October Food & Drink Issue
Restaurants with great food and great people can anchor a community. A shared meal creates connections, sparks conversations, and builds traditions that last for generations. These dining experiences don’t just fill our tables—they enrich our neighborhoods, support local businesses, and remind us why we love calling Grosse Pointe home.
This month, we’re thrilled to welcome Daily Jam, a vibrant new brunch destination on Mack Avenue. The vision of local legend Dan Curis and his partner Anthony Ansara, Daily Jam is already creating buzz for its creative menu, warm atmosphere, and an approach to brunch that blends comfort with culinary flair. With generations of experience in the restaurant industry, Dan and Anthony are bringing something truly special to our community—proof that when passion meets expertise, great things happen.
And speaking of great, one of Metro Detroit’s hottest dining spots is right here in Grosse Pointe; Pastaio! Pasquale Lamarra, owner of one of the most talked-about Italian restaurants in the region, has brought authentic Italian cuisine to the Village. His homemade pasta, crafted fresh daily, takes you straight to Italy with every bite. The artistry, flavor, and dedication to quality make this a world-class dining experience, and we couldn’t be more excited to have it in our backyard.
Of course, great nights out are about more than just where you dine—they’re about how you feel when you step out the door. That’s where Lanna Young, owner of Savvy Chic, comes in. Whether you’re planning a “Girls Night Out” or just want to look effortlessly polished, Savvy Chic offers stylish, comfortable looks perfect for a night of cocktails, food, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
We invite you to celebrate this season of flavor, friendship, and community pride with us. Follow @GrossePointeCityLifestyle on social media for behindthe-scenes access, upcoming events, and links to all of our incredible advertising partners. Here’s to the people, places, and plates that make Grosse Pointe deliciously unforgettable!
DAVID MATTALIANO, PUBLISHER
October 2025
PUBLISHER
David Mattaliano | david.mattaliano@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Paige Peabody | paige.peabody@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Lisa Gindi | lisa.gindi@citylifestyle.com
Erin McGregor | erin.mcgregor@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Susan Baldani, Margaret Carroll
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Andreas Browne, Kim Rensburg
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.
Murder Mystery Parties
Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11
Step into a night of intrigue inside the historic Main Residence as you become part of the story. Work with friends—or against them—to uncover the culprit in this immersive, interactive whodunit at Ford House.
Little Goblins
Saturday, October 25
Bring your little ones for a delightfully un-scary Halloween adventure at Ford House! Kids can dress up in costumes and follow the trick-or-treat trail around the grounds, collecting candy along the way.
Girls Night Out
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM RENSBURG
Hit The Town with Styles by Savvy Chic
Dining out is more than a meal-it’s an experience. The clink of glasses, the glow of candlelight, the laughter shared over appetizers, the rich aroma of a well-paired wine-all of it is enhanced when you feel confident and comfortable in what you’re wearing. In Grosse Pointe, where our restaurant and bar scene is thriving, fashion plays a role in setting the mood for the night just as much as the menu.
That’s where Lanna Young, owner of Savvy Chic Boutique in the Village, steps in. Known for blending timeless style with fresh trends, Lanna curates outfits that let you enjoy every course of your night out-whether it’s happy hour with friends, a romantic dinner, or a cozy Sunday brunch.
“Fashion is about balance and confidence,” she says. “When you feel good about what you’re wearing, you enjoy yourself more-and that joy carries into the entire dining experience.”
Sometimes, dinner reservations are waiting right after a long workday. For those moments, Lanna recommends a polished yet playful look: sleek black SPANX® pants, an olive green V-neck, a studded gold handbag, kitten heels, chunky bracelets, and a delicate necklace. Professional enough for meetings, yet stylish enough for slipping into a booth at Pastaio for handmade pasta and wine, it’s a true deskto-dinner solution.
Not every night out calls for heels and formality. A denim miniskirt with a gold-buttoned sweater vest, paired with a leopard print jacket and knee-high black boots, strikes just the right balance for catching live music or sharing martinis with girlfriends at Old Pony Martini Pub. It’s flirty, fun, and a little bit daring-perfect for a Friday night with friends.
"One of the outfits is professional yet playful, and allows you to go from career to cocktail."
Denim can be dinner-worthy with the right styling. Lanna pairs dark cuffed Daze jeans with a voluminous black sweater and kitten heels for a relaxed yet elevated vibe. “It’s stylish without trying too hard,” she notes-ideal for wine tasting, charcuterie boards, or lingering over a long dinner where comfort and confidence are equally important.
