Arts & Entertainment

THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

88 Years, 88 Keys

To mark the birthday
of Maureen O'Hara,
pianist David Syme
plays an Irish classic.

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OTPOURRI
Maureen O'Hara, wonderful
Irish actress of 63 movies, The
Quiet Man, Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Miracle on 34th Street, etc., recently cel-
ebrated her 88th birthday with a private
piano concert at the Ireland home of
David and Suzanne Syme ... She main-
tains a residence
about 30 minutes
from them and
had David play
piano an hour for
her and four com-
panions.
In The Quiet
Man with
Maureen's close
friend John
Wayne, she sings
an Irish standard,
"The Isle of Innisfree," which David played
at the concert and Maureen sang with
tears in her eyes, he says ... She used to
say that singing was her true love.
I remember being introduced to
Maureen many years ago in California
by her brother, Jim FitzSimons (their real
last name) and former localite Herman
"Turk" Prujansky and being impressed by
Maureen's typing abilities, hitting the keys
for many of her own script revisions ...
Awed too by Maureen's gorgeous red hair,
striking beauty, gorgeous smile and down-
to-earth graciousness.

NO MEXICAN-POLISH tacos, but don't
discount something like them someday
being served at the new Maria's Comida
that opened this year on Joseph Campau
near Caniff in Hamtramck ... Maria's
Comida, with just 30 seating, is a true
mom-and-pop family-operated Mexican
restaurant by Alan and Angelo Pronko
with son Fred and daughter Maria ...
Alan is former 10-year chef at P.F. Chang's
in Troy, along with prior kitchen magic
stints at Jack's Waterfront and Pike Street
dining spots ... A Mexican restaurant has
been Alan's dream since graduating from
Schoolcraft Colleges Culinary Arts pro-
gram and his constant dabbling in south-
of-the-border food is what he and Angela
hoped to one day serve in their own place.
RISTORANTE CAFE CORTINA,
10 Mile east of Orchard Lake Road,
Farmington Hills, continues to receive
much acclaim as a true destination res-
taurant to which so many folks will start
out to visit and pass other dining spots
to reach ... Plus its superlative din-
ing at lunch or dinner, Monday through
Thursday 11-9, and dinner only, Friday
and Saturday, 5 10:30, Cafe Cortina also
gets high marks for what is easily among
the finest outdoor patio relaxing enjoy-
ments in Michigan ... The relaxed corn-
fort level of delight is reached on a lo
note with magnificent hors d'oeuvres,
elegant wines and superb service.
HUGE OVERWHELMING response
has resulted in another month exten-
sion of the $14.95 complete dinner price
through September for breaded cutlets
(the real thing, not pressed) at Golden
Phoenix, Sugar Tree, Orchard Lake Road,
north of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield ...
Dinner includes soup choice, egg roll or
tomato juice or salad, premises-peeled

-

201 S Old Woodward Avenue • Birmingham MI 48009
248.594.7300 • www.forterestaurant.com

B14

August 28 • 2008

Ai

Maureen O'Hara holds back tears as she gently sings along as David Syme plays
"The Isle Of Innisfree" which the actress sang in the movie The Quiet Man with
John Wayne.

mashed potatoes, tomato sauce and brown
gravy, broccoli, ice cream or sherbet and
hot tea.
AFTER ANOTHER successful Saturday
night funfest, Yossi's on the northeast side
of Robin's Nest, Orchard Lake Road, north
of 14 Mile, West Bloomfield, will follow
it up with a new biggie, Saturday, Aug.
30, 7-10 p.m. ... It's Yossi's Mid-Summer
Festival on the outside patio-style setup of
tables and chairs with inside buffet lineup
of goodies ... Entertainment with a live
orchestra, decorations, etc., to benefit Yad
Ezra in Berkley, Michigan's only kosher
food pantry ... More than 150 attended
Yossi's last outdoor event.
MAIL DEPT. ... Regarding Martin
Kohlenberg's e-mail about restaurants in
Charlevoix, reader writes, "Two new res-
taurants that opened in Charlevoix were
not mentioned. One is the Edgewater
Bistro, across the highway from weather-
vane. Very good food and overlooks
Round Lake. The mushroom bisque is
the best I have ever had. You can get a
nice dinner or a small gourmet pizza.
The other is a cafe-gallery called Jake
and Sadie's, where Jordan and I had
beautiful, fresh salads for lunch ... It is
located on Bridge Street across from the
park. Outside eating is also available." ...
Rhoda Raider.

RAISING MENU prices is sometimes
a kiss of death for restaurants ... Food
costs may go up but customers don't
want to bear a restaurant owner's cost of
doing business ... Most would rather see
the same or lower prices with little or no
change in food quality and less quantity
if necessary ... True restaurant owners
know that these difficult economic times
are only temporary and work to keep their
heads above water until times are reverted
back again ... Many Johnny-come-lately
types of restaurateurs panic, run scared
and, in too many instances, close instead
of figuring out ways and means to weather
the storm.
SAME TEAM, NEW company, new
name, as kosher caterer Jeff Rosenberg
and his executive chef Al Kovalenko meld
together in full-partnership at the soon to
be name-changed from Farmington Hills
Kosher Catering that was owned and oper-
ated by Jeff at Adat Shalom Synagogue ...
Kovalenko has been at Adat Shalom since
1989, formerly also working with Jeff's
dad and mother Al and Sarah Rosenberg,
plus picking up traditional Jewish recipes
from Al's mother and Jeff's grandmother,
Cecil Rosenberg. ❑

Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

