• II II • • • • • • • Arts Entertainment The Best Of Everything S IT LI,1 r Celebrity Showroom S S S Flavorful And Pungent S • • • S • 0 S S S India Kitchen offers south Indian-style cooking. AL MARTINO Sat., Sept. 30 • S • S S • S • • S S S S DON ICKLES S Wed., & Thurs., Oct.25 & 26 • • 0 S S • • S S • • S S Celebrity Showroom J14 8/25 2000 88 4111 • 7096 East Fourteen Mite Road (Between Mound &Van Dyke) (810) 268-3200 T Seating is for 150 in the seven-day- he terminology "Indian a-week operation ... Monday- food" takes in dozens of Thursday, 5 to 10; Friday and diverse cuisines ... A robust Saturday, 11 to 11 and Sunday, 11 to Kashmiri-style roghan josh 10 ... Besides the regular menu on (lamb cooked in a thick tomato and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there is a pepper sauce) for example, is as differ- brunch that includes seven entrees from which to choose, 11:30 ent from a southern India to 4 p.m. masala (potato-stuffed dosa, a India Kitchen opened on very thin, lightly-fried pan- Nov. 24, 1999 ... and is cake) as pizza is from Irish owned by Rani Ganesan and stew. husband Ganesan Subnadiu India's Hindu population is ... In India, when a women predominantly vegetarian or marries she takes her hus- semi-vegetarian ... and band's first name as her last although the Sikhs and name. Muslims in northern India see DAN NY General manager is Bala no reasons to forgo meat, RAS KIN Ramasamy, Rani's brother. many Hindus do so for reli- Local Columnist She came to Detroit from gious reasons ... Generally India in 1977 and received speaking, the further south her master's degree in biology • you travel, the more vegetarians you from Eastern Michigan University ... find. and loves to cook ... Bala is a corn- In West Bloomfield, India Kitchen merce (business) graduate but handles in the Drake-Summit Shopping the Indian dining action with a Center, on Drake just south of Walnut knowledgeable hand. Lake Road, specializes in south Many of the dishes served at India Indian-style cooking ... although it has Kitchen are from recipes their mother, southern and some northern dishes on Rukmani Ramasamy, made for Rani the menu ... There is no beef, though and Bala at home in Madras. ... just chicken, lamb, shrimp, turkey Best-selling item on the menu is fish and vegetables. Chicken Chettinadu (chicken with The flavor of southern Indian cook- black-pepper sauce) ... Among other ing seems to be a bit more flavorful ... Indian dishes that no other restaurant and pungent ... This is probably makes or has is Panuppa Urandai . caused by the different spice tastes with spices coming from Madras, the capital of Tamil, a province in South India. Indian food in itself is not AU sie n.4 generally spicy ... It is pre- R. :51%;;: s . pared however one wants it ... mild, medium, spicy or even extra spicy ... depending on one's taste and tolerance ... All food prepared at India Kitchen is fixed fresh when ordered ... not sprinkled with spices after being cooked. Another fallacy is that the curry in Indian cooking makes it so very spicy ... It's not the curry, but what it i s mixed with ... Red chili pep- per, for example, is consid- ered the hottest spice .. Mixed with curry, it is a tongue burner ... India Kitchen makes its own curry. Bala Ramasamy and Rani Ganesan of India Kitchen n ng Gu o e AUBURN HILLS Lelli's of Auburn Hills, 885 Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills, (248) 373-4440.The second of traditionally fine Italian ristorantes is located across from the Pontiac Silverdome. Besides elegant surroundings, it features the same excellent food served by the Lelli fami- ly since 1939. Reservations are accepted for any evening except Saturday. BERKLEY Sila, 4033 W. 12 Mite Road, Berkley, (248) 548-3650.There is nothing like a consistent- ly dependable neighborhood family restau- rant.The Italian and American menu is one that evokes much confidence in casual din- ing.The chicken, ribs. round and square piz- zas, fish, salad, pasta, etc. are served seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Everything is also available for carry-out. BLOOMFIELD HILLS Steve's Deli, 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, (248) 932-0800. Award- winning chicken soup is featured.Also serv- ing corned beef, fresh roasted turkey, sand- wiches, salads and traditional dishes. Party trays and catering too at this New York- style deli. Carnegie Deli cheesecake and Steve's Brownies are among the desserts. FARMINGTON HILLS Bangkok Sala Cafe, 27903 Orchard Lake Road, Orchard-12 Plaza, Farmington Hills, (248) 553-4220.Tropical and tradi- Aionai Thai dishes are served from the over-50 items of freshly prepared lunch and dinner dishes, including vegetarian and children favorites. Open seven days a week for:dine in and carry-out. Orchard Lake Road, -1122. Middle- fiel&*6 y Hassan Bazzi, u ;Original Sheik in specials at lunch rryout with catering 9r service. n; 3243 I Farmington Hills, 4455.The wide variety of spe- s are together with a complete menu of charbroiled or rotisserie chicken for both dining in the 40-seater area, and carry-out, seven days a week. Soups, chili, sal ads and side dishes are homemade. omemade are the popular cookies townies. Marvelous Mechanical Orchard Lake Road, (248) 626-5020. One mag- I*I' aiffiere ,was no place like it in ountrThe Guinness Book of Records tured its accomplishments. Lunch and available with table seating vick,o, games, antiques, nostalgic \10003, flying miniature airplanes, entertain- - '.ttractions, pinball machines, etc. It is en seven days a week. NG GUIDE on page $8