THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

Authentic Flavor

Noted local cook gives fare at Tony's Embers its unique Jewish "taste."

T

en years ago, three brothers took
over the former Dave's Deli locale
that had stood for about 30 or
so years on Orchard Lake Road, north of
Commerce Road, in Orchard Lake Village
... Tony, Rasko and Andre Perkovic opened
the then-named Ember's Deli ... It was a
good little Jewish delicatessen with deli-
cious soups made by Tony and the many
types of deli sandwiches predictable at such
an operation ... But one thing was lacking.
Five years later, Tony and his wife Sonja,
took over sole ownership, and about two
years or so after, that "missing part" was
supplied by one of this region's finest
Jewish cooks.
To fill that void, Tony's Embers as it is
today named obtained the culinary talents
of Rose Guttman, whose preparations of
Jewish, Hungarian, Romanian, etc., styles
of cooking are well documented and the
customer base grew in humungous leaps
... Her noted international home cooking
was now there to enjoy.
There was no such thing as vegetarian
chopped liver when Rose and husband
Irving owned their Irving's Deli opera-
tions years ago, but her preparation is con-
sidered among the finest in this area ... It
accompanies her preparations of stuffed
cabbage, roasted chicken, stuffed pepper,
beef short ribs, goulash, corned beef hash,
gefilte fish, pickled trout, hamburger steak,
cheese blintzes, meal loaf, etc.
Rose's cholent, a huge favorite, has an
out-the-door lineup history of lip-smack-
ers ... She makes her cholent 24 hours
ahead and lets the boiled beef, kidney and
pinto beans, onions, garlic, barley, kishke,
etc., simmer until ready for serving ... It

brings out a certain delicious-
ness not found with hurry-up
preparations of this time-hon-
ored Jewish dish ... And her
chicken soup fetches smiles to
the faces of many who enjoy tra-
ditional straight noodles instead
of curled pasta.
Being a Jewish delicatessen,
one would expect its biggest
seller to be corned beef ... And
it is at Tony's Embers, where the
"mile high" triple deckers and overflowing
sandwiches are filled with this favorite
and other deli delights.
As Tony's Embers Deli celebrates five
years since Tony and Sonja took over, it
can be said that being called a "sleeper"
may not be correct since so many people
already know about the deli ... But it
would not be wrong in saying that just as
many who don't are missing a treat.
Five years for a restaurant, although
with a new name and format after a previ-
ous five, is not considered a long time, but
enough for folks to realize that one like
Tony's Embers, open seven days for break-
fast, lunch and dinner ... Monday-Friday,
9-8; Saturday and Sunday, 8-3 ... can look
forward to many more successful years.
WHEN IT OPENS, expectedly in
December, Guest Suites Fort Shelby Hotel in
Detroit will include ownership by a couple
of community-ites who share real estate
development and property management
offices in Birmingham's Adams Square
Building ... But Leo Phillips, Troy, and
Gene Curtis, West Bloomfield, may have to
divide their love for lamb chops with the
restaurant coming in ... They won't be far

from a favorite spot for lamb
put out the luscious things Marilyn and
chops, Pegasus on Monroe,
Melvin enjoy like chicken paprikas, gou-
but Finn & Porter has a dish
lash, dumplings and numerous great
many folks love, the Duet of
specials ... They liken it somewhat to
Lamb that includes a lamb
the former Al's Lounge on Springwells,
rack chop and lamb porter-
Detroit, where the owner used to make
house chop ... Finn & Porter them delicious palacsinta filled with apri-
will feature seafood, steaks
cots or cheese.
and specialties in the dining
FEEDING ABOUT 430 attendees at the
room, and a full sushi bar in
recent fourth annual black tie Aviators'
the lounge.
Ball by Southeastern Michigan McDonald
Gene is Doreen Hermelin's
Operators Association was no easy feat ...
brother, and Leo is the guy that Pete Larco
This the chef at Henry Ford Museum did
used to always see eating Shrimp Larco
with one of the best filets many had eaten
years back at Larco's Inn on W. McNichols
in a long time ... To go with the fine din-
... Living nearby in Troy, Leo often sees
ner and dancing, auction representation
Pete's son, Marc, and grandson, Pete Jr.,
was by 15 restaurants, with one of the eve-
its chef, at Larco's Italian Chop House on
ning's top dollar amounts being brought
E. Big Beaver, Troy, where he still enjoys
in by a couple of gents who may not own
Shrimp Larco ... Gene and Leo will part-
dining spots but love good things to eat
ner at Guest Suites Fort Shelby Hotel with
... The diamond bracelet donated by
Emmett Moten and Rich Curto.
Steve and Howard Tapper went for a tidy
GOOD DINING DEAL Dept. ... Free
$3,500 in benefiting the Ronald McDonald
complete dinner with purchase of another
Houses of Detroit and Ann Arbor ... And
complete dinner only, same or lower price, what more can be asked for than being
through October at Moe's on Ten, 10 Mile,
greeted by smiling, gracious McDonald's
just west of Haggerty, Novi, and Moe's on
operator Teresa Saputo and seeing WXYZ-
Wixom, South Wixom Road between 15
TV's always wonderful Diana Lewis, mis-
and 1-96 ... Both include soup or salad,
tress of ceremonies.
potato or rice, fresh vegetables and bread
CONGRATS ... To Julie Abrams on her
basket.
birthday ... To Rose Light on her birthday
HERE IS ANOTHER reader recom-
... To Susan Oleinick on her birthday ...
mendation for good Hungarian food ...
To Sally Levene on her 79th birthday.
by Marilyn and Melvin Rothenberg ...
GET WELL WISHES ... To Martha
who trek out to the Hungarian-American
Hirsch.
Cultural Center in Taylor, where folks don't
have to be a member to enjoy the fare ...
A IN tribute to Danny begins on page Bl.
It's open only Fridays, 5-9, and Sundays,
12-6, on Goddard, between Beech Daly
Danny's e-mail address is
and Inkster ... Two Hungarian women
dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.

❑

201 S Old Woodward Avenue • Birmingham MI 48009

248.594.7300 • www.forterestaurant.com

October 23 • 2008

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