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