OF E H Viva Rojo! Authentic touches spell success for Rojo Mexican Bistro. A chain within a chain may be in the future for Joe Vitale, who bucks the soft economy by open- ing an upscale Mexican restaurant. Owner and CEO of the 11 Andiamo and Mesquite Grill restaurants in his Andiamo Restaurant Group, Joe has made his latest venture Rojo Mexican Bistro in Fountain Walk, 12 Mile west of Novi Road, Novi. Working co-partner with Joe, Dan Linnen, is also co-owner of their Andiamo Novi, and Executive Chef Luis Garza was formerly kitchen head at Andiamo Dearborn. A huge feature that has been bringing folks in by droves is something seldom if ever presently seen ... certainly not in this area ... It is guacamole prepared tableside by Chef Luis or one of the trained servers ... Usually the guacamole presented at Mexican restaurants is prepared before- hand ... This is quite different, readied directly from the avocado along with onion, cilantro, fresh squeezed lime, salt, pepper and jalapeno ... The customer has an option of dressing it up with goat cheese, pine nuts, shrimp or lobster ... The ingredients are then mixed together with the deftness of a Caesar salad table- side presentation. The former site of Bamboo Club, directly on the corner across from the parking lot and a few doors from the Emagine Theatre, has been totally transformed ... It now pres- ents a striking look of elegance with choice decor appointments ... Here is one example where ethnic authenticity does not have to rely on faking it to look the part. What customers are getting at Rojo Mexican Bistro is food with salient touches of true authenticity in its prepa- ration ... Rare items like the Huitlacoche mushrooms, con- sidered a delicacy in Mexico, are used at Rojo sensationally in its Quesadillas De Huitlacoche, a large tortilla stuffed with a three-cheese blend and topped with sour cream, guacamole and salsa ... The many Quesadilla lovers may want to try the one with lobster and three-cheese blend ... Big authentic Mexican winners, too, are the Lobster Fajita, a one-and-a-half pound lobster sauteed in lemon garlic butter and Chili Rellano, roasted very mild poblano pepper, a favorite in Mexico, filled with a three- cheese blend and choice of chicken, beef or grilled veggies, topped with a roasted tomato sauce. Ordered with gusto, too, is the Camarones Rellanos, breaded shrimp stuffed with cheese and topped with a lobster cream sauce on the popular poblano pepper. Seating at Rojo Mexican Bistro is 188 plus another 22 stools in a separate bar directly off the main dining room ... In that bar is what is believed to be Michigan's largest selection of tequila with availability of 110 selections ... And popular Margaritas made with fresh- squeezed juices and agave nectar ... The Mexican beer choices are not restricted to Corono or Corono light, but also labels like Modelo, Negra Modelo, Tecate, Pacifica, Dos Equis Lager and Dos Equis Amber. It is a seven-day-a-week operation, open Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Thursday, 11-11; Friday, 11-12; Saturday and Sunday 12-12. The freshness and dining customiza- tion give Chef Garza an opportunity to show his love for Mexican authenticity ... After 15 years' experience as a chef, he is now doing what Luis has secretly wanted to someday accomplish. Who knows? ... Rojo Mexican Bistro may some day be the first of a highly regard- ed Mexican dining chain that concentrates on the authentic- ity others may lack. HAPPY DAYS of yesteryears are back again for deli lovers ... Feb. 5 through Feb. 15, with 10 days of low pricing on full 4-ounce corned beef, pastrami or turkey sandwiches on Jewish rye or Kaiser roll and kosher dill pickle, for $3.95, dine in or carry-out, at Vineyard's Deli Basket, inside Vineyard Marketplace on Northwestern, between Middlebelt and 14 Mile, Farmington Hills. AMONG THE FEW restaurants years ago, other than Chinese dining spots, that served breaded veal cutlets with tomato sauce was the Brass Rail on Adams, Detroit, when owned by Bill Boesky and son Ivan Boesky ... Theirs was with either tomato sauce or fried egg ... Today, at Golden Phoenix, Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, breaded veal cutlets are with both tomato sauce and brown gravy. DINNERS FOR TWO persons at Commerce Grille, Union Lake Road, Commerce Lake, are $39.95 through February, including a bottle of white or red wine ... Rainbow trout, prime rib and entrees that also include chicken and fish. RECENT SHUTDOWN of Ron's Bagel Deli on W. 14 Mile, Commerce Township, s i i 5E641Dgii , brings to a close another chapter for Ron Forman, but may soon re-open an addi- tional period for one of Metro Detroit's best-known "old timer" delicatessen men with a winning track record. SOME DINING SPOTS that serve hamburger as chopped sirloin should take a page out of the former Berman's Chop House book ... It used to set aside the odd pieces cut off sirloin steaks, put them in a grinder and serve the real thing, authentic sirloin patties. MAIL DEPT. ... "I finally tied the pro- verbial knot. Life here in South Charleston is absolutely great. The Charleston Grill is doing incredible. We changed the format and made it more casual and relaxed while maintaining the same quality of food. We were serious French before and now we've lightened it up and made it more play- ful." — Mickey Bakst, former head maitre d' and general manager at Tribute and Tap awingo restaurants. CONGRATS To Marilyn Stein on her 70th birthday ... To Gale Gross on her birthday ... To Kathy Hack on her birthday ... To Scott Lachman on his 24th birthday ... To David Baril on his 52th birthday ... To Sameer Eid on his 73rd birthday ... To Judie Moss on her birthday ... To Sue Garfinkel on her birthday ... To Jeff Malin on his 50th birthday ... To Norm LePage on his 68th birthday ... To Bonnie LePage on her 65th birthday ... To Tamara Friedman on her 61st birthday ... To Jay and Marion Grant on their 66th anniversary. ... Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. FREE FOR 4 Chicken Noodle Sou Corned beef, Turkey or Pastrami • 1 lb Cole slaw or potato salad • 1 lb Double bakes Jewish Rye • Kosher old and new dill pickles • Russian dressing (Pick up only after 3:00 p.m. daily) - with every Deli sandwich from our sandwich board menu (pick up or dine in thru Feb 281 DELI • CAFE • CATERING 32418 Northwestern Hwy. • between Middlebelt & 14 Mile • 248.855 9463 • . ORDER ONLINE www.VineyardDeli.com February 5 2009 C9