Dakota Bread Is Back in Business

NOSH EATS | DRINKS | SWEETS

JEN LOVY

COURTESY OF CHERYL GASTWIRTH

Dakota Bread Is Back in Business Friendship Circle holds open house to welcome customers back.

Items on display at Dakota Bread.

Cars lined up for the Oct. 25 event at Dakota Bread.

Cheryl Gastwirth of West Bloomfield took a selfie with the Dakota Bread challah she baked at home.

JEN LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Asteady stream of dough to bake at home, craft cars — 189 in the projects, assorted beverages first hour alone — and limited-edition Friendship passed through the Boardwalk Circle souvenirs. Of course, shopping center parking lot for what bakery grand opening a drive-through open house would be complete without in celebration of Friendship baked goods? Volunteers gave Circle’s recent purchase of out muffins, sugar cookies and Dakota Bread Company. The chocolate babka. organization recently pur- Each box of challah dough chased the bakery to train came with instructions on young adults with special braiding and baking challah needs by teaching life and job at home. Participants could skills. also participate in one of

By the time the three-hour three live Zoom challah bakevent ended, an estimated ing classes with Chef Hunny 1,200 people had attended the Khodorkovsky. Oct. 25 celebration. While the Cheryl Gastwirth of West West Bloomfield police and a Bloomfield, who volunteers at handful of volunteers directed Friendship Circle’s Life Village, traffic, some attendees waited baked the challah dough she as long as 20 minutes to partic- received when she got home. ipate in the free event. “It was doughy and delicious,

After driving through a a little bit sweet,” she said. “It large arch of purple and white tasted great — just like Dakota balloons, cars stopped at des- challah always does.” ignated stations throughout Since the organization the parking lot to receive var- announced the acquisition of ious gifts, including challah Dakota Bread, customers have

A Friendship Circle volunteer at the Oct. 25 event.

had one recurring question, whether the challah recipe would change. Like a broken record, Friendship Circle co-founders Levi and Bassie Shemtov keep assuring those who ask that it will not change. All the ingredients, said Bassie Shemtov, happened to be kosher and will remain exactly the same. Notably, not one person asked if the price of a challah would change. It won’t.

“It’s incredible to see so many people out here showing their support,” said Elliott Baum, a Friendship Circle board member and owner of Blue Ribbon Restaurants, a franchisee of Famous Dave’s.

“We’re very excited about this new venture. In addition to providing training opportunities, we’re looking to double the wholesale and retail side of the business.”

Copy Editor David Sachs contributed to this report. O’Brien’s Marks 30 Years in Auburn Hills It’s the 30th Stone Crab Season for local restaurant O’Brien’s Crabhouse located in Auburn Hills on Opdyke Road.

Owner Dan Dunsky first opened O’Brien’s Crabhouse 30 years ago and has been in the same location ever since. Similar to an East Coast seafood restaurant, those in the know regarding “Stones” can’t wait for fall to begin.

While O’Brien’s Crabhouse serves all types of delicious fish and seafood, Dunsky is very proud of his longstanding yearly delivery of “stones.” Stones are flown in daily and Dunsky brings in about 200 pounds per week from October through New Year’s Day. “From the dock to our door in 18 hours,” Dunsky says.

Dine in and carryout are available. Information at www.obrienscrabhouse.com.

BAKE!, Zingerman’s Hands-On Teaching Bakery, Goes Virtual BAKE!, Zingerman’s hands-on teaching bakery, has put its baking classes online. Transitioning from in-person to virtual class offerings, initiated by COVID-19, allows home bakers to enjoy personalized instruction for all levels in the comfort of their own kitchens. “Home bakers are tuning in everywhere from Israel and India to Germany and New Zealand,” said Sara Molinaro, principal and lead instructor of BAKE!. “As much as we’ll always love our in-person classes, it’s been so fun to instruct and encourage our students virtually.” Before each class, students receive a class guide with the recipes, a grocery list and a Zoom invitation to use when it’s time to log into the virtual classroom. See a schedule at http:// zcob.me/bakevirtual.