within the past 2 months for dinner. I love this place. It was quiet, the food and service was awesome and the entire staff are warm and friendly. The place has lots of history and the staff love talking about it. Don't miss this place if you have the opportunity to dine there."

"The Whitney is a gem that truly shines, especially during the holiday season. The beauty of the architecture transports you back to a time of elegance as soon as you open the doors. The grand staircase is particularly gorgeous when festooned with garland, and you expect your dining experience to be grand based on the immediate ambiance. Our food was a delight to the eye, exceptionally well presented, and prepared to perfection. The atmosphere was both festive and romantic, truly a perfect evening."

"Waitress was amazing-very attentive and friendly."

"I was already impressed after the soup!!!"

"The Whitney is always an amazing experience every time I go, and this time was no exception."

"Overall we were very pleased with out dining experience. The ambiance is beautiful and the food was scrumptious. The Whitney provides a very romantic setting perfect for that special occasion."

"Everything was wonderful- like a dream. Waiter "Ruis" was excellent. Highly recommend this for special occasions"

"Was looking forward to this experience and chose it as part of my wife's 30th Birthday celebration. The Whitney definitely did not disappoint! The service was excellent. From confirmation calls for my reservation to them even ensuring that the flowers that I ordered were in fact delivered on time. Perfect romantic setting and ambiance for the occasion. I earned many "cool points" with the misses. Thanks Whitney!!!"

"This was a wonderful experience for us! We will return in the future."

"Gorgeous restaurant and good service. After dinner walk around the whole mansion to see the three historical floors. Probably would be a good place for a small wedding reception."

"Wonderful setting, great food, and a marvelous wait staff that are very knowledgeable about the restaurant."

"Place has lots of character; charming and romantic. Food was very good. Weeknight PrefixedHarvest Menu is a steal."

Detroit Restaurant Week 's Success

Whether you heard it through the grapevine or you were here to witness it for yourself, you know that Detroit’s Restaurant Week was a great success!!! And not only for The Whitney, but for all of the restaurants that participated.

With every seat in the house filled, Chef Dan Maurer's delicious creations had guests licking their lips and patting their tummies. For those of you who experienced all that Restaurant Week had to offer at The Whitney (and even for those of you who didn’t) we have news for you – The Whitney will be offering a four course Harvest Tasting menu for only $35. This menu starts tonight and will run through this month, Tues.-Thurs. from 5-9 p.m. Make your reservations today because this is bound to be a great opportunity for you and for us!

INTRODUCING FLORA'S TEA ROOM

We are, yet again, putting the "class" back into "classic" at The Whitney by introducing Flora's Tea Room. David Whitney's wife, Flora, was the epitome of class and always enjoyed a cup of tea in the afternoon. To honor her, and the historic surroundings of The Whitney, we will offer tea Tuesday-Friday from 12-3pm and on Saturday afternoon for private parties. Flora's Tea room is located on the 2nd floor in Mrs. Whitney's cozy Bedroom and Sitting Room. Once seated, guests will be offered an array of The Whitney's Signature blend in one of a kind hand-painted china. Our afternoon tea also includes a delicious four-course meal individually plated for each special guest and prepared by our renowned chefs.

In honor of the launch of Flora's Tea Room, The Whitney hosted our first Afternoon Tea event- 'A Day of Fashion' featuring a hat fashion show by Mr. Song Millinery, creator of the famous "Aretha" hat, which was seen at President Obama's Inauguration. The event was a great success and made headlines at The Detroit Free Press!! Check out our pictures at:
http://detroit.metromix.com/events/photogallery/a-day-of-fashion/1463005/content

Be a part of all the fun and class by making your reservations today!!
Please contact Kim Piskos, Director of Tea Services, at 313.384.0880.

Unforgettable…In Every Way

I wanted to take a moment and tell you of a fabulous experience I had dining in The Whitney Garden this week (as you know, I am a completely unbiased and highly critical Whitney diner). The day was hot; hot enough to make you think twice about eating outside. Fortunately, our 150 year old America Beech Tree provides incredible shade and keeps our back dining area more than comfortable. The gardens looked phenomenal with the roses and hydrangeas in particular showing beautiful color. Spanish guitar music from our hidden speakers gently floated down throughout the space. Under foot is our large bluestone flooring and a quiet babble emanates from the central fountain.

On this particular day, our kitchen was offering gazpacho - not something I typically order, but I wanted to give it a try. Let me tell you, it was outstanding! Beautifully presented and bursting with flavors. For my entree, I enjoyed a wonderful salmon Caesar salad. Alas, I was working in the afternoon and opted out of a nice wine in favor of an iced tea.

