THE BEST OF EVERYTHING This Salmon's Got Soul Beans & Cornbread elevates Southern cooking to an art form. N ow in its 12th year as Beans & Cornbread on Northwestern Highway, between 12 Mile and Inkster, in Southfield's Sunset Strip, stand- out acceptance continues to be proven in the Southern difference at this well-diver- sified kind of soul food restaurant ... Few places, for example, can boast of salmon croquettes like those served at Beans & Cornbread ... Many others use cornbread, cereal or bread crumbs for filling, but none is used at what many term a gour- met soul food restaurant but without the elevated charges. When it opened in 1997, there was some apprehension about how successful a Southern cooking restaurant would be in Oakland County because of the cul- tural mixture that many thought would be necessary for its existence ... This has since proven to be of no concern as people began considering it another wonderful neighborhood ethnic dining addition ... Even folks who travel to Southern areas return here and immediately head for Beans & Cornbread, asking for various dishes they enjoyed at places visited ... As illustration Paul and Lisa Jacobs who visited in the South, savored the shrimp and grits they had at the Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, Ga., and returned here with big eyes and smacking lips for the same dish. When Patrick Coleman became sole owner of Beans & Cornbread in 1999, it was to continue the dream he had while helping open Forte in Birmingham for the Wisne Family, and before that Big Fish in Dearborn for Chuck Muer ... To own an upscale Southern cooking restaurant with- out the higher prices. His continuance of this image has not only brought added menu items, but also the takeover of a next- door storage and prep facility to further his vision ... The space is now its Sidebar with a cop- per top counter bar, 12 stools and more seating at four table- tops ... Also added has been a Sunday Soulful Brunch Buffet for all-you-can-eat goodness, $9.95 adults and $6.95 eight and under ...One of its latest features is the Twilight Dinner Special that has gone over big Monday through Friday, 4-7 ... Complete meal with choice of five entrees (fried chicken, meatloaf, salmon croquettes, rib tips, macaroni and cheese), two side dishes and dessert, $8.99 ... Glass of wine is just $3 extra. Since opening, almost 600,000 people have visited Beans & Cornbread, devour- ing more than 35,000 pounds of salmon croquettes, around 45,000 pounds of meat- loaf, almost 60,000 pounds of chicken ... Bestsellers include its home-fried chicken, barbecue-style baby back ribs, macaroni and cheese and those luscious "I could eat a million" sweet potato muffins ... One would be hard-pressed to find salmon croquettes with portabello mushrooms or Harlem Burritos on other soul food menus. Three years ago, among the varied dishes Patrick has brought in is barbecued beef ribs ... It has gone over so heavily as a highly wanted menu item on Friday and Saturday evenings that orders many times near the selling out point ... To prevent any waitperson having to say they are sold out, he keeps extra beef ribs hidden for such happening. There is jazz every Thursday and Friday night, 7-10, usually with a keyboard and vocalist ... This is big in New York and Chicago spots with their small half-sized bar intimacy ... Beans & Cornbread is open Monday- Thursday, 11-9; Friday, 11-10; Saturday, noon-10; Sunday noon-9, with seating for 76 in the dining room. Beans & Cornbread became a winner almost immediately upon opening, and in its 12-year existence has enjoyed much customer-pleasing come back momentum. EXPECTED TO REOPEN again, Maria's in West Bloomfield will not have Chef Artie Oliverio to head its kitchen ... He has his own place again, the former La Luna Grille, and calls it Oliverio's on Benstein Italian Bistro, Benstein Road, north of West Maple Road, Commerce ... Open for lunch Monday-Friday, 11-10 and dinner, Saturday, 5 to 9, most complete dinners are priced between $14 and $22, including soup or salad and pasta. DURING HIS playing days as defensive linebacker at Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, Joe Vicari also enjoyed watch- ing basketball and its lovely cheerleaders ... Today, his wife, Rosalie, makes sure that Joe's attention is only on her and his Andiamo Restaurant Group ... She says he can still look at them all he wants ... on the HDTV Joe will have for the basket- ball games when he takes over the former Asian Village site on Beaubien Place, next to the Renaissance Center, Detroit, for his Andiamo Championship Club during the NCAA Championship days ... April 3, 4, 5, noon-2 a.m., and April 6, 3 p.m.-2 a.m. ... Free admission and live entertain- ment with nightly drink specials and bar menu ... Across the street on the Detroit Riverfront, folks can also enjoy the Big Dance no charge concert series with its noted recording artists. REOPENING OF Forte on Old Woodward, Birmingham, is with more booths, interior decor changes, new outside signage and Executive Chef Don Yamauchi adding inventive items to the menu. MORE NEWS FROM the Shirlee Bloom food-tasting kitchen at Vineyards, Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, with another something different for Passover ... Delicious low-fat mandelbrot with chocolate chips, cherries, cranberries and walnuts. NEWLY-NAMED W.J. and Lillian Kemler Walk of Ages by Auxiliary for the Jewish Home &Aging Services is set for Sunday, May 19, 9 a.m. registration and 10 a.m. walk at the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus, West Bloomfield, 15 Mile and Drake ... This year's grand marshal is Ann Newman ... I'll again be GM emeritus and Mandell "Bill" Berman honorary chairman ... New fun thing will be a train for the youngsters to ride ... For team and individual pricing and other info, call Judy Dunn, auxiliary coordinator, (248) 661-2969. NO TRUTH TO the rumor about its closing, says Bonnie Fishman, owner of Bonnie's Kitchen, Telegraph and 15 Mile, Bloomfield Hills ... "We are taking Passover and orders well beyond and have many parties booked into the future." CONGRATS ... To Roslyn Katzman on her 80th birthday ... To Bonnie Glass on her birthday. Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . PASSOVER DINNER 8/ ALA CARTE LAST CALL ORDER NOW! Complete Dinners; 10 person minimum FREE Seder Plate FREE Passover Matzo • • • • HERB ROASTED CHICKEN CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED KISKA STUFFED CHICKEN LEAN ROAST BEEF BRISKET • Complete dinners includes Beef Chopped Liver, Roasted Potatoes Anna or Potatoes Kugel, Chicken Matzo Ball Soup, Carrot Tzimmos, FREE Seder plate & FREE Passover matzo • • with complete Dinner orders DELICIOUS PASSOVER BAGELS PASSOVER CAKES, DESSERTS, CHOCOLATES PASSOVER GIFT BASKETS & TRAYS DELIVERED COMPLETE DINNERS & AL LA CARTE - AVAILABLE ON ONLINE 4 32418 Northwestern Hwy. between Midcilebelt & 14 Mile loom's 248.855-9463 www.JewishCatering.com April 2 • 2009 C11