For a night that calls for bold flavors and bold style, dresses take the spotlight. A leopard print mini dress with an olive crossbody bag and brown hoop earrings is sophisticated and sassy, versatile enough for everything from craft cocktails at Old Pony to a Sunday brunch spread.
For more color, a geometric print mini dress in burgundy, tan, and brown tones, paired with gold medallion earrings and a burgundy handbag, is vibrant and eye-catching-just
like a perfectly plated dish at Pastaio. Both looks can be layered with tights for added texture and warmth on crisp autumn nights.
Texture is another way to mirror the richness of a night out. Pairing black leather pants with a ruffled sweater creates an edgy-yet-feminine contrast, perfect for tapas, martinis, and late-night laughs. For an even more elevated outing-say, a multi-course chef’s menu-Lanna suggests satin cargo pants with a silk camisole and a cozy fur coat, finished with a bold gold-and-silver necklace and cream boots. It’s dramatic, polished, and memorable-just like the best dining experiences.
For any woman building her night-out wardrobe, Lanna suggests two staples: a great-fitting pair of jeans and a leather pant or skirt. Both can flex with the evening’s plans, dressed
"Another essential, especially for fall, is a leather pant or a leather skirt because those are items that can be used to dress things up or dress things down."
In Grosse Pointe, we’re lucky to have both: a vibrant dining scene with destinations like Pastaio and Old Pony Martini Pub, and boutiques like Savvy Chic that help us dress the part. Because when you pair a fabulous outfit with a fabulous meal, the night always tastes a little sweeter.
Luckily, Savvy Chic Boutique has everything you’ll need at great price points. “We have classic looks, but if you want to add a little bit of edginess, we also have those bold prints,” she says. “And, the great thing is, our inventory is always fresh, so you’re going to be able to find something new all the time. You won’t see the same sweater everybody’s wearing because we get limited inventory of styles and we don’t reorder them.”
up for fine dining or dressed down for drinks and apps with friends.
Ultimately, Lanna reminds us that fashion and food have something in common: both are meant to be savored. “Every night out should feel special,” she says. “The right outfit helps set the tone-so you can focus on the flavors, the atmosphere, and the people around the table.”
Lanna and her staff are also happy to help customers put together an outfit for any occasion, taking into account body shape, style, and coloring.
Visit the boutique and leave with something that will make you look chic, stylish, and beautiful for your next night (or day) out!
SavvyChicGP.com
GROSSE POINTE
dsa
15 Kercheval Ave. | Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
Phone: 313.343.6 591
Email: noah.hauswirth @raymondjames.com
Website: raymondjames.com/ noahhauswirth
Pastaio
Pasta Made by Hand, Just Down the Block
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
KIM RENSBURG & ANDREAS BROWNE
Pasquale (Pat) Lamarra was born into the restaurant business. His parents owned multiple Italian restaurants in New Jersey, and it was where Pat felt at home. Wanting to carry on the tradition but forge his own path, he moved to Florida in his early 20s and opened several restaurants there with partners.
While this worked for a while, he decided once again to carve his own way. “I wanted to do my own thing without any partners and not have to answer to anyone,” he says. “So, in October of 2019, I founded Pastaio Handmade.”
The name Pastaio, which means pasta maker in Italian, reflects one of the key ingredients in the restaurant. “We offer handmade pasta that’s made fresh every day in each location,” says Pat. “Many restaurants say they have homemade pasta, but they’re purchasing it. Sometimes it comes in frozen, sometimes it comes in dried.”
All the pasta is made with Caputo 00 flour, which is the same type of flour used in Italy. “People who are sensitive to gluten often say that when they’ve had the pasta in Italy, they never had any issues. That’s because it’s not a high-gluten flour; it’s more easily digestible.”
Today, Pastaio has expanded from Florida into Metro Detroit and Grosse Pointe. “An opportunity came up for us to take a look at a spot in Royal Oak,” he says. “It was a 15,000 square foot threestory venue with a beautiful rooftop.”
Shortly after, looking for a neighborhood that was very similar to Pastaio’s original location in Florida, Pat purchased a property in Grosse Pointe in 2023. The 3000 square foot, 90-seat type restaurant opened the following year and was a hit from day one, with some diners coming in six or seven days a week.
“The menu’s very versatile. We have a small plate menu. We have half portions of certain pastas. People can come in and mix up that menu and never have the same dish twice.”
At Pastaio, diners won’t find that old-school Italian-American motif with murals on the wall. “What we do is a little bit more upbeat Italian, and we offer upscale food with everyday affordability,” says Pat.
One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes is the Langusto. “It’s not on the menu; it’s a house feature made with fresh pappardelle pasta. It has lobster, shrimp, scallops, and pasta with a lobster tomato cream sauce.”
