4 Arts & Entertainment THE BEST OF EVERY T ING Slice 0' Pizza, Slice OF Life Jews and Italians bring family know-how to Rossini's restaurant. T wo slices of Detroit Jewish and Italian culinary history bring together four friends as partners in a togetherness restaurant venture. All four companions actively own and operate the new Rossini's Italian Cuisine, Haggerty just north of 15 Mile in the Bloomfield Avenue Shops II, West Bloomfield ... Jeremy and Beth Kahn and Michael and Lisa Jepko. Beth is the granddaughter of the late Julius Pollack, former Michigan dis- tributor for Vienna Products and previ- ous owner of Vienna-Wilno Products here before bossing Vienna Wholesale, now run by Beth's uncle, Marty Cook ... Another uncle of hers, Ben Teitel, owned Mendelson's in South Haven and was a prominent local philanthropist. Michael is the stepson of the late Al Valente, former owner of Ristorante di Maria, La Luna Grancaffe in Birmingham, etc. Al never did let go of his great pizza recipe, after moving his Maria's Pizzeria from across the street and continuing to serve pizza at Ristorante di Maria ... The same recipe is still being used by Michael at Rossini's ... At La Luna, the pizza was brought on a large plate atop an oversized can filled with red peppers ... That is also how it is served at Rossini's ... "We make so many pizzas:' remarks Michael, "that whenever I need red peppers, I have to come into the dining room for them:' All of Al's recipes, many brought over from Italy and passed down from genera- tions, are the basis for food prepared at Rossini's ... Michael is in the kitchen as executive chef, with assistance by Brad Tyler who worked with him for many years. When needed, both Beth and dish of shrimp, chicken, fresh Lisa serve tables plus assum- Italian herbs, spinach and ing other chores ... Lisa also heavy on the garlic, $14.95. makes most desserts, including All dinners include soup tiramisu from the recipe of or salad and pasta (the latter Al's wife, Joyce Valente ... The not with pasta dishes) and peanut butter pie is by Jeremy's bread basket. mother, Rhoda Kahn. Rossini's seats 50 and is When Michael and Lisa open Monday-Thursday, 11- Danny Raskin closed their Villa Maria on 10;Friday and Saturday, 11- Senior Columnist Haggerty and 15 Mile, West 11;Sunday, 11-9. Bloomfield, intending to An Italian restaurant using reopen on Commerce and Green Lake, time-honored recipes is priceless ... Orchard Lake, Jeremy contacted him about Informal ones like Rossini's are the neigh- their going into the restaurant business borhood types that gain much popularity together ... Not only are they partners in with its premises-prepared made-to-order the West Bloomfield Rossini's but also the food, low prices and menu variety and second Rossini's to be on Commerce and flexibility ... As example, the four veal Green Lake. dishes served at Rossini's are plus whatev- Rossini's in West Bloomfield is already er other veal desire a customer may have. receiving plaudits for casual presentations The restaurant togetherness of these four and such good food that many are liken- friends brings a closeness that seems to ing it with the former Ristorante di Maria ooze onto the customers as well ... A fam- ... The fare is all premises-made from ily owned and operated Italian neighbor- fine Al Valente recipes, right on down to hood restaurant is of much value ... And the garlic soup originally made by Joyce. having a special kids menu sector also adds Excellent dishes like the popular spie- to its wide reception as a family restaurant. dini appetizer (layers of bread and mozza- Rossini's is another one of those fine rella dipped in egg wash and sauteed with Italian dining traditions that continues lemon, butter and chopped olives, $5.95). with growing customer acceptance and Among items available but not found satisfaction. on the menu is the fine Veal Maria, medal- NOBODY WANTED to go home ... lion of veal, shrimp, cream sauce, chopped Jumping Ginopolis on the Grill, 12 Mile scallions, bread crumbs, $15.25. and Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, took In high demand is poached Salmon a another huge step toward becoming a la Rossini, sauteed with white wine and favorite jazz spot like those of yester- served over pasta, $11.25. years ... The jazz gigs by Shuffle Play Whitefish filet is topped with seasoned are every Friday and Saturday evening in Italian bread crumbs and baked or can be the Ginopolis Lounge, where other jazz gotten broiled, $10.25 ... Not on the menu musicians come to sit in with the riffing is a much-requested Penne From Heaven quartet ... On this Saturday evening, with MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH 10am 3prn 10 Food Stations Of Our Fabulous PER PERSON Food & Desserts $1495 Children 5 & under Free! leader Don Swindell on vocals and horns and cute Belleville High principal Sheila Brown on drums and vocals, the group was joined by a couple of swinging clari- net stylists and former Stan Kenton drum- mer, Jerry McKenzie ... Folks in atten- dance stomped their feet and rapped their knuckles in rhythmic tempo as Shuffle Play and its guests provided the kind of concert that gives true jazz its good name. MAIL DEPT. ... "Where is the place you wrote about that is serving fried clams like Howard Johnson's had. I worked for Burroughs Corp on Grand River and we used to lunch there once or twice a week and the best food was their fried clams." ... Barry Notarius (All-you-can-eat is at Giorgio's Gourmet Diner in West Bloomfield, every Tuesday evening.) THIS YEAR'S Walk of Ages by Jewish Home & Aging Services Auxiliary, Sunday, May 6, 10 a.m., at the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus, 15 Mile and Drake, West Bloomfield, will have bagels, cream cheese and trail mix after the walk, plus the selling of box lunches that'll include a "big, fat, juicy" kosher hot dog, potato chips, cookie and lemonade at $5 per box. CONGRATS ... To Dr. Harold Roland on his 89th birthday ... To David Sachs on his 56th birthday ... To Steve Richter on his 39th birthday ... To Debbie Ball on her birthday ... To Lizzette and Yossi Benyamin on their 13th anniversary ... To Bob and Elayne Mangen on their 45th anniversary. 7_ Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. BLOOM'S DAIRY & FISH TRAYS to go Free Seven-Layer & Coffee Cake with Every Mother's Day Tray *Please Order Early* Free Complimentary Brunch For The Mothers 80 & Over Good For Dinner With The Family DELI CAFE • CATERING FREE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY ROSE FOR EVERY MOTHER! .41 32418 Northwestern Hwy. • between Middlebelt & 14 Mile • 248.855-9463 • www. ewishCatering.com May 3 2007 49