OF EV ERYTHING The Taste Of Home Ethiopian restaurant in Southfield is true to its roots. priced pre-fixe lunch and dinner, as Forte on South Woodward, Birmingham, nother misused expression in restaurant language is "home cooking" sends out an important customer-pleasing intent with the new three-course, ... If it is made in a restaurant's kitchen, it sure isn't home cooking ... five-entrée choice lunch Monday-Saturday, 11:30-2 (whitefish, Forte burger, Home-style cooking might be a better way of saying it, even though capellini, turkey club, pan-roasted chicken, $9.95) ... and four-course, four- this too could be a vastly tainted expression. entree choice early evening everyday, 4-7 (whitefish, filet mignon, capellini, Every so often a restaurant will come along with true home-style cooking ... citrus marinated chicken, $19.95) ... Forte's fine, regular, upscale menus are One of them is Taste of Ethiopia, where Jewish-born owner Meskerem also available. (Meskie) Gebreyohannes prepares its food exactly as she did back home in FORMER LOCALITE Sheryll Bellman, author of the recent big seller, Ethiopia America's Great Delis: Recipes and Traditions From Coast to Coast, will sign her This could be a reason why Meskie doesn't blow her own horn about mak- Danny Raskin book for folks on Wednesday, March 15, 6-7 p.m., at Zingerman's on Detroit ing something no one else has ... One item no other can boast of is called Senior Columnist Street in Ann Arbor ... Also that day during Zingerman's 24th anniversary, 7-9 appetizer bread, a delicious Dobo bread that is eaten before meals. p.m. tasting celebration, ($20 for the tasting and, of course, no charge in a Taste of Ethiopia is a small restaurant ... very clean, with seating for just 40 nearby area for Sheryll's signing) ... Zingerman's is listed in the book along ... unpretentiously hidden in the Southfield Plaza, Southfield Road, between 12 with Darbys and Boesky's. and 13 Mile. WHERE THEY ARE ... Sam Locricchio, former Arriva restaurant owner, is now man- Meskie's Ethiopian restaurant experience in Toronto (Blue Nile five years and King aging Benedetto's Italian Ristorante on 15 Mile, east of Hayes, Clinton Township ... He and Solomon two years) is coupled with her back-home knowledge to reveal the unique, Sandra Mandella, warble at Benedetto's Saturday evenings and at Mezzaluna on Metro earthy Ethiopian style of dining that offers an exceptional and exquisite array of flavorful Parkway, Sterling Heights, Friday nights. foods. THE FRIDAY CHICKEN carry-out by Jeffrey Rosenberg at Farmington Hills Catering Ethiopian food is among the healthiest of all ethnic fare ... At Taste of Ethiopia, Meskie of Adat Shalom Synagogue, is going over big, with pickups Fridays only, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.... uses no preservatives and no additives in preparation of its pure, wholesome and nutri- Jeffrey's Italian Buffet is Wednesday, March 22, 6-8 p.m., $18 adults, $8 children (age 8 tious assortment ... I don't know if they had much pure vegetable oil years ago in and under free.) Ethiopia, but it is all Meskie uses here ... No frozen food or from cans either ... She takes REUNION DEPT.... Plans are set for the 20th anniversary shindig of Southfield- great pride in preparing everything fresh. Lathrup class of 1986 ... It'll be Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Dearborn Inn ... Call Melissa Meskie even makes the traditional very low fat (1%) Inerja bread that is used in place Wolf-Litvin, (248) 505-0555, or email tiffo27@aol.com . of utensils (which are available) ... It is a thin, spongy flatbread made from teff, a tiny CONGRATS ... To Shelly Forman on her birthday ... to Esther and Harry Sherberg on grain, that is utilized to scoop the fine Ethiopian food .... The ground teff is mixed with their 60th anniversary ... to Toby Husband on her birthday ... to Eugene Friedman on his water and allowed to ferment, then cooked as one would a pancake. 59th birthday ... to Uri Lenchner on his 60th birthday ... to Harry Lenchner on his 90th In the .center of the small Taste of Ethiopia restaurant are three messobs, hand-woven birthday. wicker hour-glass shapes traditionally used as tables, with wicker covers to keep food READER'S CRITIQUE ... "I have been a longtime Buddy's Pizza fan. I love the food warm. and casual atmosphere. A recent trip to Buddy's with a friend from Chicago was no dif- Taste of Ethiopia is open six days ... Tuesday-Saturday, 11-10; Sunday, noon-8 ... Lunch ferent. As a self-described deep-dish expert, this out-of-town visitor instantly fell - in love buffet only is Tuesday-Friday, 11-2; Saturday-Sunday from the regular menu ... serving with Detroit's original square pizza. specialty dishes like steak tartare tossed in a spiced butter and served raw or medium "The menu at Buddy's is large for both veggies and non-veggies, from soups, salads, rare, $11.50; chipped lean beef or lamb marinated and cooked with onions, garlic, rose- home-style pastas and quality pizzas. We first ordered minestrone and chunky vegetable mary and red wine, $9.75 beef, $10.50 lamb ... Its beef stew, lamb stew and chicken stew, soup. The next course was a Buddy's best-seller, the Sicilian-style pizza, my favorite. On all $7.50, are also taste treats. the first bite, my friend said it was better than any of its counterparts in Chicago. Legumes play an important role as part of an Ethiopian vegetarian meal ... Common "Buddy's pizzas are consistently outstanding. I have never been disappointed in their ones like lentils and green peas can be cooked and eaten as salads, seasoned with chilies quality or freshness. A tasty crust, an original tomato sauce and hand-shredded cheese hid- and ginger, or fried legumes can be ground into flour. ing the pepperoni. No wonder it's regularly voted Detroit's best pizza." — Fred Marx. 1 -1 Ethiopian food is the ultimate in "living off the land" ... and few use its natural food resources better than Meskie Gebreyohannes at Taste of Ethiopia. ADD ANOTHER feather to its highly regarded cap full of successful endeavors ... Low- Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . A SPOSITA'S r RISTORANTE Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! 1'O% OFF TOTAL FOOD BILL (MON-THURS. ONLY) PLEASE PRESENT THIS COUPON TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT! 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