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