Made from Scratch — The Jonna family knows how to package beverages and food into a sophisticated package. They’ve done it at Ann Arbor’s Vinology for years now, where chef Jim Leonardo has designed upscale fare to match fine wines chosen by the Jonnas. Now the family is branching out a bit with a new spot in downtown Birmingham called the Bird & the Bread. The concept is fun, food-focused dining with great beverages in a casual and family-friendly environment. The southern European menu, also created by Vinology’s Leonardo, places its emphasis on making everything from scratch. Seeking the charm of a French brasserie or an Italian trattoria, Leonardo says his menu features “simple ‘hearth oven’ cuisine with pure flavors and fewer ingredients. Think slow-cooking dishes.” From there it just gets more interesting, including such offerings as grilled octopus, thin-crust pizzas with smoked duck sausage, organic rotisserie meats, mussels and more. Several separate dining rooms are designed for different tastes, with 7,500 square feet of area in total. The Bird & the Bread is open now for dinner (5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sunday), though lunch is scheduled to be offered soon. Drop in at 210 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-203-6600; thebirdandthebread.com.
