Friday, December 30, 2011

The Philly Cheesesteak and some Philly Phacts


The great city of Philadelphia is famous for many things:
  • William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, Bill Cosby, W.C. Fields...
  • The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, The Birthplace of America...
And then of course there’s the food:
  • The Hoagie, the birthplace of the American pretzel industry, Tastykake, Peanut Chews, Peeps, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and my personal favorite: 
          THE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK!


When I asked Chef Luis to come up with a special pizza combination he immediately said “Philly style cheesesteak”. Of course! We toiled over and begrudgingly taste tested (yes, it IS work) a number of versions and settled on this one: a white pizza with mozz, zip marinated, slow roasted & thinly sliced beef prime rib, tri-color bell peppers, fresh red onions, mushrooms and provolone. Finished with a drizzle of horseradish mayonnaise and VoilĂ !    A new classic is born. 



We proudly present The Liberty Bell Pizza.


Here’s a few facts about the Liberty Bell from the cool and informative website


  • The Liberty Bell is located in the city of Philadelphia in Liberty Bell Center at Market & 6th street and is owned by the city of Philadelphia.
  • The Bell was originally cast at London’s Whitechapel Foundry in 1752 at a cost of 150 Pounds 13 Shillings 8 Pence.
  • The Bell was sent from England on the ship Hibernia, captained by William Child.
  • The Liberty Bell cracked upon it’s first ringing.
  • The Bell was recast after it’s initial cracking by “two ingenious workman” Pass & Stow and their names are inscribed on it. They charged over 36 Pounds for the repair job and the bill states it weight at 2081 pounds.
  • The bell was rung for special commemorative events after it was recast but it was NOT rung on July 4, 1776 for the Declaration of Independence. July 4th was the day the Declaration was sent to the printer but it was not read publicly until July 8, when bells tolled throughout the city, including The Liberty Bell.
  • The Bell strikes in the note of E-flat.
  • It’s composition is 70% copper, 25% tin with small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver.
  • The Bells famous zig zag crack happened in February 1846 while being rung for George Washington’s birthday.
  • The Bell’s circumference around the lip is 12 ft.
  • About 1,500,000 people annually visit The Liberty Bell.


-Chef Jeff
Home on the Range in O'Tooles Kitchen



Check Out Our New Menu New Family Friendly Vibe



O'Tooles Bistro & Pub, Cass Lake
4000 Cass Elizabeth Road, Waterford
248.683.3494


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Some Cheesy Pizza Facts



PIZZA FACTS
Regardless of who was first or where it all began, (Italians, and Naples by the way), 
pizza is just simply sublime. It is the purest example of the true beauty of real Italian 
food being it’s simplicity.  Great ingredients, prepared simply, speak for themselves.

Here are some unbelievably mind boggling statistics on pizza.
Some of which are are truly astounding.
But I found them on the internet so...    they must be true!
  • The U.S. pizza industry grosses $30 billion annually.
  • Americans (or at least people in America) eat an average of 350 slices of pizza each second.  That comes out to an astounding 100 acres of pizza a day!
  • The United States has over 60,000 pizzerias. 9,000 in New York alone.
  • The average American eats 23 lbs of pizza a year. That’s roughly 46 - 8 oz. slices.
  • 3 billion pizzas are sold every year in America.
  • 93% of Americans eat at least one pizza a month.
  • The most popular pizza topping in the U.S. is pepperoni, claiming about 36% of all pizzas ordered.
  • The least popular topping among standard pizza toppings is anchovies.
  • Every year, 251,770,000 pounds of pepperoni is consumed in the United States.
  • Pizza as we know it today originated in Naples, Italy.
  • The most popular ethnic food in the U.S. is now Italian.
  • Kids between 3 & 11 prefer pizza over all other foods for lunch and dinner. Want your kids to eat vegetables? Put them on a pizza!
  • Some of the most common pizza toppings are: pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, peppers, fresh sausage, ham, bacon, olives and of course the dreaded anchovy. All over the U.S. there are regional specialty toppings as well. These include: chicken, oyster, greens, potatoes, duck, smoked whitefish, crayfish, lobster, smoked salmon, bean sprouts, eggplant, venison, pineapple, spam, fish roe, eggs and tuna, to name a few.
  • Americans prefer meat to veggies by a ratio of 62 to 100
  • The busiest days for pizza delivery are: New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, Halloween, Thanksgiving Eve, and Super Bowl Sunday.
  • Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria in Anchorage, Alaska is the nations highest grossing single unit pizzeria with sales of over $6 million. And that ain’t no blubber!
  • America’s first official pizzeria was licensed in New York City in 1905 in New York City. Lombardi’s Pizza. Still operating today.
  • The first pizzeria in the world is considered to be Antica Pizzeria Port’ Alba in Naples, Italy. It started selling pizzas to street peddlers in Naples, Italy in 1738. Tables and chairs were added in 1830 to served the public and is still in operation today.
  • The average pizzeria in the U.S. uses about 55 pizza boxes a day.

