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Culinary superstars light up Flavors of Michigan benefit.

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OTPOURRI
The head wizard couldn't
make it, so he sent his represen-
tatives, 22 culinary wizards to whip up
some food magic for the 240 attendees
... It was the Third Annual Flavors of
Michigan presented by the American
Liver Foundation, Michigan Chapter, at
Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn.
Another remarkable one-of-a-kind
evening that easily ranks among the fin-
est charitable events in this region, this
year's Flavors of Michigan again featured
the state's finest chefs, 22 this year, who
prepared a five-course dinner for the 10
guests chosen to sit at their table, enjoyed
along with appropriate wine accompani-
ments.
The committee of Suzanne Gilson,
chairperson; Peggy Goldberg, silent auc-
tion chairgal; Julie Feldman, Linda Carver,
Anita Fontana, Bonnie Moonka, Stacey
Neece and Colleen Wilberding, did another
magnificent job, with over $60,000 raised
to help provide research, education, etc., in
fighting and preventing liver disease.
Chefs like Don Yamauchi, Tribute; Jerry
Nottage, Seldom Blues; Tom McKinnon,
5ive Restaurant; Jim Barnett, Rugby Grille;
Mark Pautuk, Carl's Chop House; Jeremy
Grandon, Jeremy's; Mark Kelly, Mosaic; etc.
... Executive Chef David Viviano of the
Grill at Ritz-Carlton, along with his help-
ers from the Ritz, whipped up an excel-
lent array of gourmet preparations from
their individual gas grills for our table
with Margaret and Andy Prentice (Matt
Prentice's mom and brother), Carey Bird,
Ron Hoffman, Chuck and Susan Gaidica
The chefs, who gave their time, talents and
food for the occasion, also made the deli-

cious gourmet hors d'oeuvres
that were constantly passed.
Quite a unique affair indeed
... and a sellout this year ...
Only question remains
What can American Liver
Foundation, Michigan Chapter,
do for an encore? ... Don't
know how it can be any better,
but Suzanne and her commit-
tee will come up with some-
thing, for sure.
AWAITED OPENING of Pei Wei Asian
Diner, P.F. Chang's little brother, has been
shoved forward a month ... New date
is slated to be in early August instead of
September ... on the corner of 14 Mile
and Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills.
NEW AL'S FAMOUS Deli by Al and
Debra Winkler, is scheduled to open the
middle of July ... It will be on Woodward,
south of 14 Mile, Royal Oak, at the former
locations of Stan's Deli and Spanky's Deli.
ANOTHER POPULAR local restau-
rant links up with the many that are fast
becoming entirely smoke-free ... Buddy's
of Farmington Hills on Northwestern
Highway has now joined the ranks.
GOOD WAITRESS DEPT. ... Kim
Miller, remembered by many as the wait-
person everyone seemed to ask for dur-
ing her 30 years at London Chop House,
Topinka's Country House, Excalibur and
John Laffrey's, is still satisfying customers
at Como's Restaurant, Ferndale.
WHEN IT OPENED in 1987, Gratzi's
location on Main Street, Ann Arbor, was
recalled as the former Orpheum Theater
that showed popular movies in the 1930s
... The elegant decor is still retained at
Northern Italian Gratzi restaurant, owned

by Mainstreet Ventures, soon to
celebrate its 20th anniversary.
WHERE THEY ARE
DEPT. ... Community-ite
Todd Rones, former owner
of Intelligent Chicken on
Northwestern, Farmington
Hills, is now general manager
of the T.G.I. Fridays on Ford
Road in Canton.
MAIL DEPT. ... "My friend
and I recently ate at a [local]
restaurant. The bill came to $25.28, which
I authorized on my debit card. I wrote in
the amount of the bill only on the charge
slip because we left a cash tip. I checked
my account the next day and found I had
been debited $29.07 out of my account.
I immediately called the restaurant and
the manager tried to tell me that all res-
taurants automatically add a 15 percent
tip, the exact amount of the overcharge.
I informed him that I have used my card
at many restaurants and never have I had
this happen. He got upset when I wouldn't
buy his explanation and accused me of
`screaming' at him, which I did not. I
merely stated that he was trying to bull
me and I wasn't buying it. He then offered
to give me my money back, to which I
responded that I should not have to go
back into that restaurant to retrieve a $3.79
overcharge. Not only is this unethical, but I
do believe it is fraud:' ... Jo Randazzo.
IF HE SENDS over what looks to be
a folded "$100 bill" to pay for your meal,
laugh it off ... When unfolded, it turns
into David Rosenman's business card.
READER WANTS to know where he can
get banana popsicles ... And who you folks
think has the best chocolate cream pie.

MAKING ROUNDS ... To Boneyard,
West Bloomfield, for barbecued lamb ribs
... To Tribute, Farmington Hills, for its
3-course lunch, $20 ... To Hunter House,
Birmingham, for yummies close to sliders
and cheeseburgers of yesteryear.
THEY MADE A promise to themselves
that the Russian community of Detroit
will be responsible for the purchase of
an ambulance for Israel ... And so the
money was raised, with Tamara and
Eugene Friedman opening up their home
in Bloomfield Hills last week to help raise
the necessary funds for an American Red
Magen David ambulance with the inscrip-
tion on it, "Donated by former Soviet Jews
of the Detroit area and friends."
THANKS TO column reader Shayna
Levine ... Two former Eastern Michigan
University roommates, 1969-1970, made
rah-rah over dinner after a long absence
of togetherness ... Paula Duke and
Rochelle Mermelstein lost touch with each
other ... Shayna sent Rochelle's e-mail
address at Quicken Loans, hoping she was
the same one that Paula was looking for
... and the former roomies are happily
enjoying many dinners together.
CONGRATS ... To Marty Lederman on
his 70th birthday ... To Faye Benenson
on her birthday ... To Henry Abrams on
his 55th birthday ... To Nancy Pasman
on her 60th birthday ... To Bonnie and
Carolyn Nosanchuk on their birthdays ...
To Leonard and Carol Moss on their 59th
anniversary.
GET WELL WISHES ... To Richard
Kaczander. 1-1

Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

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June 28 2007 45