Kim and Francis Stanton and Rina Tonon

Their stylish menus are enticing enough to attract a loyal clientele of discriminating diners, but no matter how expert they are, restaurant people like to take a break from their own kitchens for a taste of someone else’s cooking
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Kim and Francis Stanton and Rina Tonon
Eurasian Grill’s shrimp is a dish that might be enjoyed by Kim and Francis Stanton.

Like most restaurateurs, Kim and Francis Stanton, of Modern Food & Spirits in Keego Harbor, don’t get out as much as they’d like. When they do, however, they are likely to head for David Lum’s Eurasian Grill in West Bloomfield Township — “a good stop-in place” — where they tell the proprietor: “Dave, bring us something.” They love to have a couple of appetizers, such as a spicy abalone dish they had recently with a glass of wine. Two other faves are in Dearborn: Annam Restaurant Vietnamien, where, they say, “We get something different every time,” and the New Yasmeen Bakery, “where we fill a tray, sit down, and go to town. And we always leave with bags of stuff.”

Ristorante Café Cortina founder Rina Tonon says, “I really appreciate effort and thought in food,” whether it’s one of her little Italian favorites in Windsor or a four-star experience. The restaurants on Windsor’s Via Italia are often her choice. “The risotto porcini at Il Gabbiano is buonissima,” she says. She also likes the Mediterranean fish, orata, and arugula salad at Zingara’s. Others on her dining map include Vince’s on Springwells in southwest Detroit, which reminds her of her first restaurant, a pizza place in Detroit called Rina’s. And then, “When I want a full-blown culinary experience of food and wine, it’s the Lark. In 25 years, I’ve never been disappointed.”