Short Rib Ragu
House Featured Langusto
Another in-demand dish is the short rib ragu. “It’s a braised short rib that we cook for about four hours,” says Pat. “It just breaks apart and flavors the tomato sauce perfectly. We serve it with a pocket pasta similar to rigatoni that has a really nice mouth feel.”
The octopus is also a highly requested dish. “It’s very tender, and we serve it in a simple Mediterranean style with olives, tomato, garlic, rosemary, and other herbs.”
Other key features include the extra virgin olive oil in all of its dishes and its homemade sauce, which is made fresh daily and is the basis of many of its dishes.
And, of course, no Italian meal would be complete without a hearty, delicious bread. “We have our bread shipped from Tribeca Oven in Northern New Jersey. It arrives partially cooked, and then we finish the cooking process here. We could make our own bread, but I
stick with the people who have been doing it for over a hundred years.”
Diners can also enjoy a cocktail made with premium liquors and developed by a mixologist at its flagship location in Florida. “He comes up with cocktails for all the seasons,” he says.
Pastaio’s reservation system even stores diners’ dietary restrictions, birthdays, and other pertinent information to provide the most personalized experience. “It’s like having Sunday dinner at your ItalianAmerican friend’s house.”
Since Pat established Pastaio as a franchise, anyone who loves the concept is welcome to join the team. “I already have someone who wants to grow it in the Metro Detroit area,” he says.
To find out more and see the full menu, visit EatPasta.io.
DAILY JAM
SCRATCH TO TABLE, THE NEWEST SPOT SERVING IT UP
ARTICLE BY MARGARET CARROLL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREAS BROWNE
The goal is to establish another 50-year legacy in Grosse Pointe with Daily Jam.
Daily Jam is Grosse Pointe’s newest brunch restaurant, featuring Southwest-inspired cuisine using locally sourced ingredients served in an airy, contemporary setting on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Woods.
The vibe is laid back and casual, true to the original Daily Jam, a neighborhood favorite located in the artsy downtown of Tempe, Arizona, popular with students at nearby Arizona State University.
The result? Grosse Pointers have a new location for casual dining that is light, airy and family-friendly.
Daily Jam offers brunch favorites such as waffles, avocado toast, egg scrambles, hot melts, and cold sandwiches. There are vegan selections featuring vegan chorizo and cheese, and most items can be prepared gluten-free on request. A Little Jammers menu offers kids sure-to-please items such as Mickey pancakes with whipped cream, PB&J sandwiches with chips, and more.
A full bar menu offers hand-crafted breakfast cocktails, including classic favorites, a selection of local craft beers, and fruit and protein smoothies. There are gourmet caffeine drinks, too, including espresso coffees with steamed milk (soy, almond, and oat), lattes, and nitro cold brew coffee, plus chai and macha tea and hot chocolate.
The menu has a Southwestern flair, with an emphasis on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, according to co-owners Anthony Ansara and Dan Curis. “Our menu is unique, and true to Daily Jam’s Arizona roots,” says Anthony. That means standard breakfast/brunch choices with all the trimmings you’d expect to find at the original location, such as Gunslinger hot sauce, two different housemade salsas (ranchero and red), plus can’t-livewithout breakfast burrito options like juevos and chorizo.
Our intention is to create a space where families can relax and have fun.
Daily Jam’s Michigan locations (Grosse Pointe follows Farmington Hills, which opened in 2023) incorporate regional ingredients. The menu also has some modifications for the Michigan palate.
“We toned down the Chilaquiles a bit, cutting the peppers by half, and added sandwiches such as a burger and a wrap,” Anthony reports. The plan is to rotate seasonal selections, so look for pumpkin dish options in the fall.
“We locally source as many items as we can, to showcase regional artisan products and keep the flavors fresh,” he adds. That includes purchasing products from Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co. (Bloomfield Hills), bread from Cantoro’s Bakery, and Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. Wine and champagne are supplied by Vintage Wine Company, a Grosse Pointe distributor. Beer on tap includes Someday Brewery craft brew.
“We want Daily Jam to be a place Grosse Pointers can come to hold a business meeting, or just enjoy a good breakfast or lunch,” says Anthony. “We both grew up in the business and intend to be very involved.”
The names Ansara and Curis are well known in the Michigan restaurant community. Both families have been in the restaurant business since the 1960s. Their grandfathers partnered in several Big Boy restaurants. The Ansaras brought Red Robin and Twin Peaks restaurants to locations throughout Michigan and Ohio.
