Arts & Entertainment THE BEST OF EVERYTHING 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