Some Popular Pizza Toppings Around the World
  • JAPAN: Maya Jaga Pizza (mayonnaise, potato & bacon), eel, squid.
  • AUSTRALIA: shrimp, pineapple, barbecue sauce.
  • RUSSIA: Mockba (sardines, mackerel, salmon, red herring, tuna & onions).
  • INDIA: pickled ginger, paneer, mutton.
  • BRAZIL: green peas.
  • FRANCE: bacon, onion, creme fraiche.
  • PAKISTAN: curry.
  • COSTA RICA: coconut.
  • NETHERLANDS: The Double Dutch (double meat, double cheese, double onion.

Check out the menu from Pizza-La, Japan’s highest grossing pizza chain at

And check out their wacky commercial. It reminds me of the old
"visit the snack bar" snippets from the old drive-in theaters.

O’Tooles Bistro & Pub Pizza Menu
In redefining the menu at O’Tooles at Cass Lake in Waterford, a full page has been dedicated to pizza. So far it looks like that was a great decision. Our investment of a new mixer to facilitate making 
dough in house every day, re-tooling our ovens to provide the proper heat source necessary for 
real italian pizzas, and our commitment toward the purchasing of local, fresh and natural
 ingredients is being very well received by everyone that has tried our new pizzas.

Some of O'Tooles most popular pizzas so far have been:
  • The Cass Lake Special - sauce, mozz, pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushrooms, onions, tri-color peppers.
  • The Lafayette - mozz, detroit style coney chili, michigan hot dogs, onions, cheddar & mustard.
  • The Spartan - sauce, mozz, spinach, fresh tomato, olives, feta, red onions.
  • The Ann Arbor Special - sauce, mozz, roasted peppers, artichokes, roasted onions, mushrooms, spinach & goat cheese.
  • The Cheddar BLT - mozz, sliced tomatoes, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, mayo.
  • The Jessie Mack - sauce, mozz, double pepperoni, ham, sausage, bacon.
  • The Frank n’Fries - fries, michigan hot dogs, cheddar.
  • The BBQ Pulled Pork - bbq sauce, bbq pulled pork, smoked mozzarella, slaw, chop house onions.
Japan & France got nothin’ on us!


-Chef Jeff
Home on the Range in O'Tooles Kitchen



Check Out Our New Menu New Family Friendly Vibe



O'Tooles Bistro & Pub, Cass Lake
4000 Cass Elizabeth Road, Waterford
248.683.3494

