Food + Beverage

Serving Up Success

How relationships and hard work helped Brandon Bahoura build Pita Way. Article by Susan Thwing Ask Brandon Bahoura how his day is going, and his answer offers a quick glimpse into the personality behind Pita Way. “Every day’s a great day.” That optimism has carried Bahoura from a single Clarkston restaurant where he once wondered whether he could keep the doors open to a fast-growing Middle Eastern restaurant brand with more than 50 locations and 800 employees. But for Bahoura, the numbers...

Home + Design

Autumn, Arranged

We asked a pro to create the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece. Here’s what blossomed. Article by Lynne Konstantin So many fall colors — even more flowers to choose from. How does one put it all together in a cohesive, stunning and organic holiday masterpiece? We turned to floral designer Lesley Hellow, who runs Lulu’s Flower Bar (lulusflowerbar.com; @lulusflowerbar), a floral studio in Rochester specializing in seasonal arrangements, event florals and planters with a focus on modern designs...

Life + Culture

Choosing Gratitude

A New York Times-bestselling author and Hallmark movie inspiration on heartbreak, hope — and a New Day. Article and Photography by For Gina Kell Spehn, gratitude isn’t about pretending that life is easy or looking for a silver lining in every difficult moment. It is about recognizing that even during profound loss, there can still be something good to hold onto. “When you have gratitude, there is something that anchors you to hope,” Spehn says. “I think gratitude and hope go together.” It’s...

Food + Beverage

In Good Taste

Our newest monthly column, featuring a recipe from Chef Deb Silver, owner of The Silver Shamrocks and Forks & Fetes in Rochester. This month: holiday-friendly Brie en Croûte. Photography by Jessica Snow Warm, gooey and oh-so-pretty, Chef Deb Silver’s golden, flaky Brie en Croûte is the perfect appetizer for your holiday soiree or a show-stopping host gift. Simple to pull off, or pick one up at The Silver Shamrocks (thesilvershamrocks.com). BRIE EN CROÛTE (BRIE WRAPPED IN PUFF PASTRY) ...

Life + Culture

The Giving Season

Three community leaders share the local organizations they are most passionate about — and why they are meaningful to them. Article by Lynne Konstantin FRAN LUCIDO Partner, Lucido Fine Jewelry “I started volunteering with Angels of Hope [angelsofhope.org], a family cancer foundation, more than 20 years ago, when it was still a grassroots effort operating out of my girlfriend’s basement. Today, I’ve served as a board member for more than 15 years, helping to make a difference in the...

Home + Design

FINE PRINTS

A brief history of transferware — plus, a few of our favorite pieces for setting your holiday table. Article by Lynne Konstantin A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSFERWARE The tradition of setting a Thanksgiving table with fine English transferware depicting the holiday bird or other pastoral scenes is almost as old as Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of an official Thanksgiving Day — established in 1863.  Before the invention of transferware, every decorated plate in Europe was hand-painted, making...

Food + Beverage

In Good Taste

The second installment of our newest column, featuring a recipe from Chef Deb Silver. This month: Golden Harvest Pork. Photography by Jessica Snow Tuck into autumn with the second installment of our newest column — In Good Taste features a monthly recipe from the kitchens of the Silver Shamrocks and Forks & Fetes in Rochester. Chef and Owner Deb Silver, known for her seasonal from-scratch cooking and warm hospitality, is a lifelong creative and community builder — her talent and celebration of...

Food + Beverage

The Perfect Host

At Host in Utica and Romeo, the chefs change and the menus evolve — but Michael Ivkov's commitment to hospitality never leaves the table. Article by Kiki Pape Walking into Host, you might not know exactly what’s going to come out of the kitchen. But one thing always stays the same at its core: hospitality.  The chefs come and go, the menus change and the environment remains the place where it all comes together. And for owner Michael Ivkov, hospitality began long before the first sought-after...

Food + Beverage

The Huntsman

A tradition of land, legacy, craft — and community. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by Jessica Snow Tucked into the rolling pastures and wooded ponds of Southeast Michigan, The Huntsman Hunt Club has spent nearly half a century turning a family farm into one of the region’s most storied private clubs.  But long before it became known for its grounds and sporting tradition, it was simply home — and that sense of place still defines it today. In 1979, Nora Tebben and her son, James...

Food + Beverage

In Good Taste

Introducing our newest column, featuring a recipe from Chef Deb Silver. This month: Roasted Tomato Vinaigrette. Article and Photography by Introducing our newest column — a monthly recipe from the kitchens of the Silver Shamrocks and Forks & Fetes in Rochester. Chef and Owner Deb Silver, known for her seasonal from-scratch cooking and warm hospitality, is a lifelong creative and community builder — her talent and celebration of people and places help make Rochester the special place it is...