Andiamo Italian restaurant in Bloomfield Twp. has new menu item named for Jimmy Hoffa
The Machus Red Fox restaurant is still known far and wide as the place where former Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa was last seen.
On July 30, 1975, Hoffa was to have a lunch meeting at the popular establishment on Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township. The meeting never took place, and Hoffa, last spotted in the restaurant's parking lot, was never heard from again.
The Machus Red Fox closed in 1996 and was later bought by Joe Vicari, founder of Andiamo Italian restaurants as well as other establishments that are part of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group. Following renovations, the restaurant reopened in 1997 as Andiamo Italia West.
More: Theories in disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa
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Vicari said in a recent interview that restaurant customers ask about Hoffa's disappearance. A recent customer from Las Vegas inquired whether the Andiamo location was the “building that Jimmy Hoffa was last seen.”
A new menu was recently launched across all the Andiamo restaurants in metro Detroit, but only the Bloomfield Township location has a new item named for Hoffa. It's Aragosta alla Hoffa (Jimmy Hoffa Style Lobster), and it's described as scampi-style South African lobster tail, garlic butter sauce, mushroom risotto and broccoli rabe. The dish is offered at market price.
A Machus menu highlight
Harris O. Machus opened the Machus Red Fox in 1965. In its heyday, the restaurant was well-known and received many dining accolades and awards.
Among its menu highlight was its signature salad, a mix of romaine and iceberg lettuces topped with crumbled Roquefort, bacon, tomato, red onion and a sweet-and-sour dressing.
You'll find a version of the salad served at Bill's restaurant on Woodward in Bloomfield Hills. It's called the Harris O. in honor of the late founder of the Machus Red Fox. The salad, similar to the original but with a dressing that isn't as sweet, has been on the menu at Bill's since the restaurant opened, owner Bill Roberts said.
"It's a good seller for us and has a lot of fans," he said.
The simple dressing is a highlight of the dish and so are the crumbles of Roquefort cheese. Roquefort is a blue cheese made with sheep’s milk that has tang and saltiness while also being also creamy and rich tasting. True Roquefort hails from southwestern France.
Here is the recipe for the salad served at Bill's.
Bill’s Harris O. Salad
Serves: 4 / Preparation time: 10 minutes / Total time: 15 minutes
DRESSING
¼ cup neutral oil such as vegetable oil
⅔ cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
SALAD
6 cups mix of torn romaine and iceberg lettuces (about 1 to 1½ cups per serving)
½ cup good-quality crumbled Roquefort
4 tablespoons cooked crisp and crumbled bacon
8 ripe tomato wedges
In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients and set aside while you assemble the salad.
Place the romaine and iceberg lettuces in a large salad bowl. Drizzle some of the dressing along the inner perimeter of the bowl and toss the greens with the dressing. If it looks as f it needs more dressing, add a little at a time.
Place the salad on chilled serving plates and top with the cheese, crumbled bacon and red onion slices. Arrange the tomato wedges at the side of the greens.
From Bill’s, Bloomfield Hills
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Andiamo Italian restaurant location serves new Jimmy Hoffa menu item