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

50 Reasons Michiganders LOVE Michigan.

Some cool facts about Michigan from the cool folks at 50states.com.
Heres a link to the cool site:  http://www.50states.com
  1. Detroit is known as the car capital of the world.
  2. Alpena is the home of the world's largest cement plant.
  3. Rogers City boasts the world's largest limestone quarry.
  4. Elsie is the home of the world's largest registered Holstein dairy herd.
  5. Michigan is first in the United States production of peat and magnesium compounds and second in gypsum and iron ore.
  6. Colon is home to the world's largest manufacture of magic supplies.
  7. The state Capitol with its majestic dome was built in Lansing in l879.
  8. Although Michigan is often called the "Wolverine State" there are no longer any wolverines in Michigan.
  9. Michigan ranks first in state boat registrations.
  10. The Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit manufactured the first air-conditioned car in 1939.
  11. The oldest county (based on date of incorporation) is Wayne in 1815.
  12. Sault Ste. Marie was founded by Father Jacques Marquette in 1668. It is the third oldest remaining settlement in the United States.
  13. In 1817 the University of Michigan was the first university established by any of the states. Originally named Cathelepistemian and located in Detroit the name was changed in 1821. The university moved to Ann Arbor in 1841.
  14. The city of Novi was named from its designation as Stagecoach Stop # 6 or No.VI.
  15. Michigan State University has the largest single campus student body of any Michigan university. It is the largest institution of higher learning in the state and one of the largest universities in the country.
  16. Michigan State University was founded in 1855 as the nation's first land-grant university and served as the prototype for 69 land-grant institutions later established under the Morrill Act of 1862. It was the first institution of higher learning in the nation to teach scientific agriculture.
  17. The largest village in Michigan is Caro.
  18. Michigan's state stone, The Petoskey is the official state stone. It is found along the shores of Lake Michigan.
  19. The Mackinac Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, it spans 5 miles over the Straits of Mackinac, which is where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. The Mighty Mac took 3 years to complete and was opened to traffic in 1957.
  20. Gerald R. Ford grew up in Grand Rapids and became the 38th president of the United States He attended the University of Michigan where he was a football star. He served on a World War II aircraft carrier and afterward represented Michigan in Congress for 24 years. He was also was an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts.
  21. The Kellogg Company has made Battle Creek the Cereal Capital of the World. The Kellogg brothers accidentally discovered the process for producing flaked cereal products and sparked the beginning of the dry cereal industry.
  22. The painted turtle is Michigan's state reptile.
  23. The western shore of Michigan has many sand dunes. The Sleeping Bear Dunes rise 460 feet above Lake Michigan. Living among the dunes is the dwarf lake iris the official state wildflower.
  24. Vernors ginger ale was created in Detroit and became the first soda pop made in the United States. In 1862, pharmacist James Vernor was trying to create a new beverage when he was called away to serve our country in the Civil War. When he returned, 4 years later, the drink he had stored in an oak case had acquired a delicious gingery flavor.
  25. The Detroit Zoo was the first zoo in America to feature cageless, open-exhibits that allowed the animals more freedom to roam.
  26. Michigan is the only place in the world with a floating post office. The J.W. Westcott II is the only boat in the world that delivers mail to ships while they are still underway. They have been operating for 125 years.
  27. Indian River is the home of the largest crucifix in the world. It is called the Cross in the Woods.
  28. Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the world.
  29. Michigan has more shoreline than any other state except Alaska.
  30. The Ambassador Bridge was named by Joseph Bower, the person credited with making the bridge a reality, who thought the name "Detroit-Windsor International Bridge" as too long and lacked emotional appeal. Bower wanted to "symbolize the visible expression of friendship of two peoples with like ideas and ideals."
  31. Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams.
  32. Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights.
  33. Seul Choix Point Lighthouse in Gulliver has been guiding ships since 1895. The working light also functions as a museum, which houses early 1900s furnishings and maritime artifacts.
  34. Forty of the state's 83 counties adjoin at least one of the Great Lakes. Michigan is the only state that touches four of the five Great Lakes.
  35. Standing anywhere in the state a person is within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.
  36. Michigan includes 56,954 square miles of land area; 1,194 square miles of inland waters; and 38,575 square miles of Great Lakes water area.
  37. Sault Ste. Marie was established in 1668 making it the oldest town between the Alleghenies and the Rockies.
  38. Michigan was the first state to provide in its Constitution for the establishment of public libraries.
  39. Michigan was the first state to guarantee every child the right to tax-paid high school education.
  40. Four flags have flown over Michigan - French, English, Spanish and United States.
  41. Isle Royal Park shelters one of the largest moose herds remaining in the United States.
  42. Some of the longest bulk freight carriers in the world operate on the Great Lakes. Ore carriers 1,000 feet long sail Michigan's inland seas.
  43. The Upper Michigan Copper Country is the largest commercial deposit of native copper in the world.
  44. The 19 chandeliers in the Capitol in Lansing are one of a kind and designed especially for the building by Tiffany's of New York. Weighing between 800-900 pounds apiece they are composed of copper, iron and pewter.
  45. The first auto traffic tunnel built between two nations was the mile-long Detroit-Windsor tunnel under the Detroit River.
  46. The world's first international submarine railway tunnel was opened between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada in 1891.
  47. The nation's first regularly scheduled air passage service began operation between Grand Rapids and Detroit in 1926.
  48. In 1879 Detroit telephone customers were first in the nation to be assigned phone numbers to facilitate handling calls.
  49. In 1929, the Michigan State Police established the first state police radio system in the world.
  50. Grand Rapids is home to the 24-foot Leonardo da Vinci horse, called Il Gavallo, it is the largest equestrian bronze sculpture in the Western Hemisphere.


