Arts & Entertainment
THE BEST OF EVFRYTH1NG

Isn't It Grand!

The choices never end at Southfield's Grand Chinese Buffet.

T

he difference
Always among the big-
between a Chinese
gest features, cleanliness,
buffet and oth-
is very prevalent at Grand
ers is often looked upon as
Buffet ... Even its wide
only the food selection ...
see-through sneeze bars
However, if it is of ample
over the food, are spot-
size, a good Chinese buf-
lessly clean ... Choices are
fet restaurant is more often
prepared in three kitchens
able to offer much further
and, before being cooked,
Danny Raskin
amounts of selections than
are stored in three large
Senior Columnist walk-in refrigerators.
numerous other cultures.
This and the fact that
That Grand Buffet is a
Chinese choices have continued to
high choice for families as evidenced
increase in size from the days when
by the attention to wants of children,
modern styles of buffet developed in
who can even join their parents in hav-
France during the 18th century.
ing pizza along with ice cream selec-
Today, many Chinese buffets like
tions.
Grand Chinese Buffet on the northwest
The striking booths and tables, shiny
corner of Telegraph and 10 Mile, Tel-
slip-proof floors, dark wood chairs,
Ex Shopping Center, Southfield, have
etched glass doors even on restroom
added other features to attract com-
entrances, statues and vases, beautiful
plete families ... like sushi, Mongolian
chandelier and wooden floor in the
bar, etc.
buffet area, make up a most pleasant
Sushi at a Chinese buffet is some-
surrounding.
times a little section that is treated as
Customers being given a wide choice
a second cousin ... At Grand Buffet,
and the ability to closely inspect food
however, it is presented with a large
before selecting it gives Grand Buffet
choice made fresh daily by a trained
among others, a most effective popu-
sushi chef.
larity.
In fact, none of the selections in
RESTAURANT NUMBER 11 in Joe
Grand Buffet's seven large buffet tables
Vicari's local chain will be the only one
is used other than the same day food is without Andiamo attached to its name
prepared.
... His recent acquisition of Mesquite
This is the previous location of the
Creek in Clarkston, is projected to open
smaller and less attractive King Buffet,
the last week in January, following
which has been completely gutted and
remodeling, in joining his Andiamo
is now a much larger operation that
Restaurant Group ... But the Andiamo
includes part of the former Tel-Ex
designation won't be totally forgotten ..
Theatre.
The restaurant's carryout area will be
Grand Buffet is family-run with
called Andiamo To Go.
experience by Xiv Zhu Wang and her
BEST BUYS DEPT.... And not for
uncle, Qian Hui Chen, who took over
just a week ... Any of the eight truly
in March 2006 and added the likes of
gourmet three-course lunches now
amply stocked sushi and Mongolian
Monday through Friday at highly
bars, with the total restaurant capacity
upscale Tribute Restaurant, 12 Mile,
now for more than 180 people.
east of Orchard Lake Road, Farmington
It is open seven days for all-you-
Hills ... Including soup (corn chowder
can-eat lunch and dinner ... Sunday-
or Hubbard Squash bisque), or salad
Thursday, 11-10; Friday and Saturday,
(arugula or mixed greens), handsome-
11-10:30 ... Lunch, Monday-Saturday
ly-selected accompaniments, coffee, tea
including steak, salmon, coconut
or lemonade, $20 ... (Roasted chicken,
shrimp, sushi, salads, pepper steak,
grilled bistro steak, roasted salmon,
etc., is $6.50 adults, 10 and under 60
grilled whitefish, steamed mussels,
cents per age ... Dinner, Monday-
braised beef short rib, etc.).
Thursday, with crab legs, sushi, New
MAIL DEPT.... "We enjoy your
York steak, salmon, frog legs, prime rib, Detroit Jewish News column and use
coconut shrimp, etc. is $9.99 adults, 11
it as a basis for dining out choices.
and younger 70 cents per age (Friday
One thing I've noticed is that you don't
and Saturday and all day Sunday,
mention noise volumes when you
$10.99 adults, children 11 and younger review upscale restaurants. I find that
80 cents per age).
while I enjoy the food in a number

of restaurants, the noise level is so
loud that the evening becomes a very
unpleasant experience. My dining
companions often feel the same way
because the high noise level impedes
or, in some cases, entirely precludes
normal conversation. We do not return
to these restaurants and advise our
friends not to go there either?' ...
Michael Kasky, Grosse Pointe.
THE ABILITY OF getting danc-
ers on the floor and guests involved
in the festive frivolity is an important
asset of a good events band ... Ones
like Simone Vitale's musical aggrega-
tion and Mel Ball and Colours come to
many minds ... Handling crowds, too,
plus satisfying their various whims, are
top skills ... There is a lot to say about
groups like these ... and it is all good.
NO MORE EXCUSES by another
organization using the same date for
their event ... Or worrying about the
unpredictable September weather ...
Or wishing for a little more time to
sleep.
New date of the annual Walk of
Ages by Jewish Home and Services
will be Sunday, May 6, 2007 ... Since
May's weather is usually good, the
date change is much for the bet-
ter, and the walk at the Eugene and
Marcia Applebaum Campus of West
Bloomfield's Jewish Community Center
will start later in the morning, too.
Last year's Sept.10 Walk of Ages
brought a large crowd and not splitting
attendance with another group this
year should bring a record amount of
walkers.
SHORT NOTES ... Pi restaurant,
formerly Excalibur and Caffe Milano,
has finally reopened under its new
ownership ... Sweet Lorraine's Cafe &
Bar in Southfield, will open for break-
fast Monday, Feb. 5, first time since
being unwrapped 25 years ago
CONGRATS ... To Bea Freud on
her 88th birthday ... To Larry Harwin
on his 65th birthday ... To Harold
Podolsky on his 90th birthday ... To
Sam Cascade on his 95th birthday ...
To David Seidman on his 99th birth-
day ... To Marc Harwin on his 34th
birthday ... To Elisa Harwin on her
birthday. Li

271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
248.258.0212

SUNDAY 12 5
MON DAY—SATUR DAY 10-6
THURSDAY 10-9

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Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

Januar t 18 2007

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