Anyway, these are challenging times for restaurants across the city. Different venues meet the challenges in different ways - cutting costs, mailing coupons, shortening shifts, etc. What I hope we are doing here at The Whitney is offering meals that are truly memorable in a setting that is unmatched. This is The Whitney distinction and the promise that I believe we are delivering to each and every guest.

There is nothing like The Whitney Gardens (period). If customers are watching their restaurant dollars closer or eating out less frequently, we'd like to invite them into a setting and a culinary experience that is truly unique and intertwined with our city's history and its current culture. Although our prices are very competitive with less inspired venues, we deliver an entirely different experience which speaks not only to all five senses but also to the soul. Simply put, given our heartbreakingly short Michigan summers, it’s great to dine outdoors among the flowers and trees. One can do this in an award winning restaurant while sitting less than 100 feet from Woodward Avenue in the heart of Midtown and adjacent to a recognized landmark.

We believe that our challenge is not in delivering the exceptional dining experiences described above, but rather in making sure that Detroiters think about The Whitney Gardens for their lunch and dinner events. I'm hoping to entice you to experience it for yourself in the near future, and then tell your readers to visit us often. (As I conclude this note, I just heard our Friday lunch (indoor) live piano player getting started!)

Blog posted on DetroitMoxie.com

Party Like A Rock Star at The Whitney
DateTuesday, July 7, 2009 at 10:52AM | AuthorBecks Davis

In 1894, when the David Whitney House was completed, the Detroit Free Press described it as, "an American palace enjoying the distinction of being one of the most pretentious modern homes in the state and one of the most elaborate houses in the west."

It’s an amazing structure built in the Romanesque Revival style with Tiffany windows throughout. Unfortunately, David Whitney only lived in the house for 6 years before he died. The house has had few owners since then and today we know it as the fashionable and upscale restaurant, The Whitney.

The historic Whitney Mansion.But the Whitney isn’t just for fancy schmancy dinners. It also has a cool vibe side; they have been doing their 89x Garden Parties for a while now on Thursdays. Earlier this summer they started Twilight Tuesdays and it has caught my attention.

Twilight Tuesdays, like the 89x parties, are also in the garden. It launched on June 2nd and will continue throughout the summer, rain or shine. If it rains the party just moves from the garden to the Ghost Bar. Why did Twilight Tuesdays catch my eye? The party is from 8pm-1am and there is a $20 cover. But, and this is why it got my attention, that cover gives you an open bar from 8pm-11pm. I know a lot of people who could make that $20 worth their while. Oh, and there is music with DJ Captn20. All this on beautiful summer evening at one of the most pretentious homes in the Midwest. Yep, sounds like a good time to me.

Oh, and they have a happy hour. The Whitney offers “rain or shine” happy hour Tuesdays through Fridays from 5pm-7pm. The happy hour specials are $3 domestic beers and $5 cocktails.

So, we have Twilight Tuesdays, 89x Garden Parties on Thursdays, and “rain or shine” happy hour. As a special bonus there are people who say the old Whitney mansion is haunted. Oh yeah, I’m so there.

The Whitney is located at 4421 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Phone: (313) 832-5700. Please remember to drink responsibly and use a designated driver.

The Whitney continues to host marquee events!

The Whitney and its renovated third floor Ghost Bar are quickly becoming the place to party! This past Saturday the mansion and upscale lounge was closed to the public to celebrate local media mogul, Dennis Archer Jr’s, 40th Birthday Bash. Archer's celebration drew over 600 friends and well-wishers to enjoy elegant hors d’oeuvres and sip on Grey Goose Martini’s and Chilled Corzo Tequila.

"An Absolutely Marvelous Time!"

My staff was so delighted and overwhelmed by the wonders of The Whitney, the beauty and graciousness of the restaurant, the staff and the chef. We had a great time and it makes it difficult for me to come up with something next Christmas to top this one.

Diedre and Kim did a spectacular job of taking care of us. The gentlemen bussing the tables were right on top of everything. The food was divine and the presentation....,what can I say but beyond expectations. The chef made a sampler of the appetizers and had 10 or 11 chef’s walk out each with a platter. They stood behind each of us and placed the platter down all at the same time. We all felt like royalty. Then the head chef explained what everything was and so our meal began!

Between the entrée and dessert, Jim took everyone on a tour of the Whitney. Then the chef made a sampler of the desserts for each of us. We could not have had a better time if we tried.

