The Best Of Everything

Finding The Sweet Life'

La Dolce Vita restaurant is one of Detroit's hidden treasures.

This combined with a delightful
Mercuzzio, baked and served
U mess you knew
array of expertly prepared food gra-
with cream, white wine, sun-
where it was or had
ciously served makes for a pleasant din-
dried tomatoes and kalamata
been there before,
ing experience.
olives ... The prime rib is a
chances were that
Thankfully, La Dolce Vita can now
big favorite, slow roasted with
it might have been a bit diffi-
be found with little difficulty ... as it
herbs from LDV's garden ...
cult to find ... even though on
easily joins the list of Detroit's hidden
and the roasted boneless duck
one of Detroit's main thor-
cuisine treasures.
served with a sherry wine
oughfares.
THE SMOKE AND FIRE alarm
reduction of carrots, onion,
There was no sign in front
DANNY
went off in one of the crowded dining
fennel and dried cherries.
... and entrance is in the back
RASKIN
rooms ... and drew a multitude of
Smoked salmon ravioli is a
... off an alley.
Local Columnist choice dish, prepared with
applause for the waiter and bus gent
However, once found,
who stopped it by fanning with a cloth
fresh pasta pillows that are
returning was usually an
napkin.
filled with smoked
almost assured bet because of its food,
It made for one
salmon and cheese
service and ambiance.
of the festive hap-
served
on
a
light
But as of recently, there is a sign cur-
penings ... and
rently in front ... It just says "LDV" but lemon cream sauce
there were many
with
fresh
tarragon.
along with a good landmark maroon
... as 10-year first-
La Dolce Vita's
awning, La Dolce Vita is now much
rate and person-
hours
are
Tuesday-
easier to find ... on Woodward, corner
able Mario's
Friday lunch, 11-3;
of Cedarhurst ... three blocks north of
Detroit waiter,
dinner Tuesday,
6 Mile.
Shannon Sawyer,
Wednesday,
Thursday
The entrance in back is through a
flamed Cherries
and
Sunday,
5:30-10
beautiful outdoor patio ... and into an
Jubilee tableside
and until 11 on Friday
interior of gracious continental styling
for Dr. Marshall
and Saturday ... There
with a charming Old World allure.
and Dee Shapiro
is
also
a
Sunday
One side is separated by a low brick
... Then went off
brunch,
11-3,
featur-
wall with open arches that divides the
aaain••• and drew
ing
live
jazz
entertain-
room into a bar area with 14 stools and
more applause as
ment.
its dining room ... Seating for lunch
the busperson
- The Kathy Kosins
and dinner is 104.
waved his trusty
Trio with Kathy, the
La Dolce Vita was bought in 1995
napkin ... while
late Benny Kosins'
by former food broker Enrico Rosselli,
Shannon flam-
daughter,
backed
by
a
and features executive chef Pino Urso,
beed Bananas
is
piano and
who worked with wonderful maitre d'
Foster at another
Thursday,
Friday
and
Joseph Calemme at the River Bistro in
table.
Saturday
evening.
Detroit ... Pino's culinary expertise at
Little if any
Enrico's
wife,
the original Luciano's on Van Dyke and
Enrico
Rosselli
of
La
Dolce
Vita
complaints
for the
Denise, makes all the
then the present one on 17 Mile and
evening ... Oh,
breads
and
desserts
...
Garfield, both in Macomb County, has
the few might
and La Dolce Vita
been highly noted.
have been there ... Always is on New
on the coffee served ... tak-
prides
itself-
Best sellers on the menu would be
Year's Eve, no matter how trivial ... But
ing the raw coffee bean and doing its
Dolce Vita's veal dishes with fine
impeccable service and excellent food ...
own
roasting.
Provimi veal that does so much in mak-
usually a hard combination to come by
Also of note is the absence of cans
ing them taste even better ... But per-
and a microwave oven ... Roselli frowns on New Year's Eve ... couldn't have
haps a bit higher on the customer
been better.
on both ... And the presence of low-fat
choice list is the filet stuffed with
The two dining rooms Nvere packed
Piedmontese beef for his house filet ...
herbed goat cheese and topped with
fun spots ... with large Jewish atten-
which is the only steak regularly served
scampi ... Closely following is LDV's
dance among the festive revelers ... The
... sauteed with mushrooms, sun-dried
signature dish, an excellent seafood
Charlie Hill group played in one and
tomatoes and red wine.
pasta.
Ronnie Shandel and combo in another.
Dean Cicala, Enrico's general manag-
Other than its regular menu are spe-
Mario's has had many fine New Year's
er is no stranger to the local area ... for-
cials that tickle the palate with joy ...
Eve galas throughout the years ... but
merly general manager at Joey's On
fine examples of Chef Urso's culinary
few could top this one ... with numer-
Jefferson ... Before that he owned his
prowess ... like Orange Roughy Dolce
ous other folks also enjoying shuttle to
own steakhouse in Sedona, Ariz., about
and Amarone ... broiled with a sweet
the various downtown venues ...and
90
miles
north
of
Phoenix.
and sour sauce, sweet sherry, slight
then back to Mario's for a wonderful
The intimacy, soft-lighted atmos-
cream and a fish stock ... or Salmon
New Year's Eve dinner and more fun.
phere brings a relaxed feel.

1/16
2004

48

PRACTICING FOR THEIR bar
mitzvahs took a one-day backseat to
busing tables for one day.
That's when young gents of the 13
Under Cobras traveling baseball team
recently worked from noon to 2 p.m.
while the restaurant was normally
closed ... at Outback Steakhouse in
West Bloomfield.
The youngsters sold 200 tickets to
friends, relatives and teachers ... and
raised $3,000, almost double what was
expected by the 10.
They were to be given a certain per-
centage, but Outback's Special Events
budget was able to donate even more to
the youngsters.
The $3,000 went into the team cof-
fers for uniforms, rental of indoor prac-
tice facilities, etc.
Jeff Levine is team manager.
RUMOR DEPT ... It's true that the
former Meating Place, Treats, Buster's
Bay, Jake's On the Lake locale, Orchard
Lake Road and Pontiac Trail in
Orchard Lake, gill become another
restaurant ... Name will be Orleans
Grill.
HAD TO BE something major for
them to close their restaurant ...
Business has been better than ever.
A severe water problem caused by a
blockage in the sprinkler system has
temporarily closed Sposita's Italian
Ristorante, 14 Mile between
Farmington and Orchard Lake roads in
West Bloomfield.
Estimated time of closure is said to
be around three-to-four-weeks to repair
and replace flood damage.
With all the trouble, main concern of
owners Joe and Lois Sposita and man-
ager son Tony was that their loyal cus-
tomers would not be too inconve-
nienced.
TYPO, ERRATA, ETC. Dept. ...
Big sorry to a swell gal ... Correct name
is Mona Rappaport ... not Mona
Solomon as errored in last week's col-
umn..
KORN KORNER ... Jesus and
Moses decided to play 18 holes of golf.
Moses takes the honors on the first
tee, hits a nice drive about 220 yards
down the middle.
Then Jesus steps up. It's a wicked
slice, over some trees into deep rough.
But as the ball rolls to a stop, a bird
picks it up, carries it over the fairway,
drops it in a pond where it hits a fish
on the back, bounces out of the water
and up onto the green, rolls to a stop
and then gets nudged into the hole by
a passing frog.
Moses turns to Jesus, "You here to
play golf," he asks, "or just screw
around?!" Li