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North African Zest
La Marsa restaurants feature tastes of Tunisia and Egypt.
T
here are many restaurants with
Middle Eastern cultures and varied
culinary representation ... But a
small local chain of four has excellent food
that is difficult to find in this region hidden
among better-known Middle Eastern cuisine
names.
La Marsa's four locations, Grand River and
Drake, Muirwood Square Plaza, Farmington
Hills; Square Lake Road and Woodward,
Kingswood Plaza, Bloomfield Hills;
Rochester Road, Troy; and Pontiac Lake
Road, Waterford, are sleepers in their serving
of two food styles that many people do not
realize are also featured.
One would be very hard pressed to find
Tunisian or Egyptian food in this region ...
Co-owners at Farmington Hills, Bloomfield
Hills and Troy, Fadhel Gannouni, Chef Adel
Ahmed and Chef Moe El Nager, and partner
and general manager in Troy, Frhe El Nager
(no relation to Moe), might be missing a bet
in not letting people know about their fine
cuisines of these countries too.
As the one-time personal chef of Egypt's
prime minister, Ahmed has the ability to
provide such fare as the Egyptian family
combo (lamb, chicken, grilled shrimps,
grilled tomatoes, large sliced green peppers,
rice, slivered nuts and marinated beets), or
the wonderful Koshary, a traditional layered
Egyptian favorite of pasta, rice, lentil, chick
peas, onions, garlic tomato sauce and sea-
sonings that is served mild or spicy, available
also with sauteed meat or chicken, or Omo
Ali, the warm French bread cooked with sour
cream, milk, honey and pistachio nuts.
Tunisia native Gannouni certainly knows
of La Marsa's Lubia dish, one of the restau-
rant's delicious traditional Tunisian special-
ties, prepared with white beans,
or appetizer, pick from three
lamb, tomato sauce and vegeta-
entrees and choice of dessert.
bles, or Couscous, the huge favor-
At Forte on South Woodward
ite robust stew of lamb or chicken,
in Birmingham, greatly
poultry or fish, with vegetables on
esteemed Executive Chef Don
a bed of steamed grain semolina
Yamouche also has a dinner-
... Moe El Nager, also from Egypt,
for-two package, $49.95 during
is remembered by many as chef
September, with soup or salad
at the former Kabobgy Grill on
or appetizer, entree and dessert
Danny Raskin
Northwestern, Southfield.
Senior Columnist selection.
All four locations of La Marsa,
If you hear of any great
named after the city in Tunisia,
restaurant offers during these
are open seven days, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. ... The temporarily difficult economic times, please
Farmington Hills locale seats 40 at tables,
let me know.
with eight more at a counter, Bloomfield
BIG NIGHT on Thursday evenings, 7-11,
Hills has seating for 100, Troy counts 140 and at Seldom Blues Jazz Supper Club, Tower 400,
Waterford, 40.
Renaissance Center, Detroit, with prime rib
There are numerous Middle Eastern
dinner for two, including salad and dessert,
restaurants of varied traditions, La Marsa
$49.95 ... Martinis $5 for any variety ...
included, that may serve some of the fare
Motown music is also featured on the weekly
from respective countries, but their menus
Thursday Prime Motown Martini Night.
are mainly geared to more known Middle
BEFORE THE END of the year, gourmet
Eastern items like hommous, tahini, grape
Chinese dining in Ann Arbor will go up a few
leaves, taboulee, shawarma, etc., not the
notches ... That's when Hong Hua, Orchard
delicious selections of Tunisia and Egypt
Lake Road just north of 12 Mile, Farmington
... Many who have tasted the food of these
Hills, one of this region's leading top-touted
countries know and enjoy the difference.
Chinese eating spots, will open a second
HUGE COOPERATION in lowering din-
location on Main Street in Arm Arbor.
ing prices and coming up with imaginative
RECIPES OF EXCELLENT dishes served
things for folks during the usually temporary at several local restaurants of yesteryears will
economic conditions comes from two more
make up the strolling dinner at Beaumont
fine restaurants ... World class, upscale
Hospital's Ministrelli Women's Heart Center
Tribute, 12 Mile just west of Orchard Lake
event, Heart To Heart du Vintage ... London
Road, Farmington Hills, has reduced all
Chop House, Joe Muer's, Machus Red Fox,
10 entrees in the $36 to $60 range to $25-
Lelli's of Detroit, etc., food formulas will be
$38, with no change in quality, portions or
recreated by Executive Chef Keith Bjertness
menu items ... And during September and
and his staff at Tam O'Shanter Country Club,
November, Tribute Executive Chef Rich Davis West Blomfield.
has a complete three-course dinner-for-
Heart To Heart du Vintage date is Friday,
two package, $99, including soup or salad
Sept. 26, 6:30-11 p.m., with co-chairs Johnny
Now taking orders for Rosh Hashanah
FREE
Honey Apple Cobbler
with all Rosh Hashanah Orders.
(10-person min)
's uses nts
00
VW
lkosiser OVedie
COMPLETE DINNERS CHOICES;
Roasted V2 Chicken
Roasted 1/2 Honey Apple Chicken
Roasted Chicken Marsala
I Stuffed Chicken Breast Marmalade
Lean Roast Beef Brisket
and Marion Ginopolis of Ginopolis' on the
Grill, Lois and Mark Shaevsky and Libby
Candler heading the wonderful happening
to benefit Michigan's only cardiac facility
devoted strictly for women's heart disease ...
Simone Vitale and his fine 13-piece orches-
tra, live auction and look see at some limited
edition classic cars from Peter Ministrelli's
private collection will also be featured.
MAIL DEPT. . . . "My husband and I
recently found a restaurant that has finally
taken off at a frequently failed location. We
had a simply delicious meal at Italia Fresca,
located at Pontiac Trail and Orchard Lake
Road, Orchard Lake. The place was meticu-
lous, the service most cordial and the owner-
chef (Sam Sharkas) stopped at our table
three times to inquire as to our satisfaction.
Our main dish, eggplant parmigiana was
most savory, with a gentle sauce, just enough
cheese, thin slices, with an al dente side pasta
and a fresh mixed green salad. We could not
have been more pleased and intend to make
this a regular stop." ... Janet Halper.
HAVE YOU tried the turkey stuffed cab-
bage by Shirlee Bloom's Kitchen at Vineyards,
Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills?
REUNION DEPT. . . . 55th by Detroit
Mumford High's class of 1953 is Saturday,
Oct. 18, at Pi Banquet Hall, Northwestern
Hwy. and Franklin, Southfield ... Call Bob
Galin, (248) 644-8122 or Joyce Prag Sachs,
(248) 851-5477.
CONGRATS ... To Howard Camden on
his 80th birthday ... To Lou Seligman on
his 70th birthday ... To Mort Meisner on his
55th birthday.
❑
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
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Dinner orders 248-855-9463 Rosh Hashanah Holiday Gifts Shipped Nationwide; 248-737-8088
MI
September 18 • 2008
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