November 19, 2015 | Jewish News

When it comes to where to eat and what to order, I can be a little indecisive. Just ask my fiancee — there’s no question she dreads more than “What do you want to do for dinner?” There’s actually an app that lets you digitally flip a quarter and, candidly, we use it to make that decision more often than I should or would like to admit. Once we’ve settled on where we’re eating, to figure out what to eat, I always start a meal asking for the chef ’s recommendations. After all, he designed the menu; it’s a safe bet he knows what his team does best. To that end, one chef you can always trust to prepare a sensational meal is Derik Watson at Royal Oak’s Bistro 82. He’s not just a great guy, he’s also amazing at what he does; and I’ve had the chance to try some of his sensational tasting menus since the restaurant opened its doors last year. Apparently, owner Aaron F. Belen has realized those tasting menus are too good to limit to special events. Now you, too, can try a specially cultivated, five-course tasting menu available to guests every Wednesday night. The menu premiered last week at $50 per person, with a three-course wine pairing available for an additional $25. The meal starts with a grilled Chesapeake Bay oyster. Next come seared scallops and foie gras served alongside gnocchi and butternut squash. The third course is the phenomenal (trust me on this) roasted cobia with Parmesan risotto, followed by an Angus reserve flat iron steak with potatoes, peas and carrots. Finally, they top it all off with a pumpkin genoise, a light, Italian-style sponge cake with chocolate mousse and vanilla ice cream. While this is a meal you won’t want to miss, you shouldn’t limit yourself to a Wednesday night. Bistro 82 serves an amazing dinner every night of the week and sensational Sunday brunch during the warmer months of the year. Whether you’ve never been or go every week, I guarantee Watson and his team always impress. SNACKS, PLEASE Hungry at work? Soon you might not have to hustle down to a busy cafeteria or nearby restaurant thanks to Troy-based 365 Retail Markets. The company has launched Verii, an in-office “snack station” designed for smaller office environments that is plied with food hand-selected for you. Able to offer more than your average vending machine, a designated point person orders snacks and refreshments on an Amazon-style marketplace and they’re shipped directly to you and made available for purchase through a mobile app just for your employees. Learn more at verii.com. SHORTS If you’re a fan of Beyond Juice and find yourself east of Woodward, don’t worry — the quickly growing Birmingham-based chain (which added a Southfield location on Evergreen earlier this year) will now keep hungry shoppers healthy with a 1,500-square-foot restaurant space on the first floor of the Somerset Collection North. Look for both dine-in and carryout options. Plans are in the works for another location in Eastern Market, though no timeline has been announced for that opening. Mandaloun Bistro in Bingham Farms (30100 Telegraph Road) celebrated its one-year anniversary last week. If you haven’t checked out the upscale Lebanese restaurant, don’t miss their world-class stuffed grape leaves, served a la carte at lunch or with lamb ribs at dinner. Turkey Blues: Expect to pay more this year if you haven’t already picked up your Thanksgiving turkey. A record outbreak of bird flu has prices up some 15-20 percent over last year in most states, which should average out to an extra $1.30 per pound. MAZEL TOV TO … Ashley Stoneman and David Murav on their engagement. Allie Singer and Blaine Hirsch on their engagement. Elyse Cantor and Daniel Rogna on their engagement. Evan Grossman and Brandon David on their marriage. Torre Shapiro and Steven Hakim on their marriage. Dr. Michael Abramsky on the birth of grandson Ari Micah Abramsky. Jeff Burmeister, named chief financial officer of PACE Southeast Michigan. New Bloomfield Hills Mayor Stuart Sherr, who took the city’s top post last week. And happy birthday to Larry Wolfe, Lauren Blitz, Jack Kramer, Michele Harris, Dan Barish, Matt Ran, Justin Jacobs, Steven Lewis, Alex King and Ely Tama. *