-Jeff


Monday, December 5, 2011

Recipe: Michigan Pate (Smoked Whitefish)



The Lake Whitefish is an excellent example of one of our regional natural resources here in the Great Lakes. They love cool, deep water (200 feet & deeper). The Great Lakes Whitefish takes exceptionally well to hot smoking and various preparations can be found throughout Michigan.
The Lake Whitefish belongs to a family of fish called salmonidae which includes trout, salmon, char and graylings.
The Lake Whitefish is one of the species rated as “LC” or a species having the “Least Concern” or lowest risk of being threatened or endangered according to the IUCN Red List. Lake Whitefish is rated as “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Guide to safe and sustainable fish when trap-netted.
While most market whitefish are between 2 - 8 lbs., the Michigan State angling record for Lake Whitefish is a whopping 14.28 lbs., taken out of Lake Superior in 1993.
Almost as many recipes as there are cooks can be found just in Michigan alone for various dips and spreads using smoked whitefish. Below is one of my recipes for the popular “Michigan Patè”, or smoked whitefish dip, now available at O’Tooles Bistro & Pub, Cass Lake.
Michigan Patè
Smoked Great Lakes Whitefish, 1#
Cream Cheese, softened to room temp, 3/4#
Horseradish, 1 tbl
Lemon Juice, 1 tbl
Roasted Garlic, 2 cloves, smashed
Scallions, minced, 1 tbl
Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped, 1 tbl
Capers, chopped, 1 tbl
Salt & Pepper, to taste
Combine all ingredients well, serve with crackers.



-Chef Jeff
At Home On The Range in O'Tooles Kitchen

Healthy Slaw

An excellent alternative to classic creamy slaw is O'Tooles new "healthy slaw". A blend of shredded vegetables like carrot, zucchini, yellow squash, baby spinach, peppers, celery and onion added to the shredded cabbage makes this a delicious way to get your vegetables. Our house made extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinaigrette creates the perfect flavor vehicle. It not only tastes better, it's better for you!

An excellent vegan dinner might start with the Tuscan Hummus, then a serving of the Healthy Slaw, and finally an order of the Whole Grains & Lentils with some Oven Roasted Vegetables. Carry-out or dine-in.


-Chef Jeff
At Home on The Range in O'Tooles Kitchen

Sunday, December 4, 2011

High Quality Standards & Affordable


The conversion of O’Tooles Cass Lake into a more family oriented restaurant is still an ongoing process. Changing perceptions and redirecting old habits and what we are all used to is the most difficult part in turning over an ongoing operation step by step. The new menu focus on freshness, higher quality standards and more healthful options is only the first step in the climb toward complete transformation.
As part of our new re-dedication toward a more family oriented environment at the New O’Tooles Bistro, our menu offers some great selections for kids. The O’Tooles children’s menu features selections of entrees all priced at only $4.99 for kids under 12. Included with any of these is a beverage and either a cookie or fruit dessert.
Selections include:
  • Chicken Strips & Fries or Vegetable
  • Grilled Cheese & Fries & Vegetable
  • Hamburger & Fries or Vegetable
  • Corn Dog & Fries or Vegetable
  • Pepperoni Pizza
  • Pasta with choice of butter, marinara, or meat sauce
Pizzas are also an affordable option when bringing in the family. A classic 12”, 6 slice pizza is only $7.95 and 16” pizzas with 10 slices start at only $12.95.
Pair your classic 16”, 10 slice pizza with our family size bistro salad and your family of four eats for about $7 a person! Add 12 of our fabulous oven roasted jumbo wings and your still under $10 bucks a head. Dine-in or carry-out. Same incredible value.

Our steadfast goal is to provide a safe and family friendly environment with high quality food and great service at an excellent value.
-Chef Jeff
At Home On The Range in O'Tooles Kitchen




