I Arty BEST Fintertainment EVER THING Old Country Cuisine Greektown's Cyprus Taverna celebrates 13 years of stardom. A slice of Detroit history has given the region a coveted place in International dining note. Few towns in America can boast a Greektown such as that in Detroit, where its merchants have contributed so much in monetary and self-effort to the city's preservation. Among those whose authen- tic Greek food continually has copiers scratching their heads in wonderment at the elegant Greek tastes is Cyprus Taverna on Monroe, celebrating its 13th anniversary. Owners Vassos and Eleni Augoustic purchased the former Old Parthenon restaurant in 1992, and opened in May of 1993 as Cyprus Taverna. Together, with one of Greektown's most highly touted executive chefs, Demetrios "Jimmy" Papatriantafyllou, its authenticity is without question as old country recipes are incor- porated into dining offerings with delicious touches of goodness ... Jimmy being among Greektown's best-known personalities is no small reason for Cyprus Taverna's large following and why its food excellence has won so many awards ... Many of his dishes are seldom matched in their authentic goodness, like the spe- cial lamb reganato with its old- country goodness and so tender a knife is hardly needed ... Jimmy marinates the lamb two days and slowly bakes it three hours - ... He is the only one night overflow and that uses kosher salt, private parties ... it is oregano and freshly open seven days a week, ground pepper in its Monday-Th LI rsday and preparation. Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Few chefs can Friday and Saturday, boast of secret 11-4 a.m. ... The preparations similar Fridays and Saturdays to those presented also have an after-hours by him ... Cooking menu that includes in Greektown since sandwiches and appe- 1962, Jimmy, former tizers as well as the co-owner with Gus usual Greek fare. Anton, of New Hellas, takes pride Grinding its own lamb and in the salmon stuffed with mush- doing the butchering itself are rooms, crabmeat, shrimp, etc., admirable restaurant traits, as is which is his own creative work the restaurant's cleanliness. of art. Jimmy's sea bass is among One of the recipes brought Greektown's best, along with back years ago by Jimmy from its lamb chops ... and dishes his home in Makrakomi, Greece, like Cornish Hen with chestnut is for the tasty Kleftikon ... The and pinenut stuffing are choice tender lamb may not be on the orders. regular menu but is a much- Cyprus Taverna is also more requested dish. than just a sit-down restaurant Also not on the menu is anoth- ... It is not known if, when there er large seller, Cyprus Taverna's are 20 or more people, any other Chicken Kapama, a moist, fresh- Greektown restaurant will come ly-cooked delight with mush- to homes, bringing warmers, nec- rooms and wine sauce. essary help if wanted, etc. Among the biggest reasons that Vassos' wife, Ileni, makes many Detroit's Greektown has survived of those desserts served at the these many years is its food ... restaurant, including the yummy Regulars like Joe Vicari, owner of Cyprus Pineapple Cake. the Andiamo Restaurant Group, A Greek restaurant owned by number Cyprus Taverna among Greeks, operated by Greeks and their favorites ... Local personal- boasting an exalted Greek execu- ities and show biz folks appearing_ tive chef, is a highly prized one here also count it as one of their ... In these days of destination Greektown pets. dining and value, an eatery like Downstairs seats about 90, Cyprus Taverna is a treasure to with another 90 available upstairs cherish. for the usual Friday and Saturday RECENT HEAT wave forced "Blue Ging er features the best of Malaysia,I4etnam & Japan." —Danny Raskin, November 26, 2004 Romantica restaurant, Applegate Square, Northwestern and Inkster, Southfield, to close for the day when its air conditioning unit conked out ... Some folks saw a closed sign in the window and passed the false rumor that Romantica had been shut down completely ... Couldn't be further from the truth with its seven- day-a-week operation still doing a big business. ANOTHER RESTAURANT opening by Red Robin, across from Costco at Commerce Crossing, is the continuation of a success story ... The first fran- chised Red Robin restaurant here was in 1993 at Novi Town Center ... and followed in 1994 with one that closed on Maple and Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield ... Today, the local Red Robin fran- chise by the same family num- bers 17, with 16 in Michigan and one in Toledo. REOPENING OF Shiraz steakhouse by Matt Prentice on Telegraph, north of 12 Mile, Bingham Farms, might have been near some sort of record for closing and opening again of the same restaurant ... Morels remains closed. NEW ASIAN VILLAGE, hoping to open this December, will have Raymond Wong, local Chinese restaurant gent, as its operations director ... He'll con- tinue to manage Shangri-La in Orchard Mall, West Bloomfield, on Saturdays and Sundays ... Asian Village will be next to the dannyraskin®sbcglobal.net. BLUE GINGER Jew's Monday-Saturday Lunch Specials RESTAURANT 1 whole sandwich & soup or french fries 11:00 am - 3:00 pm *Try our authentic Bubble Tea (our specialty) Quality casual dining for the entire family *Low-Carb/Low-Calorie Fresh Shrimp Roll 1186 Maple Rd. • Walled Lake *Lunch Specials: $5.95-$6.95 248- 669-8240 Tues-Thurs 11-10 • Fri-Sat 11-11 • Sun 4:30-9 6635 Orchard Lake RI • (in 01(10re lard Mall) 248.737.7918 July 27 • 2006 Danny's e-mail address is Our homemade is really made from scratch! Vietnamese I Japanese I Malaysian 50 Renaissance Center, Detroit, over- looking the Detroit River. MANY MEMBERS of the medical profession, like foot spe- cialist Dr. Michael Salter, are so good at being amateur restaurant food critics that patients listen carefully when the docs tell of dining spots recently visited by them. WHERE THEY Are Dept. ... Simon Rotberg, wine aficionado for many years in this area, now lives in Longmont, Colo., with wife, Marty ... and is still active with vino for parties there and hereabouts. CONGRATS ... To Karen Gordon on her 40th birthday ... To Allen Goldsmith on his birth- day ... To Pearl Marton on her 85th birthday ... To Dr. James Labes on his birthday ... To Elaine Lichtman on her birthday ... To Lauren Kunin on her 11th birthday REUNION DEPT. ... 40th anniversary shindig by Detroit Vernor Elementary and Junior High class of 1966 has been set for Saturday, Oct. 21 ... More info by calling Carole Karbal Blender, (248) 646-1680. SHOPPER'S SPECIAL ... Folks like those sanitary wipes they can peel off at store entranc- es of the Hiller's Markets to wipe the handle of many-times used carts ... A huge health precaution at no charge. 7 iN •Mon-Sat 7-9 •Sun 8-3 • Children's menu • Carryout $3.95 2 choices daily! After 2:00 pm daily 15% OFF Total Bill Not good with any other offer or special e.vp 8/7/06 • 11•3:9;-0