Yesterday was another wonderful journey down Detroit's culinary past. We started the day out filming with Mr. Tom Schoenith from the one and only, Roostertail. Sitting on the Detroit River, the restaurant was named after the hydroplane race boats that would create a huge water spout that flowed out of the back end creating a rooster tail effect.
The Roostertail opened in 1958 and was an entertainment mecca, hiring special guests, many of which were Motown celebrities, along with Frankie Valli and Tony Bennet. Schoenith reflected on when Chef Milos Cihelka worked there as just a young man. There is even a picture of Milos eating cake with The Supremes in the Roostertail kitchen.
Part of the discussion was how the opening menu was considered highly expensive with items like frog legs priced at $4.95 or an almost 2 lb Maine lobster dinner was $6.95 or a filet mignon $6.85. Oh, and you also would get a salad, dinner rolls and potato du jour.
Yep, the 60s, 70's, 80s and 90s were rocking times. Best part about it is that the Roostertail is still going strong.
We left the Roostertail and stopped by the The London Chop House for some quick filming since so many well-known chefs spent time at the stoves there.
Then one of Michigan's most celebrated truly talented humble chefs, Paul Grosz of Cuisine Restaurant, opened up his kitchen to us while he prepared a diver sea scallop risotto dish with a beet dust, two infused herb oils, topped with some fresh microgreens.
Chef Grosz is no stranger to the culinary scene as the one time chef de cuisine at the The Whitney and his early years at Chez Raphael’s before heading off to work for the likes of Jean Banchet and several three star chefs in France.
Grosz passionately talked about his deep love for Detroit and why some 22 years ago he opened Cuisine in the shadows of the Fisher building.
Grosz’ soft spoken nature along with his deep personal feelings about cooking will add a wonderful dimension to our story about the chefs of Detroit. When Paul is not cooking in his restaurant, you can find him teaching at Schoolcraft College.