Arts & Entertainment
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING
From Hope To Humperdinck
Many celebrities have feasted at Ginopolis' •
S
tanding on the corner of 12 Mile
and Middlebelt in Farmington
Hills, the four-sided clock is
there for a reason other than telling time
... It is a reminder of a loving mother and
father watching over their sons' enterprise
at all times.
Johnny and Peter Ginopolis have carried
on the Ginopolis name with such respect
that the memories of their late dad and
morn, George and Florence Ginopolis, are
held in very high reverence.
Soon, the Ginopolis name will reach
its 40th anniversary in the restaurant
business, joining an elite group in this
attainment ... Since the first day in 1967,
when George, Johnny and Peter took over
Capraro's on Telegraph, it continued as a
successful upward ride for them ... In the
early 1970s, they bought the Monk's Cellar
on 12 Mile in Farmington Hills and ran it
while George operated their Capraro's ...
In 1979, Johnny and Peter bought Oba's
bar on 12 Mile and Middlebelt, changed
the 70-seater's name to Ginopolis' with
hamburgers the feature.
It was the beginning of another opera-
tional anniversary for Johnny and Peter
... They tore down the entire building
and built the present Ginopolis' on the
Grill, with seating for more than 200 in
the dining room, 50 in the lounge bar, 25
bar stools and two banquet rooms with a
capacity of 90 and 30.
The walls at Ginopolis' on the Grill
silently tell of the celebrity-recognized
status it has attained through the years
... with visits from Bob Hope, Rodney
Dangerfield, Frankie Valli, Engelbert
Humperdinck, Dionne Warwick,
Mohammed Ali, Joe Dumars,
Chuck Daly and so many more
national celebrities and local
personalities whose pictures
grace Ginopolis' interior decor.
The 40 years have seen untold
millions of people coming
through the doors of their din-
ing establishments ... Since
1990, when Ginopolis' began
serving the world-famous
Montgomery Inn Ribs, owned
by Uncle Ted "the Rib King"
Gregory, in Montgomery, Ohio, plus res-
taurants in the Cincinnati area, it has been
the No. 1 seller at Ginopolis' on the Grill,
with almost a million-and-a-half pounds
ordered and served ... They are the same
ribs that Frank Sinatra had Johnny and
Peter send to him in Palms Springs, Calif.,
and that Elizabeth Taylor had brought to
her suite at the Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn,
and also took on the plane when she left.
In the 40 years, fish has been a huge
seller, especially whitefish broiled or
grilled, plain or with a pesto sauce; and
salmon, char-grilled or blackened ... Also
lasagna, baked chicken, perch, etc. ...
These items, along with large varieties at
lunch and dinner, continue to be ordered
today with constant satisfaction.
Kitchen hours at Ginopolis' on the Grill,
are Monday-Thursday, 11-10; Friday and
Saturday, 11-11; Sunday, 2-9 ... It also
serves full lines of liquor and beer.
Still with Johnny and Peter from
Capraro's are Nancy Schuchalder, office
manager; Mike Mitchell, night bartender;
Mary Morris, night barmaid; and Cheryle
Berry, waitperson ... Since opening on
12 Mile is Tommy Messa,
evening bartender, with
Executive Chef Chad Humes
coming shortly after.
Ginopolis' on the Grill has
another distinction besides
being a restaurant ... Johnny
had a very unique idea ... to
have a barber and manicure
shop off the lobby ... The
shop has been there 21 years.
Johnny and Peter are the
perfect hosts and a couple of
fine gentlemen ... That Ginopolis' on the
Grill is so successful is a tribute to their
eagerness for customer satisfaction.
GOOD TO HEAR that Luciano Del
Signore, owner and executive chef of
Bacco Ristorante on Northwestern Hwy.,
Southfield, was nominated for the 2008
James Beard Foundation's best chef award
in the Great Lakes region that includes
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS Dept. ...
Soon opening will be a sushi restaurant in
Simsbury Plaza, 14 Mile and Farmington
roads, West Bloomfield ... Recent clos-
ings included the two Rossini's, Haggerty,
West Bloomfield, and Commerce Road,
Commerce Township, and Chef Theodore,
Orchard Lake Road, Orchard Lake.
STILL ONE OF the best dollar-for-dol-
lar food bargains around, Moe's on 10,
Novi, and Moe's on Wixom, in Wixom, are
prime examples of good sound family
dining spots ... Both on the upscale side
with low prices ... Don't miss the chicken
soup that Moe himself makes, or the fish
chowder ... The rice pudding is also a big
favorite, cold or slightly warmed, with rai-
sins on the side.
ONE OF THE BEST, Donna Rosen, is
now catering manager for Matt Prentice at
the Radisson Kingsley Hotel, Bloomfield
Hills ... Donna returns after being with
Matt since 1990 at his former Morels,
Bingham Farms.
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Cuisine,
Lothrup, Detroit, for French dishes like
French turbo or American fare like lobster
bisque ... To Bombay Grill, Orchard Lake
Road, Farmington Hills, for chicken cubes
marinated in Indian and Chinese spices.
ERRATA, TYPO, ETC. ... Name of the
fine executive chef at Tribute, Farmington
Hills, is Richard Travis, not Davis.
GOOD EMPLOYEE DEPT. ... Karrie
Slominski, audiologist at Henry Ford
Hospital, West Bloomfield, efficient and
smiling, with patient caring a prime req-
uisite while receiving her excellent abili-
ties.
DICK PURTAN, radio's longtime won-
derful gentleman, will be this year's grand
marshall for the annual Walk of Ages
by Jewish Home and Aging Services ...
Date has already been set and cleared for
Sunday, May 18.
Zita Kirsch on her
CONGRATS
75th birthday ... To Anita Resnick on
her birthday ... To Blanche Tuchman on
her birthday ... To Jeffrey Weiser on his
birthday ... To Jill and Mitchell Milan on
their 20th anniversary ... To Dennis and
Sharon Green on their ninth anniversary
... To Jack and Alice Arfa on their 50th
anniversary. I
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
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3N
December 6 • 2007
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