The menus were a huge hit. The staff were all exclaiming about having our name across the top and no prices listed. They were like kids in a candy shop.

By Roslyn Bashawaty

Shhhhh.... It's a Surprise....

The Whitney played an integral role in two recent surprise celebrations. The first event was a 50th Birthday celebration and included over 100 guests at tables spread throughout The Whitney's renovated second floor. When the guest of honor arrived, escorted by her husband and The Whitney's maitre'd, she rounded the grand staircase by the Tiffany glass windows and was shocked to be greeted by a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" by her family and friends. Overcome with emotion, she immediately sat down on the steps, buried her head in her hands and cried tears of joy!

The other birthday surprise event took place in The Whitney Gardens for a sunny Sunday brunch. The guest of honor was stunned when she turned the corner and was greeted by 120 friends!

Both events were fabulously well received by the honorees and their entire guest list. The excitement and enthusiasm they brought to The Whitney provided an uplifting experience for all who participated (including the staff!) to make both events a huge success.

Chrysler Classics & Cruisers

Last night we had the Cruisin’ MotorCities "Chrysler Classics & Cruisers" charity event to benefit the Walter P. Chrysler Museum here at the Whitney. There were classic Chrysler vehicles on display as well as some of the new additions to the museum’s collection. Our parking lot was transformed into car heaven! With live entertainment, great food and drink, and a whole lot of people including the Chrysler Dealership council, the event was quiet a success!

A Thoughful Thank You to The Whitney

Nothing makes us happier than receiving positive feedback from a pleased guest, especially a bride! We do everything in our power to make sure that your time at The Whitney is as wonderful as we can make it. It's nice to hear that we are succeeding in this endeavor. Below is a beautiful letter from a bride who recently shared her wedding with us. Thank you so much for bringing your friends and family into our Whitney home! It was a pleasure having you with us and we are thrilled that you all enjoyed yourself!

"Thank you so much for all of your help, planning and suggestions. Everything was absolutely WONDERFUL!! I feel badly I didn't have the chef come out at the end of the meal. It was truly amazing.. I think every person said how tremendous the meal was.. PLEASE pass that along to him.
I really can't think of anything else we would have wanted to be done differently. The set up was beautiful. We would likely order more hors d'oeuvres - they flew!!
The waitstaff was really wonderful - especially with the kids.. if one of them ordered a drink they had it within no time.

Again thank you so much for everything. You were so wonderful to work with. We will definitely be back for anniversaries!!!

Cori"

The Wicked Winds and a Wedding

June 21st, 2008 started off as a gorgeous day for a wedding at The Whitney. The garden was decorated to perfection with amazing centerpieces upon crisp white linens, champagne colored ribbons draped from the Peachtree, and the bride's signature drink was poured and waiting to be picked up by 125 guests as it sparkled in the sun. It was picture perfect... until 15 minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to start...

In a matter of moments, the sky darkened, the wind started howling, and then the rain and pea-sized hail came. We moved to Plan B as the staff immediately grabbed umbrellas, saved the 5 tiered cupcake wedding cake, and began moving the ceremony to the 2nd & 3rd floor staircase landing in front of the fabulous Tiffany stained glass windows. It was an epic Michigan storm out there.

We do many Whitney weddings inside where we serve hors d'oeuvres on the second floor and open our Winter Garden bar on the third. So this wasn't new to us. It turned out to be so wonderful, that many thought our Plan B should have been Plan A all along.

The Bride was absolutely thrilled with how everything turned out and the very next morning, she sent an amazing letter thanking the staff and praising the venue and the service.

So how does this fairytale wedding end... well they lived happily ever after (celebrating their new lives together in SUNNY Costa Rica)!

Flavors of Michigan Charity Event

Last night The Whitney took part in the "Flavors of Michigan" Charity Event hosted by the American Liver Foundation at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn. Follow the below link for a description of the event.
http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/Events/Hour-Town-Events/?view=view_event&itm=685
The Whitney was auctioned off at the highest price of $1,000.00. Our chefs served a 5 course meal to the group that took part in the auction. It was a very successful event.

Here are some more events happening around The Whitney...
The Detroit Regional Chamber is hosting an event here tomorrow in the Garden with about 70 people. We also have The Detroit Wine Organization hosting an event on June 18th, they will be having close to 100 people in the Garden for a wine tasting. On June 20th we are out-catering an event at the Zoo for 2,000 people. We will keep you updated on these and more events coming up.