LISTENING POST
mother
;low 4v4
I BEST OF EVERYTHING I
A Telegraph Road Restaurant
Serves Spanish Cuisine
/chontayne brunch
DANNY RASKIN
Local Columnist
Sunday, May 10
11 a.m to 6 p.m.
17.95
W
PER PERSON
Mother will enjoy her
special day in either our
Grand Atrium, Jacques
Demers restaurant, or
the Woodward Ballroom.
8.95
CHILDREN UNDER 12 -
Our festive buffet includes carved turkey, ham,
lamb with mint jelly, a wide variety of special
salads and a sumptuous dessert table.
We will feature a strolling magician and live
musical entertainment, making this traditional
holiday a lasting memory for the entire family.
Reservations are recommended
350-2000
EMBASSY
SUITES
HOTELS
DETROIT-SOUTHFIELD
28100 Franklin Road, Southfield, Michigan 48034
9
Family Dining
25938 Middlebelt Rd. at 11 Mile Rd. in the Mid-11 Plaza
Farmington Hills I WE SERVE BEER & WINE 1476.1750
DINNER FOR 2
CHICKEN
MARSALA
INCLUDES: • SOUP OR SALAD
• CHOICE OF POTATO
•• MUST
PRESENT • RICE PUDDING OR JELLO
COUPON • COFFEE OR TEA
• BREAD BASKET
• No
SUBSTITUTIONS
Expires 5-15-92
$10.957
OPEN 7 DAYS
MON. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
TUES.-SAT. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m-
SUN. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
M a
iNNOIN
ViS4
FAMILY ITALIAN DINING & PIZZA
"RATED #1 BY THE ONES WHO COUNT-OUR CUSTOMERS"
4033 W. 12 MILE, 3 Blks. E. of Greenfield
Berkley 548-3650
DAILY LUNCH & DINNER SPECIALS
.
F
ON FOOD PURCHASES
OF $6 OR MORE
DINING ROOM, CARRY-OUT
ONLY ONE COUPON PER PURCHASE
COUPON NOT VALUD WITH DAILY SPECIALS OR OTHER COUPONS • Expires 5-31-92
;
hen it was at the
Bennett Courtyard
on Utica Road in
Fraser, folks enjoyed the
Spanish cuisine of Cafe
Madrid and wished it were on
the Northwest or closer in ..
The food and ambiance had a
delightful lure that seemed to
beckon people who were
quick to forget about the
distance when thinking of
Spanish dining.
That wishful thinking
became a reality last Oct. 28
when the favorite restaurant
of so many came to Redford
under a new name.
At the 140-seater Don
Ricardo's on Iblegraph north
of West Chicago, its controll-
ing leaders, Roberto and
Rodolfo Caceres, chefs; Jorge
Diaz, waiter; and Ismael
Duran, manager/maitre d',
bring a lot of Spanish dining
experience to again present
results of much approval.
This is authentic Spanish
from top to bottom, inside and
outside, where the colors of
Spain, red and yellow, adorn
its canopy as flags from all
the Latin-American countries
fly and a yellow sign with red
neon is a welcome sight.
It was formerly a Don
Carlos Mexican restaurant
and fills the bill quite ade-
quately for the needs of
'Roberto, Roclolfo, Jorge and
Ismael, whose courteous and
attentive staff are always so
eager to please.
Besides being very in-
teresting, there is something
about authentic Spanish din-
ing that seems to bring out
the soul of romance in people
. . . But the key is authentici-
ty . . . without this it could be
just another Spanish-style
restaurant . . . and there are
those around.
This is where Don Ricardo's
shines . . . They don't come
too much more bona fide than
this establishment whose
European gourmet presenta-
tions are the genuine thing
. . . Spanish cuisine is big on
sauces and a lot of fish and
seafood . . . But chicken, veal
and tenderloin prepared cor-
rectly are likewise delights of
Spain . . . Also, Spanish food
is very low in cholesterol .. .
. The name Don Ricardo's
comes from two sources .. .
Don is a title of respect in
Spain and Ricardo is the mid-
dle name of one of the
chef/owners, Roberto, from
Barcelona, Spain, whose 14
years of kitchen mastery in-
cluded stints at large
Scotland oil refineries and
European cruise lines . . .