The New O'Tooles Bistro & Pub
4000 Cass Lake Road, Waterford

reservations - 248.683.3494 - reservations

Book Our Private Room Now for Your Holiday Party



Saturday, December 3, 2011

Dinner Specials 12/3/11



  • O’Tooles Prime Rib - The fresh garlic and herb crust on this boneless beef prime helps create a deep and rich flavor profile which is accented by the conversion of the rosemary infused natural pan juices into an incredible au jus. A complement of oven roasted vegetables and your choice of potato is preceded by fresh breadsticks either an O’Tooles house salad or one of our slaws. (Try the new “healthy slaw”). We offer the Prime Rib every week on Saturday night. All of this at tonight’s price of an astoundingly low $14.95 for a 12 oz. cut! Yeah, we know.
  • Rainbow Trout Picatta - Sustainably eco-friendly farm raised ruby red rainbow trout. Prepared as butterflied twin fillets, seasoned and broiled with capers in lemon butter. Served with roasted redskin potatoes and a selection of seasonal roasted vegetables. Choose from O’Tooles house salad or slaw selection (creamy or healthy). $14.95
  • Sauteed Lake Perch - From our all time top 5 favorite freshwater fish list. Fillets of lake perch, lightly dusted in seasoned flour and sauteed. Offered with a simple lemon wedge, no sauces to cover the great flavor of these tasty little lake gems. Paired with a portion of our seasoned pub fries and a choice of a house salad or slaw. $15.95
  • Clam & Bacon Pizza - House made dough, stretched thin by hand. Chopped clams in an herbed garlic and oil sauce with mozz and parmigiano accented with applewood smoked bacon. An instant classic. $12.95
  • Chef Luis’ Seafood Chowder - Fresh pureed tomatoes and white wine lays the base for this crab, mahi mahi and clam soup to lay in. A selection of fresh herbs and “la Famiglia Antopia Secret Spice Blend” creates the finishing touches on this great soup.
Desserts - For tonights dessert selection:
  • Tiramisu - Espresso soaked ladyfingers with layers of hazelnut infused mascarpone and chocolate. The same Tiramisu I served at Maria’s on Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield and at Little Italy in Northville.
  • Mixed Berry Torte - A short pastry base filled with chantilly cream, topped with a layer of sponge cake and garnished with an assortment of berries.
  • New York Cheesecake - A creamy and richly intense vanilla bean mascarpone and cream cheese cake on a graham cracker crust. Highlighted with a balsamic infused strawberry compote.
  • Pecan Pie a la Mode - An American classic laced with Kentucky bourbon and topped with mammoth pecans. Served warm with vanilla ice cream.
  • Spumoni Bomba - Traditional Italian gelato flavors, strawberry, chocolate, and pistachio wrapped in a chocolate shell.


-Chef Jeff
At Home On The Range in O'Tooles Kitchen




The New O'Tooles Bistro & Pub
4000 Cass Lake Road, Waterford

reservations - 248.683.3494 - reservations

! Our Private Party Room is Now Open !


Thursday, December 1, 2011

One of the Long Ones

THE O'TOOLES ITALIAN

House roasted prime rib of beef, imported ham, old style pepperoni, genoa salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onions peperoncini, classic italian dressing, on house made sub roll.

One of the new sandwich offerings from
O'Tooles Bistro & Pubs lunch time sandwich menu.


O'Tooles Bistro & Pub, Cass Lake


The New O'Tooles Lettuce Wraps

Asian style veggies in a spicy ginger & toasted sesame marinade with crisp leaves of romaine & some extra spicy sauce on the side.

Friday is Fish Day at O'Tooles


In addition to all the new healthier and vegetarian menu options at the new O'Tooles Bistro & Pub we have some great choices for fish and seafood.  
Beginning with our cool new weekly Friday Fish Fry/Broil. Snow white Alaskan Cod either Guinness battered or broiled. All the fish you can eat for only $10.95. And that’s with a serving of our new addictive fresh breadsticks, a house salad or slaw and fries! (Try our new “Healthy Slaw”).

Other fish & seafood offerings from the menu or on special include:
-Grilled and Glazed Salmon,
  served with whole grains & lentils.
-Broiled Ruby Red Rainbow Trout Piccata
  with roasted redskins and roasted vegetables.
-Sauteed Lake Perch with pub fries.
-Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
  with black beans veracruz and whole grains.
-Spicy Firecracker Shrimp & Calamari.
-Smoked Michigan Whitefish Pate.
-Maine Lobster Ravioli
  saffron pasta, lobster/vodka sauce
OK, Thats enough. I’m making myself hungry.
I gotta have a pizza.


-Chef Jeff
At Home on the Range in O'Tooles Kitchen



O'Tooles Bistro & Pub
Open for Lunch and Dinner Every Day
4000 Cass Elizabeth Road, Waterford MI. 48328
248.683.3494