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East Side, West Side
Both Grape Leaves locations offer unique Lebanese delicacies.
A
s the years roll by, food conver-
sations many times have a habit
of concentrating on the numer-
ous assets that are presented by various
ethnic cultures ... Among the leaders in
flavor, presentation and dollar value have
usually been the restaurant presenters
who serve food from one of the Middle
Eastern areas.
So when places open like Grape Leaves
on Northwestern Highway, Franklin Plaza,
Southfield, and on Maple and Coolidge,
Troy, aficionados of this style are thrilled
if the presented cuisine is to their lik-
ing ... Standout restaurants like Grape
Leaves have much to offer in the way of its
dining culture, which in this instance is
Lebanese, food that receives much praise
as a Mediterranean delicacy.
The two locations owned by Mike
Chalhoub are not pretentious ones ...
Both have similar plain decors with brass
and beaded lamps, wall artifacts, and
small seating capacities (Southfield, 80,
plus five stools at a counter, and Troy, 65)
but the fare is outstanding and in many
instances most creative with Mike prefer-
ring to use the recipes of back home in
Lebanon with personal embellishments
rather than the Americanized versions
... Like the shish kabob that others may
only serve char-broiled after seasoning ...
His are marinated 24 hours in herbs and
seasoning for extreme tenderness prior to
being char-broiled ($12.99) ... Best seller
at Grape Leaves is an original creation
by Mike which he calls Chicken Shata,
char-broiled chicken breast topped with
sauteed tomato, jalapeno, garlic and olive
oil ($12.99).
Being his own executive chef gives Mike
the advantage of carefully selecting his
meats and groceries, which is
most important, especially in
the presentation of dishes like
raw kibbee topped with sauteed
ground lamb, onions and pine
nuts ($14.99) and creating his
own interesting herbal mixtures
... Also among the dishes is
one that does not appear on the
menu but is a favorite order,
stuffed squash with lamb and
rice.
Although alike in most other ways,
the two Grape Leaves locations do not
have the same hours of operation ... In
Southfield, they are Monday-Friday, 11-
10, Saturday, noon-10, Sunday 4-9; Troy's
are Monday-Saturday, 11-11, and Sunday,
noon-9.
Most of the food served is Mike's indi-
vidual creation with the same names
appearing as at many other restaurants,
but containing a different taste that comes
about through his innovative styles of
preparation and cooking ... All entrees
include rice or fries and soup or salad.
Lebanese dining at the two Grape
Leaves locations have brought much
neighborhood satisfaction.
THE CLOSING OF New Hellas restau-
rant on Monroe in Detroit's Greektown
no doubt brings back memories to many
who frequented owner Gus Anton's former
celebrity haunt at some time during its
106-year-old existence.
Movie super star Anthony Quinn came
here for a fitting by Birmingham's Dino
"The Tailor" Mitropoulos, brought here
from Greece by Harry Kosins ... It was
to work at Kosins Clothes on Griswold in
Detroit while continuing his side labor
for celebs like Quinn, for whom he had
made clothes in Greece ...
The film great asked where
he could get some good lamb
chops, and Dino took him to
Hellas (changed in the '70s
to New Hellas) ... Quinn was
so thrilled with Gus' lamb
chops he ordered suits made
for everyone at Kosins who
helped him select shirts, ties,
etc., to go with his newly
tailored garb.
Many Greektown owners at one time or
another worked at Hellas and New Hellas,
which divided time serving showbiz per-
sonalities appearing at Al Segal's Elmwood
Casino in Windsor, with Costas Colacasides'
Grecian Gardens across the street.
A LOT OF FOLKS who change dishes
for Passover and those not cooking the
night before are thrilled that caterer Jeff
Rosenberg is having his glatt kosher pre-
Pesach dinner buffet on Friday, April 18,
7:30 p.m., at Congregation Adat Shalom,
Middlebelt, between Northwestern and 13
Mile, Farmington Hills ... For more info,
call Jeff at (248) 626-5702.
WHEN RAY NOBLE wrote "The Very
Thought Of You" I think he envisioned it
being played or sung only as written ...
Nat "King" Cole and Billy Holiday were
among find songsters of Nobel's wonder-
ful song ... But when so many artists
change its musical look, it only further
exemplifies the tune's greatness ... The
improvisational rendition, though, by
Jackie G (Fondren) with the Billy Meadows
duo, reveals a classic talent that brings
smiling enjoyment ... She and Billy make
up the fine Fast Forward duet at Andiamo
Livonia Wednesday evenings, 7:30-11:30,
and Mario's Detroit, Friday and Saturday
nights, 8-midnight ... Billy on vocals,
keyboard and rhythm synthesizer, Jackie
warbling her highs and lows and together
with him on songs like the magnificent
"Unchained Melody."
TODAY SHE IS a very successful wed-
ding and events planner and coordinator
here ... But Diana Fenkell remembers
when she was the first Jewish female in
the Bartender's Association of Michigan
... As Diana Barron while slinging drinks
for Sam Gilbert and Irving Sachs, at
Saksey's on Woodward in Detroit, she was
often confused with their super waitress,
Pauline Baron, although both had the
same sounding last name but spelled dif-
ferently ... No more name echoing prob-
lems after meeting Randy Fenkell at the
Scotch 'n Sirloin in 1972 and becoming
Diana Fenkell three weeks later ... Both
moved to Florida and opened Randy's
Ribs in Lake Worth, North Palm Beach
and West Ft. Lauderdale ... Randy's par-
ents were the late Al and Pearl Fenkell.
REUNION DEPT. ... 40th biggie by
Oak Park High class of 1968, will be
Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Embassy Suites
Hotel in Livonia ... For more info, call
Nancy (Levine) and Dennis Liefer, (248)
661-5028, or Sheri (Katzman) Lisagor,
(248) 626-7929.
CONGRATS ... To Diane Swanigan on
her 50th birthday ... To Larry Shook on
his 71st birthday ... To Mort Maza on his
75th birthday ... To Helen Levy on her 90th
birthday ... To Howard and Susan Dubin
on their 40th anniversary ... [Correction]
... It's congrats to Louise, not Lucille, and
Ray Abrams on their fifth anniversary. 0
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.
LAST CHANCE TO ORDER PASSOVER DINNERS!
COMPLETE DINNERS
10 PERSON MINIMUM
32418 Northwestern Hwy.
• HERB ROASTED CHICKEN
• CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED
• BAKED SALMON FILET
• LEAN ROAST BEEF BRISKET
between Middlebelt & 14 Mile
Complete dinners include:
248.855-9463
www.VineyardDeli.com
Beef Chopped Liver, Roasted Potatoes
Anna or Potatoes Kugel, Chicken Matzo
Ball Soup, Carrot Tzimmos, FREE Seder
plate & Passover matzo
•
•
•
•
DELICIOUS PASSOVER BAGELS
PASSOVER CAKES, DESSERTS,
CHOCOLATES
GIFT BASKETS & TRAYS DELIVERED
COMPLETE DINNERS & A LA CARTE
AVAILABLE ON ONLINE
1373720
April 10 • 2008
B21