Brother Rodolfo, chef eight
years, was head cuisine artist
at one of Miami's finest
restaurants . . . Jorge brings
14 years as a waiter from
Venezuela and other parts of
South America, plus Miami
. . . Ismael, originally a musi-
cian by trade, plays a Latin-
American guitar and some-
times strolls among the
tables . . . In Mexico City, he
had his own restaurant and a
coffeehouse in Santiago,
Chile, that also combined a
recording studio and concerts.
Being very innovative with
authentic Spanish food is a
large plus because of the
many variations that can be
achieved . . . Don Ricardo's is
a front runner since Roberto
and Rudolfo's expertise is so
adept.
It serves 14 different tapas,
"little dishes of Spain," plus
daily specials in its seven-day-
a-week operation . . . Spanish
wines are a big thing . . . plus
wines of Chile and Argentina
. . . and it makes its own
sangrias.
The decor you see is the
work of Roberto, Rodolfo,
Jorge and Ismael . . . stucco-
type walls (not the kind
where if you sit too close —
oops, there goes a snag) and
the stage built by them .. .
There are posters and pic-
tures around the room, fire-
place behind the stage,
Spanish artifacts, ceramics,
pots and pans, etc., blending
in with the rose-colored table
linens.
All except Rodolfo were at
Fraser's Cafe Madrid . . .
When the spot on Telegraph
was found, he left Miami and
with brother Roberto has
given Spanish authenticity in
cuisine another ring of
dimension.
Enroute to the downstairs
party room area built like a
wine cellar are all sorts of
craftsmanship by them .. .
wine labels from everywhere
in a large montage, the ceil-
ing, ledge.
Don Ricardo's enjoys being
at food festivals when the bot-
tom line is achieved . . . to
raise money for charities.
Friday and Saturday nights
are especially big at Don
Ricardo's . . . This is when six
Flamenco dancers, Maria del
Carmen and Group Espana
put on its lively show as
castanets click in rhythmic
liveliness . . . A piano player
the fellows brought from
Spain embraces the keys
Wednesday
through
Saturday.
Truly authentic Spanish
cuisine is interestingly good
with a taste all its own .. .
Don Ricardo's makes it a
joyful experience.
Congrats . . . to Phil
Dembs . . . on his 65th birth-
day . . . celebrated with sur-
prise party at Ginopolis' by
sons Howard, Gary, Mike and
their wives . . . Who says
Phil's wife Ann can't keep a
secret?
DATE AND PLACE are
now official for the biggie
Woodhull Lake Reunion
which will be thrown open to
everyone . . . It'll be July 25
at Mitch's II . . . $25 check
can be sent to Woodhull Lake
Reunion, 28738 Rockledge,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
. .. For more info, call Sally
Joseph Saginaw, 681-7814, or
Shirley Zack Schram,
Authentic Spanish
cuisine has come
to the west side.
360-0448 . . . A lot of fun and
memories.
YOU WON'T find too many
couples more deserving of
happiness than Marian and
Jay Grant . . . Their life has
been a togetherness thing of
beauty through ups and
downs . . . This is why Jay's
recent 70th birthday celebra-
tion at Mario's on Second
meant so much . . . People
close to this lovely couple
know their life of strength
and were festive with joy at
Jay's simcha.
Marion had saved a long
time to put on the big 70th for
Jay . . . and wanted to do it
with the one word that best
describes their relationship
with each other . . . class.
Son -Barry and Cindy Grant
celebrated their 15th anniver-
sary that evening . . . Ben
Marks and the Shirley
Finklestein he married in
1942, five months before go-
ing into service, will celebrate
50 years in December as Ben
and Shirley Marks . . . Ben
wouldn't have dared to put
catsup on his food at Mario's,
even though he even eats cat-
sup sandwiches at home .. .
Cousins Elmer Raskin and
Dr. Felix Rosenwach
reminisced of 1945 in Panama
when Lt. Raskin had been
there a while after his four-
year sojourn in Europe .. .
Capt. Rosenwach, enroute to
Japan from France, was
recognized by Elmer who in-
vited him to stay at his place