RON CODEN and his trio (with Steve Fava and Ron Blight) are at O'Mara's Restau- rant, corner of 12 Mile and Greenfield, Jan. 10, 11, 17 and 18 ... Show starts at 9 p.m. ... The "Jewish Leprechaun" is a big fa- vorite with a large following for listening and dancing. "LET'S GET THIS taping wrapped up before they eat all the Coneys!" ... With that remark from the boss, the huge wall- sized doors of Studio 4 were thrown open and National Coney Island's 1,000-pound serv- ing cart (umbrella and all) was rolled onto the set. Customer-when-here Tim Allen had invited Tom Giftos, vice-president of National Coney Island Restaurants, and his staff to fly to Burbank, Calif., to serve over 100 members of Tim's cast and crew National Coney Island coney dogs on the set of TV's "Home Improvement." The folks at National Coney Island gladly obliged ... Plus the huge cart and grill, they also shipped 560 all-natural-casing He still has a home in Bever- ly Hills, Mich., and certainly hasn't forgotten his roots ... Tim raved about great tastes of what he called "a home-cooked meal" and enjoyed telling stories about growing up in Detroit. He invited the National Coney Island folks for dinner in the pri- vate dining room of Walt Disney Studios, and offered them his discount in the employee-and- guests-only Disney Gift Shop ... They were his personal guests to watch the live taping of the show "No Place Like Home" that re- cently aired in Detroit. Tim also arranged for them to receive autographed hard-bound scripts from the night's taping and "Home Improvement" base- ball caps that are typically re- served only for the cast and crew. HOLIDAY PARTY by MCF Circle of Fellows to benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute was more lavish splen- dor at a member's home. The gorgeous surroundings of beauty salon owners Heidi and Michael Stein were coupled with the Lebanese gourmet food stylings of Steve Kahlil Sr. of Steve's Back Room, on Kelly Road and on Orchard Lake Road off 14 Mile and Northwestern Highway. His excellent staff of employ- ees graciously and efficiently passed hors d'oeuvres of spinach pie, shrimp, kibbie balls, vege- hot dogs, 50 pounds of their own tarian grape leaves, etc. ... Buf- chili sauce, 210 pounds of fet dinner was poached salmon, chopped onions, 560 Blue Bird rack of lamb, baked eggplant, buns, and two gallons of Red Pel- chicken shawarma, tabbouleh, ican brand yellow mustard (all hummus, etc. ... Desserts of cakes and pastries were galore Detroit-produced products). Just so Tim would feel right ... And second helpings of food at home, the folks at National were many. FIRSTHAND INFO on tech- Coney Island also took with them a few items you just can't niques, recipes and culinary tips get in California ... Vemor's Gin- for all levels of cooks and chefs ger Ale, Ashby's Sterling Mack- is here again ... It'll be the popu- inac Island Fudge ice cream, and lar series of cooking classes by Sanders hot fudge topping. master chefs Milos Cihelka and Tim had been hyping all week Ed Janos plus executive chef Bri- the arrival of "an authentic De- an Polcyn, at whose Five Lakes troit coney dog" and some of the Grill on N. Main in downtown cast began sneaking off the set Milford the series will be held ... Date is Sunday, Jan. 12, 9:30 to dig in. Thom Sharp, a native Detroi- a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ... Contact Ed ter, was on the set playing the for info and reservations, (810) role of Tim's older brother ... He 889-4114 or (810) 887-2418 ... loves Coneys, ate four of them Complete class plus wine and with the works and joyfully culinary discussions with the washed them down with two chefs is $150. THE PLATTERS ... that Vernor's before gulping a large hot fudge sundae. great singing group whose every "We were told ahead of time performance is a Las Vegas high- that some of the cast and crew light, opened last night for three were vegetarians, and that we evenings at the Andiamo Ban- should probably have some tofu quet Center next to Andiamo dogs available" said Tom Giftos. Italia, 14 Mile between Mound "This was a first for us, but thank and Van Dyke ... Four guys and goodness we did it because we agal, starring lead vocalist Son- ny Turner ... "Smoke Gets In went through all 36 in an hour." Tim Allen had a great time Your Eyes," "Only You," "My ribbing the cast and crew about Prayer," etc. the authentic tastes of Detroit Andiamo owner Joe Vicari and how "you just haven't expe- says everything is all set ... and rienced real dining until you've his Andiamo West, former site had a half-dozen National Coney of Machus Red Fox, Telegraph Island chili dogs at two in the and Maple, will hopefully open morning." in April. O. An elegant Greek option for West Bloomfield. WE ARE PROUD TO BRING YOU THE ABSOLUTE FINEST IN GREEK CUISINE .. SERVED BY AN EXCELLENT WAITSTAFF AMID A SURROUNDING OF CONGENIAL LAUGHTER AND ENJOYMENT. OUR LAMB CHOPS AND AWARD-WINNING TOMMY SALAD ... AMONG OTHER FAMOUS GREEK SPECIALTIES ... HAVE BEEN ACCLAIMED AS MICHIGAN'S BEST. 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