Arts & Entertainment THE BEST OF EVERYTHING A Dream Fulfilled Innovation and excellence propel Cafe Cortina to near five-star status. R ecently passing the date of its with much development by their its appreciative clientele no 31st anniversary, it is hard to son Adrian who with mother, end ... Like the branzino, believe that there may still be Rina, has given the restaurant somewhat on the order of some people who have yet to hear of this its world-class note. European sea bass, fresh remarkable restaurant. That Cafe Cortina has steadily white truffles utilized mainly Certainly, they are far in the minority grown into one of near five-star in the pasta and risotto and rarely take in folks who consider din- status is due to the continued dishes at Cafe Cortina, being ing out a desired pastime. hard work and devotion of the only Michigan restaurant Rina and the late Adriano Tonon had Adriano, Rina and Adrian, who serving head-on langous- Danny Raskin purchased parcels of land on 10 Mile have carried the torch so admi- tines marinated, grilled and Senior Columnist in Farmington Hills in 1970 after being rably in the restaurant's skyward dipped in an herbed lemon, informed that Interstate 696 was planned rise. olive oil infusion ... A very for the locale ... However, the express- "Much has been written about Cafe popular item among many at Cafe Cortina way was eventually built near 12 Mile, Cortina and the family," says Adrian. "My is the excellent Piedmontese beef brushed instead, and the Tonons were left holding father, the chefs and all the staff over the with truffle butter. an almost empty bag ... But they had a years are only second to my wonderful Throughout the years, Metropolitan dream and were hellbent to make it come mother, Rina. She is the reason why we are Detroit has been blessed with many true regardless of banks and people saying so successful. She has endured great loss of the nation's finest restaurants ... they had ridden on the wrong track. in her life, and when many would put their When food writer, author and recog- So when Dec. 21, 1976, rolled around, heads down, mother rolled up her sleeves nized father of American gastronomy the doors of their new Ristorante Cafe and dedicated herself to this business. James Beard once made his statement Cortina, 10 Mile just east of Orchard Lake She is a role model, a leader, a magnifi- of Detroit being a premier culinary city, Road, were opened ... Since then, as Cafe cent businesswomen, an amazing mother, Cafe Cortina hadn't yet been born ... If Cortina's culinary reputation continually friend and true restaurateur in every sense Beard were alive today, he would eas- gathered steam, customers from all over of the word." ily rank it among the country's tops ... the world have come to dine at Rina and Cafe Cortina has received such acclaim Truly a magnificent credit to an amazing Adriano's dream ... In fact, the number of that it has become old hat for Chef Jeffrey and wonderful family, whose mother and customers who have enjoyed the gastro- Hoffa and his staff to fulfill the wishes of son have taken Ristaurante Cafe Cortina nomic excellence has reached well over a customers for dishes they have enjoyed far beyond the "romantic dining" reputa- million people. elsewhere in the world if ingredients are tion into an upper echelon of outstand- Adriano passed on in February 1993, on hand ... Adrian estimates that almost ing cuisine. but not before still another fervent ambi- 200,000 pounds just of homemade pasta GOOD WAITRESS DEPT. ... From tion had also been achieved ... Cafe (gnocchi, tagliatelle, ravioli) not includ- Gerald Manko ... about Karen Fisher, Cortina followed the idea of Rina's mother, ing already prepared, has been sold, plus who has been serving two generations Tina Bisilico, who with her husband, about 300,000 pounds each of veal, steak at Embers Deli on Lahser and Maple ... Gaetano, had a vegetable garden years and fish. "Karen has been at Embers for over 20 ago by their Rina's Pizzeria on Schaefer in The award-winning restaurant's acco- years, stopping just long enough to have Detroit ... In back at Cafe Cortina is the lades are many ... but rather than rest two offspring. She knows many customers more lavish and larger "baby" that Adriano on its laurels, Cafe Cortina continues to by name and their eating preferences, and planted and loved ... Now still cultivated come up with innovative items that please has a consistent pleasant demeanot" MANY OF THE doctors and their wives who attended the bash love to dance ... but music was only during cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, not after dinner, so the terpsi-loving docs and spouses had to get their exercise elsewhere ... Some still ask why there's never dancing after dinner ... If a person is feeling punk, not a bad idea to be among the bevy of medic gents who were at this past summer's Pathfinders in Medicine black-tie shindig by Wayne State University School of Medicine ... 2007's locale was Greektown's Atheneum Hotel ... The 2006 event was held at the Detroit Institute of Arts ... Proceeds from the annual Pathfinder's dinner are used to fund student scholarships at the medical school. LOST & FOUND DEPT. ... Gold ring found at Sposita's Ristorante, Farmington Hills ... Call Joe or Lois Sposita, (248) 538-8954. CONGRATS ... To Alice Arfa on her 70th birthday ... To Sy Warshawsky on his birthday ... To Ruth Finke on her birth- day ... To Larry Garfinkle on his 50th birthday ... To Norman Wauldron on his birthday ... To William Elson on his 60th birthday ... To Nadine Tack on her birth- day ... To Eddie Cohen on his birthday ... To Paula Duke on her birthday ... To Seymour Stone on his 75th birthday ... To Sylvia Kasoff on her 83rd birthday ... To Herman Kasoff on his 83rd birthday ... To Lili Ann Camden on her 70th birthday ... To Sylvia and Herman Kasoff on their 60th anniversary. 0 Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet. 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