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NEWNAN

Wine From The Grapes

Thurs., Fri. & Sat.
Dec. 6, 7 & 8

he Star Spangled Banner gir
with a great holiday show
you won't want to miss!

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Thurs., Fri. & Sat.
Dec. 13, 14 & I S
SOLD OUT DEC. 13 & IS
TICKETS
STILL AVAILABLE
FOR DEC. 141

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And His Orchestra

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4110

6-COURSE
GOURMET
*K DINNER

-

•Champagne Toast
*Party Favors,

$

The Vineyards reaps the rewards
of 16 years of dedication.

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The Best Of Everything

Celebrity Showroom

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sandwiches on the menu ... Now there
ounds like a fairy tale ... but is
are over 100 ... The first sandwich, a
quite real ... and a success story
Cobb rollup, with grilled chicken,
much beyond the norm.
tomatoes, bacon, avocado, Swiss and
, A little over 16 years ago, in
blue cheese, scallions and eggs, sold
the fall of 1985, Vineyards on
about five a day ... Today, over 50 are
Northwestern Highway, between
consumed daily.
Middlebelt and 14 Mile in Farmington
The Cobb rollup was just
Hills, opened with- less than
one
of the huge sandwich
2,000 square feet on the site of
story
successes ... Vineyards at
a former, small, parry store in a
the
time
was lucky to sell 20
ramshackle old building.
sandwiches a day ... Now,
Owners Ron and Maggie
unbelievably so ... it is a slow
Asmar took over the partially
day when less than 500 are
burned edifice ... completely
sold!
gutted it ... and six months
And whoever heard of get-
later, opened with only one
ting
a heart smart-style sand-
thought ... to make a living ...
DAN NY
wich
at the Vineyards? ...
nothing more.
RAS KIN
Today, it specializes in them.
How things have changed
Local Columnist
Back 16 years ago, suppliers
for them ... Not only are they
sold Ron anything he wanted
making a good living ... but
... for cash in advance ... Today, many
continual ambitions of success seem
of them line up to supply his Vineyards
endless.
... at his terms.
That 2,000 square feet is today a
The first year was a lean one for
robust 12,000 ... with the recent
Ron, Maggie and their little Vineyards
takeover of a back store ... in the build-
operation ... Hard work, honesty and
ing that they now own ... That it is
perseverance weren't enough ... They
hardly recognizable is an understate-
had to have some luck too ... It was
ment.
slow in coming, but finally, three years
Difficult to believe, too, that the lit-
after the opening, their hard work, per-
tle beginning has, in 16 years, resulted
severance and luck turned into further
in over 5 million people going through
public acceptance ... Vineyards added
the Vineyards' doors for carry-out,
more space and also became a little cafe
lunch, dinner, trays, baskets, etc. ...
with 50 seats.
That's a lot of people making those
Today, the center booths are gone ..:
beautiful cash register sounds.
except
for a few that have been moved
When Maggie and Ron opened the
to
the
side
window area ... The middle
Vineyards' doors in '85, they had 10

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Szechuan Gourmet, 3951

Telegraph Road, Bloomfield

Township, (248) 988-9333. Much

pride is taken in the extensive menu

offered by this carry-out-only

restaurant. Al items from appetiz-

ers to soups to beef to poultry, lo

and chow mein, sweet & sour dish-

es, noodles, combination plates, etc.

are listed for fresh carry-out.

Steve's Deli, 6646 Telegraph Road,

Bloomfield Hills, (248) 932-0800.

Award-winning chicken soup is fea-

tured.Also serving corned beef, fresh

roasted turkey, sandwiches, salads and

traditional dishes. Party trays and

catering too at this NewYork-style

deli. Carnegie Deli cheesecake and

Steve's Brownies are among the

desserts.

FARMINGTON HILLS

Bangkok Sala, 27903 Orchard

Lake Rd., Farmington Hills, (248)

553-4220. Noted for making its own

traditional Thai cookies and own

style of fried rice, it is a consistent

restaurant with exclusive Thai spe-

cialties among the authentic serv-

ings.

Hong Hua, 27925 Orchard Lake

Rd., Farmington Hills, (248) 489-

2280-True Hong Kong autenticity is

in the dishes not seen anywhere

else.A bit more expensive than

other Chinese restaurants, but a lot

of value that makes the price differ-

ence worth it with exciting prepara-

tions of rare dishes and many not

seen elsewhere.

Vineyards Cafe & Catering, 32418

Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills,

(248) 855-9463.This is a many-faceted

type of operation. Nibbles and Nuts

at the Vineyards, and traditional Jewish

dishes prepared by Shirlee Bloom,

using only kosher products in her

separate kitchen, makes it much more

709 Celebrity Showroom

11/30

2001

88

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6 (Bet
E tS! Fourteen Mite Road

..i68 -3°1 260 •
(810e5u
•••••••••410•0

than just a cafe and catering setup.

DINING GUIDE on page 92