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Viva Pepino's!

Popular Walled Lake eatery to reopen after brief hiatus.

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OTPOURRI
As I write this, Pepino's in
Walled Lake is closed, which
came as a huge shock ... and from the
continual large customer attendance could
not be blamed on the economy.
According to family friend and supplier,
Lou Popper, owner of Empire packing, it
is expected to reopen again the latter part
of this week or early next week after being
shuttered shortly before Labor Day week-
end ... Internal concerns appear to have
led to the temporary closing.
Permanently closing a profit-making
restaurant for this reason would have been
a shame ... Pepino's wonderful waitresses,
almost all among this area's absolute fin-
est, and its excellent kitchen staff have
made it one of the premium neighbor-
hood restaurants in this area.
It would have been sad if anything had
disrupted what Pepino's founders, Joe
Bernardi, who passed away a short while
ago, and his wife, Helma Bernardi, who
has health problems, worked so hard to
build into the stature it enjoys.
I didn't think we had heard the last of
Pepino's ... It has been too good a flourish-
ing restaurant and name not to rise again.
MAIL DEPT. ... "In the early 1970s
while working my way through college,
Matt Prentice and I worked together for
Jack Goldberg at the Stage delicates-
sen on 9 Mile in Oak Park. I went on to
partner the opening of Bread Basket Deli
on Greenfield, and sold my interest as co-
owner and operator over 24 years ago. Matt
went to the Culinary Institute of America
and opened a chain of restaurants here.
"It was an honor to serve as chairper-
son to coordinate the meals provided and

served at the recent JCC Maccabi
Games. The task for Maccabi
Meals Central was immense,
with between 13,000 and 15,000
pounds of product served per
mealtime at a pace of between
500-800 people per hour.
"There are many talented
caterers and restaurateurs in
Metro Detroit, but creativity
was needed to feed the Jewish
eaters and their tastes from
around the world, the knowledge of kosher
laws, observance and requirements. Matt
and I wanted to do a great job and leave
a lasting impression of Detroit. When I
was asked by the New York-Westchester
delegation that is hosting the games next
year, 'how were you able to do this so well
and efficiently?' I responded by explaining
about the months of diligent planning but
more importantly, `hire a great caterer!'
Thanks, Matt Prentice and the won-
derful volunteers who made this a most
worthy and memorable undertaking:'
Bennett Terebelo, 2008 JCC Maccabi Meals
Chairman.
RUSSIAN DINING authenticity will
play a big role when Tamara and Eugene
Friedman and Emanuel Gauzer are hon-
ored by the Russian Chapter of American
friends of Magen David Adorn 5:30
p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at Adat Shalom
Synagogue, Farmington Hills.
Catering will be by the newly formed
A & J Kosher Catering, formerly
Farmington Hills Kosher Catering, with
partners Jeffrey Rosenberg and Chef
Al Kovalenko ... Included in the tradi-
tional Russian hors d'oeuvres will be
beef Stroganoff, Russian cabbage rolls,

blinis (pancakes), caviar,
"We are in the midst of casting now with
etc., along with Julienne
some fine actors wanting to get on board!"
(small mushroom casserole)
Jackie was recently inducted into the
and Eggplant Caviar, both
California Boxing Hall of Fame with Berry
served at the Cafe Pushkin
Gordy, who was a boxer before forming
in Moscow ... The Chicken
Motown Records in Detroit ... She'll be
Anastasia entree is also on
here for the weekend and stay with her
its menu ... $90 per person
son Bryan and daughter-in-law Stephenie
includes dinner, live music,
in Commerce Township and already
dancing, much frivolity and
knows that their two children will take her
the showcasing of Al and
for breakfast at Ron's Bagel Deli on 14 Mile
Jeff's ethnic dining talents.
and M-5 in Commerce, where one of Ron
THERE IS A LOT of anticipation excite- Forman's waitresses used to wait on them
ment at Moe's On Wixom, South Wixom
in Oak Park when they were babies ... "I
road, between 15 Mile and 1-96 ... From
love Sposita's," says Jackie, "and can't wait
owner Moe Leon, also owner of Moe's On
to have their wonderful Shrimp Sposita,
10, Novi, on down the line, with star-gaz-
Chicken Sposita and fantastic minestrone
ing a big hope to come across the street ... soup that reminds me of the authentic
The excitement centers on Warner Bros.
cafes in New York's Little Italy."
exploring use of the closed Ford Assembly
Also speaking at the Weight Watchers of
plant as a possible studio facility ... What Michigan luncheon will be Wayne County
a huge boon that would be, with stars and
prosecutor Kym Worthy ... Individual
workers coming to Moe's for breakfast,
tickets are $60 ... Call 1-800-3-FLORINE,
lunch and dinner.
ext. 1377, or e-mail florineonline.com .
THAT FORMER manager of four world
SWISH WENT HIS swing and 166
boxing champions, Jackie Kallen, will be
yards away came Scott Kaplan's never-
able to appear here to speak at Florine
to-be-forgotten first hole-in-one ... The
Marks' Ninth Annual Remarkable Women
19-year-old Michigan State student's thrill
Luncheon is amazing in itself ... The
was on the 14th hole playing with Dad,
event is Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Ritz-
David Kaplan, and Matt Vartanian at the
Carlton, Dearborn ... Luncheon and pro-
Chief Golf Course in Bellaire, Mich.
gram noon to 2.
CONGRATS ... To Sue Aaronson on her
She presently manages eight boxers
birthday ... To Marilyn Kent on her birth-
and attempts to get to all their fights, is
day ... To Sam and Janis Holcman on their
actively involved in promoting Fatal Femme 36th anniversary ... To Sander and Barbara
Fighting, "a league of women who battle
Papo on their 50th anniversary ... (Sorry,
in a cage," is also promoting a boxing film, but anonymous requests received for the
Five Grand Years, with writer-director Bruce Congrats Dept. cannot be used.) ❑
Reisman, as possibility looms for filming in
the Detroit area ... "Michigan is becoming
Danny's e-mail address is
the Hollywood of the Midwest;' says Jackie.
dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.

201 S Old Woodward Avenue • Birmingham Mi 'RAW;
248.594.7300 • www.forterestaurantoom

September 11 • 2008

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