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A 50-year association between a chef and a winery will be celebrated.
"Oakland Grill getS wows for
class act," — Observer 6? Eccentric
"Our meal at Oakland Grill was
exceptional and it left us talking
about our food all weekend long.!'
— Oakland Press
EVERY
1 11 UR- S . D1AY
32832 Woodward ► Royal Oak
(Jusf soufh of 14 Mile Rd.)
OPEN LUNCH & DINNER DAILY
DANNY RASKIN
Local Columnist
I
t'll be a 50-year celebration with
gourmet food and fine wines,
but actually a tribute to some-
one whose culinary expertise
still brings many memories of won-
derful dining experiences.
Chef Aldo Ottoviani was the first
restaurateur to introduce Charles
Krug wines in the Michigan area ...
and his 50-year friendship with Peter
Mondavi Sr., president and CEO of
the winery, is recognized.
The event will be 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20, at Andiamo
Italia on 14 Mile Road, between
Mound and Van Dyke, in Warreh.
For the occasion, Peter Mondavi Sr.
selected six methuselahs (giant 15-liter
bottles) and 10 jeroboams (10-liter
size) that have been sent to Andiamo.
Since wines must settle in perfect
atmospheric conditions before being
served, the bottles are safely in Andi-
amo's temperature-controlled wine
cellar.
Wine from the methuselahs will be
poured at the dinner ... and the jer-
oboams, previously signed by Peter
Mondavi Sr. and signatured at the
dinner by Aldo, will be auctioned off
by Ed Jonna.
They are from very rare vintages
- which produced only 70 to 80 of
these giant bottles.
Peter Mondavi Sr., age 88, rarely
travels, but is coming to Andiamo
Italia as a favor to Aldo.
Sons Peter Jr. and Marc, who have
played major roles in winemaking
since the early 1980s, and also met
Aldo at his restaurant 50 years ago,
will accompany their father.
Specialty dishes by chefs Aldo has
trained from each of the Andiamo
restaurants will be included in the six-
course meal ... along with the six
Charles Krug wines.
In the world of music, :there are
few better than Johnny Trudell and
his orchestra ... Johnny's musical
magic is noted nationwide ... with
many "name" acts appearing in this
area insisting upon him as their back-
up band ... Johnny, his orchestra, and
special guest vocalist Chriss Scinta of
the Scintas, will entertain.
Price is $125, with part of the pro-
Jimmy Nederlander in New York,
ceeds used for scholarships at
learning the business before going out
Macomb, Oakland and Schoolcraft
on her own ... She has since brought
colleges.
much credit to the wonderful Neder-
Aldo's wonderful Italian restaurant
lander theatrical family name.
that opened in 1950 used to be
AN ITEM IN Nation's
on Kelly Road ... Almost 40
Restaurant News' popular
years later, he retired ... until
Side Dishes column comes
eight years ago when Joe Vicari
from Tel Aviv, Israel, and is
lured Aldo out of retirement
titled, "Finally, a cafe where
and brought him to Andiamo
you're never too full for
Italia.
dessert" ... "Some people,"
Today, Aldo is head chef of
the article says, "simply have
all Joe Vicari's fine Andiamo
too much time on their
restaurants.
hands.
About those rare jeroboams
"But you have to give
D ANNY
of wine being auctioned off
Swiss
chef Phillipe Kaufman
RASKIN
May 20, and the methuselahs
an W for originality for
Loca 1 Columnist
being served ... They probably
opening Cafe Ke'ilu here —
could have flown here them-
Cafe Make Believe, for
selves ... Surely they must have wings
readers who don't speak Hebrew. At
and a halo.
Kaufman's new establishment, diners
AS PRODUCER of The Diary of
pay $3 during the week and $6 on
Anne Frank, her first on-Broadway
Fridays for the privilege of ordering
production, Amy Nederlander Case,
absolutely nothing.
daughter of localizes Betty and Fred
"That's right, gourmands. Kaufman
Nederlander, has been nominated for
serves diners plates full of nothing,
a Tony Award in a revival category.
and he argues that his concept will fly
It's Amy's first time up for a Tony
because people don't come to trendy
... She began producing nine years
restaurants to eat. 'People come to
ago, with her first show, Nunsense in
cafes to be seen and to meet people,
California.
not for the food and drink,' manager
Amy used to work for Uncle
Nir Caspi told the Associated Press.
"Cafe Make Believe may like-
ly be the most unusual site on
>74g:..Tv.R.Fu"
the city's Shenkin Street, already
a happening place for hip
Israelis. Kaufman said that if the
concept succeeds, he'll open a
unit in New York City.
"Personally, Side Dishes does-
n't believe that anyone who is
anyone in New York would be
caught dead in a place that
charges only $3 for anything."
IT WAS IN 1985 that a staff
reporter for the Wall Street Jour-
nal wrote about the Coach
House in New York being
awarded four stars, its highest
rating, by the New York Times
food critic ... Then one Friday,
she said, the paper published a
scathing review that found fault
with nearly every aspect of the
restaurant, from stale butter and
erratic service to the legendary
black-bean soup "served without
Aldo Ottoviani: 50-year tribute.
a hint of Madeira."