Dan Curis’s family owned and operated the Big Boy on Mack for 48 years, and still owns and operates Champ’s Rotisserie. Dan
grew up here and attended Grosse Pointe North High School. Anthony grew up in Farmington Hills and lives in Birmingham.
So it was only natural that the third-generation partners chose the former Big Boy site as home for their second Michigan Daily Jam location.
The building has undergone an extensive renovation, including the installation of new flooring, lighting, ventilation, kitchen equipment, booths, tables, and chairs. A large bar has been installed running full-length at the back of the space. “We basically gutted the entire back of the house,” Anthony reports.
The result is a light, airy, contemporary feel. They’ve hired about 50 people (cooks and servers), including many former staff from Big Boy.
“Our intention is to create a space where families can relax, have fun and have a drink,” says Anthony. “We kept dietary needs top of mind, with a lot of vegan and gluten-free options. Any dish can be modified on request and served gluten-free.
“We are all-inclusive, and want everyone to feel welcome at Daily Jam, and know they are going to enjoy a good healthy meal in a comfortable, fun, lively space.”
The driving force was to bring that Daily Jam vibe from Tempe (which Anthony’s brother discovered and really loved while he was an undergrad at ASU) to Grosse Pointe. The original owners were a family who operated the location for 10 years before selling it to an investment group. Anthony and Dan partnered with that investment group.
“It was a place that my brother always really loved when he was in college, and we wanted to recreate that vibe and bring it here to Grosse Pointe,” says Anthony. The response in Farmington Hills has been really great.
“The goal is to establish another 50-year legacy in Grosse Pointe with Daily Jam,” Dan says.
Future plans are in the works to expand Daily Jam into additional communities around the state.
Daily Jam is at 20710 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods, and open 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. every day. Check out the menu at: www.mydailyjam.com
The vibe is laid back and fun.
The original Daily Jam is located across the street from the historic Hayden Flour Mill in Tempe, Arizona. It was begun by a family who owned and operated it for 10 years, and remains a beloved fixture of the neighborhood to this day.
Fans include Anthony Ansara’s youngest brother, Nick, who discovered Daily Jam while he was a student at nearby Arizona State University. Nick told Anthony, who checked it out when he came to visit. Anthony liked it so much that he and his childhood friend, Dan, partnered with the company that bought the rights from the original owners.
“It was a place that my brother always really loved, and we wanted to recreate that vibe and bring it to Michigan,” says Anthony.
OCTOBER 2ND
Tau Beta Fall Market
Grosse Pointe Club | 6:00 PM
Tau Beta’s annual Fall Market returns October 2–4 at the Grosse Pointe Club, bringing together 22 specialty boutiques from across the country for a vibrant weekend of shopping. www.taubeta.org
Preview Party
Thursday, October 2 6–9 PM — $100 per person (advanced tickets), $125 (at the door)
Market Days
Friday, October 3 9:30 AM–7 PM and Saturday October 4th 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM — $5 per person
OCTOBER 5TH
Carriage House MarketVintage, Antiques & Makers
The War Memorial | 11:00 AM
Spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon with us browsing unique vintage, antique and makers booths. Pick-up a coffee, mimosa or a light snack as you do your shopping on the grounds of the historic War Memorial. This event is free to all. Registration is not required, but is recommended at www. warmemorial.org/eventcalendar11/ carriagehousemarket2025.
OCTOBER 9TH
The Helm Gala
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club | 5:30 PM
Join Us for the Take The Helm Gala The 29th Take The Helm Gala is on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. For questions, please contact Liz Johnson at 313-649-2104 or mejohnson@helmlife.org. A SELECTION OF
OCTOBER 11TH
Gilda's ClubBras for a Cause
318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI 4806 | 6:00 PM
We hope you will join us for our 17th annual Bras for a Cause, back at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. Breast cancer survivors, bras turned into art created by local artists and exciting entertainment are all showcased at our annual inspiring event. www.axs.com
OCTOBER 14TH
The Power of Pink
The War Memorial | 11:00 AM
Join us for an afternoon bringing awareness, education to breast cancer and access to women's health resources available in our community! Mobile mammograms will be available on-site from 9 AM - 4 PM on event day!
OCTOBER 22ND
Grosse Pointe Public Library Books & Bubbles
The Grosse Pointe Library | 6:30 PM Starts Wed Oct 22 2025, 06:30pm EDTEndsWed Oct 22 2025, 10:30pm EDT. www.gplf.org
OCTOBER 25TH
Little Goblins
Ford House | 11:00 AM
Calling all Little Goblins! Enjoy trick-ortreating stops, photo ops, and a hauntfree wagon ride. www.fordhouse.org
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