Andrew Ashmore and Brian and Lori Burke

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

Chef Andrew Ashmore and his wife, Fatima, are fans of the hearty breakfasts served at Ferndale’s Toast.

As executive chef at Bourbon Steak at MGM Detroit Grand, Andrew Ashmore is on the job most nights, so that makes breakfast especially popular with him and his wife, Fatima. “We love to try out different breakfast joints,” Ashmore says. “Our favorite is Recipes in Troy. The servers are friendly and the service is always spot-on. The ranchero frittata is tasty, and they have the best whole-grain and nut pancakes. We also really enjoy Toast in Ferndale for the huevos rancheros and crêpes with Nutella and bananas.” On an occasional evening out, the newlyweds like Bastone in Royal Oak. “They have a really cool 1930s-style room and great Belgian-style beers,” he says. “We enjoy the mussels and artichoke fritters with tarragon aioli.”

The cozy wine bar The Grapevine of Novi keeps Brian and Lori Burke busy much of the time. Says Brian, “There’s not a lot of getting away to be done when you’re as hands-on as Lori and I are. However, when that does happen, as was the case for Lori’s milestone birthday, we go to one of our all-time faves, Café Cortina. While Lori goes for one of the veal dishes, I usually pick the chef’s creation.” One of Brian’s favorite dishes is the whole roasted sea bass (branzino), deboned at the table, or “any of their handmade pastas. It’s just hard to beat a meal at Café Cortina.”

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