Arts & Entertainment
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING
Hugs For Pepino's!
Popular neighborhood eatery packs 'em in for reopening.
p
otpourri ...
The place is packed ... It's
been like this every night since
re-opening just four days before on Oct.
28 ... Folks are again seeing guys and
gals they hardly ever get to otherwise
bump into ... Pepino's, one of Michigan's
best, well-liked, high-value neighbor-
hood restaurants reopened on Walled
Lake Road and Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake,
after shocking customers by closing this
past September ... It is again the place
for hugs, kisses and well wishes to Kathy
Kwiecinski and sister Carole Carson, who
are back operating the excellent dining
spot.
Flowers in vases line one of the long
ledges, given to Kathy and Carole as a sort
of thank you for opening again, some of
the people with tears of joy accenting their
gracious smiles ... There's Ray Kwiecinski,
Kathy's hubby, again behind the bar, dol-
ing out drinks of sizes that have become
so noted ... And with him again is Kathy
and Ray's son Rick taking after his popu-
lar pop who, like Kathy, has been there
since day one, with Carole coming six
months later.
Tuesday evening reopening four days
before had people lined up early ... Damn
the rough economy, this was Pepino's
opening again! ... First into the restaurant
were Bernie and Barbara Boyle ... The
next night would be three times in the
past five days for Julie and Sam Klein ...
Lou Popper, Helene Schulman and others
have already been to Pepino's twice in the
four days ... Halloween night and Margo
Borkin came in full witch's costume while
hubby Don stayed in casual attire.
Pepino's entire wonderful wait staff is
back ... Some not there, being
had Morris' Corned Beef on
out trick or treating with the
Grand River and Broadway,
little ones ... This month is
Detroit, and Northwest Deli
the 10th year at Pepino's for
on 7 Mile in Detroit ...
the wonderful gal so many
Already, some of the mem-
customers ask for, gracious,
bers at next-door Beverly
highly efficient and personable
Hills Racquet Club burn off
Gina Ahnen ... "It's like back
calories to do carryout from
home again every night;' says
Detroit Deli ... and put back
Danny Raskin
Gina. "All the fabulous Pepino's
Senior Columnist some of what they just got
customers and being again
rid of.
with Kathy, Carole, Ray, Kevin
GOOD WAITRESS DEPT.
(Chef Kevin Couch) and the great girls!"
... Add Catherine Lee to the list of other
Waitperson Judie Vanassche, has been
fine servers at George's Honey Tree,
at Pepino's evenings since it opened in
Northwestern Hwy, West Bloomfield ...
1984 ... She works days as a waitress at
Customers enjoy her extensive training
Ginopolis' in Farmington Hills ... "I love
and prior experience while at Beau Jack's,
the people!" exclaimed Judi. I love Kathy
Bloomfield Township, and Fleming's,
and Carole! I'm so very grateful to be back Birmingham ... So nice to see Catherine
again!"
placing cloth napkins on the laps of
There's new carpeting on the floor at
customers, telling daily specials from
Pepino's, but hardly anybody noticed ...
memory and giving service with smiling
The only thing important to them was that graciousness.
Pepino's had opened again ... Chef Kevin
IT'S A SURE NATURAL for the col-
Couch was back putting out those wonder- umn's Best Buys Dept., the annual Lights,
ful food selections, as were the excellent
Camera, Auction by Variety, the Children's
waitpersons ... Everyone thrilled to pieces Charity ... One would think that they
that they are all together again ... with
were giving things away at the recent
Kathy, Carole and Ray.
shindig at the Emagine Theatre in Novi ...
BEVERLY HILLS, Mich., can stick out
And they were.
its deli chest with opening of a Jewish-
The only things that a record crowd of
style delicatessen ... Strictly a carryout
more than 500 had to pay for were the $50
now but plans are for added space and
admission price and whatever was bought
seating ... Detroit Deli on Southfield,
at the silent auction ... Free strolling
between 13 Mile and 14 Mile, is owned
dinner by 28 food operators (Northern
by Debra Dalaly and son Jordan Dalaly
Lakes Seafood, Brasserie Zinc, Mitchell's
... The delicious chicken soup made by
Fish Market, Elie's Mediterranean
Debra is from an honored recipe of her
Grill, Buddy's Pizza, Wolfgang Puck
mother, Martha Stotzky, with real tradi-
Grille, Ocean Prime, Rugby Grill, No.
tional noodles, not curled pasta things ...
VI Chophouse, Beans and Cornbread,
Years back, Debra's uncle, Morris Rubin
Peabody's, Ritz-Carlton, etc.), free soft
drinks, free popcorn, no charge that night
for any movie at Emagine.
This means that Variety and the Variety
groups it sponsors like Myolectric Center,
Cardiology Center, etc., get 100 percent
of the evening's take, which was about
$40,000 ... Also, that everyone wins out
... Variety, its kids, members and all who
attended this excellent event or graciously
gave of their time, efforts and goods in
making it a wonderful success ... What a
great feeling this must give them!
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Spanga's
Coney Island, south of 14 Mile, Royal
Oak, for pepper chicken pita ... To Steve
& Rocky's, Grand River, east of Novi
Road, Novi, for sauteed perch ... To
Golden Phoenix, Orchard Lake Road,
West Bloomfield, for breaded veal cutlets
... To Blue Nile, W. 9 Mile, Ferndale, for
Ethiopian Honey Wine ... To Eve's, Fifth
and Kingsley, Ann Arbor, for Moroccan
chili in phyllo wrap.
CONGRATS ... To Myron "Miney"
Milgrom on his 81st birthday ... To Edith
Averbuch on her 85th birthday ... To Otto
Hess on his 85th birthday ... To Norma
Hess on her 80th birthday ... To Karen
Soffin on her 50th birthday ... To Frieda
Raskin on her birthday ... To Barbara
Papo on her birthday ... To Billy Briggs on
his 70th birthday ... To William "Willie"
and Ceci Stone on their 20th anniversary
... To Joe and Lois Sposita on their 54th
anniversary ... To Otto and Norma Hess
on their 60th anniversary.
GET WELL WISHES ... To Elayne
Wolfson, recuperating at home. E
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
ORDER NOW! YOUR COMPLETE JEWISH THANKSGIVING BENNE
IV/EMPIRE TURKEY AND ALL THE TRIMMINGS!
P
FREE
kt-41/ Er Appie/P6e4,-
w/any order of 10 or more Complete Dinners
Ala carte Turkey available
248.855-9463
32418 Northwestern Hwy.
between Middlebelt & 14 Mile
www.VineyardDeli.corn
NibblesAndNuts.com
DELI • CAFE • CATERING
Order online: www.VinevardDeli.com
Weekday Dinner Hours 4-7 pm
3N
November 13 • 2008
B19