JNEntertainment Michigan's finest upscale, yet casual American bistro The Best Of Everything Savor the taste that is the talk of the town 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."