THE. BEST OF EVERYTHING

BBC) And Burritos, Too

Don't overlook Brass Pointe's Mexican offerings.

Brass Pointe is open
the same recipe of the Mexican
tuffed jalapeno appetizer? ...
Monday-Saturday,
11-10;
woman who came in for a job
Tostados? ... Sounds more like
Sunday,
noon-10
...
with
in 1981.
items one would expect at a
dining
room
seating
for 156,
Since the original opening
Mexican restaurant ... Certainly not
seating
for
another
60-65
in
of Pumperniks and the name-
from a dining operation known for its
a
private
room
along
with
change four years later to Brass
chicken and ribs.
room for eight at the bar.
Pointe, more than 2 million
But this is what many customers order
With Bob and Rita and
people have passed through the
at Brass Pointe, Orchard Lake Road,
Danny
and Bernice at the
door ... devouring the Mexican
north of 10 Mile, Farmington Hills, cel-
helm,
Brass
Pointe is a rar-
dishes along with over 145,000
ebrating its 28th anniversary.
Danny Raskin
ity
in
another
way, too ... a
pounds of ground beef, 75,000
Sure there's ribs, barbecued and
Senior Columnist double mom-and pop-eatery
pounds for the refried beans,
broasted chicken, but so too available are
... The kind of restaurant,
1.5 million pounds of ribs,
burritos, nachos, botanas, tacos, enchi-
too,
that neighborhoods wel-
more than 1.3 million pounds
ladas, etc. ... with most Mexican dishes
come
with
open
arms
.... In Pumperniks
of chicken.
also including rice, beans and coleslaw.
and
Brass
Pointe's
28-year
existence, it
The broasted and barbecued chicken
Mexican food at Brass Pointe is not a
has
grown
into
a
most
valued
neighbor-
and ribs are standard features along
throw-in ... It is also a big feature that
hood
dining
treasure.
with a 16-ounce rib-eye steak, prime
has attained somewhat of a quiet ano-
IT'S RARE WHEN a new dish appears
rib, hand-breaded coconut shrimp, etc
nymity among folks who never would
on
a Chinese restaurant menu, so the
... served by a fine staff of waitpersons,
picture the two styles of food at one
recently
unveiled sensation at Golden
including
Bob
and
Rita's
daughter
Violet
place.
Phoenix,
Sugar Tree Plaza, Orchard Lake
... Their son Kosta is pretty much a "Mr.
Prior to Brass Pointe's original open-
Road
north
of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield,
Everything" stalwart for mom and dad
ing as Pumperniks in 1981 by Bob and
"Shanghai
Charlie's
Chow Chow" is a
and his uncle and aunt.
Rita Mihajlovski, a woman came in look-
welcomed
addition
... But even more so
Bob
is
remembered
from
the
Advance
ing for a job and was discovered to be
is
its
taste
goodness
that has gone over in
Cafeteria
on
Greenfield
in
Southfield,
an expert at making authentic Mexican
a
big
way
...
The
dish
includes shrimp,
which
he
bought
from
Ron
Forman
and
dishes ... South of the Border fare was
chicken
breast,
soft
Shanghai
noodles,
sold
just
before
opening
Pumperniks.
immediately placed on the new menu
water
chestnuts,
Chinese
vegetables,
etc.
Another
item
on
the
Brass
Pointe
menu
... Four years later in 1985, when Bob's
...
Through
January,
"Shanghai
Charlie's
that
has
become
a
big
selling
item
is
the
brother-in-law and sister, Danny and
Chow Chow" is $11.95, including soup,
Bernice Nestorovich joined Bob and Rita, broiled whitefish ... fresh, not frozen ...
egg roll, ice cream, fortune cookie and
along
with
the
excellent
chicken
noodle
the name was changed to Brass Pointe,
hot
tea ... (no coupons or special offers).
soup
made
by
Bob
...
about
one-half
mil-
better reflecting its continued highlight
PIZZA
STILL HEADS the menu list
lion
gallons
served
over
the
28
years.
on barbecued ribs, broasted and barbe-
at
Como's
Restaurant, Woodward and 9
Although
many
Mexican
dishes
are
cued chicken.
Mile,
Ferndale,
but as the years rolled
wanted
items
by
numerous
folks
they
The large selling Mexican dishes at
by,
owners
Cecilia
Grego, the late George
have
become
somewhat
of
a
new-fangled
Pumperniks and Brass Pointe in the 28
Grego
and
their
son
George Grego Jr.
dining
phase
for
younger
generations
...
years ... almost 130,000 burritos, more
continually
added
more
items to satisfy
There
are
many
fine
Mexican
restaurants,
than 40,000 orders of enchiladas, about
many
palates.
but
it
is
a
comfort
to
know
that
the
fare
43,000 orders of premises-made botanas,
Today, with Cecilia still on the floor
from authentic recipes is also available at
over 73,000 orders of premises-made
seven
days a week, Como's has become
a
restaurant
other
than
Mexican.
nachos, etc. ... are still prepared using

S

more a destination restaurant for steaks
along with a list of Italian favorites that
has grown larger than is seen at many
full-service Italian dining spots.
MAIL DEPT. ... "Great find. Your
article about Siegel's Deli [15 Mile, west
of Haggerty, Commerce Township] was
right on the money. My wife and I have
started eating at Siegel's almost every
Friday night" ... Sanford Moser.
EXECUTIVE CHEF now at La Dolce
Vita, Woodward, just north of 6 Mile,
Detroit, is drawing raves for his food
preparations ... But no more than those
who might have attended a state dinner
by President Ronald and Nancy Reagan
... Chef Matteo Giuffrida was a huge
favorite of the Reagans while at the White
House with his numerous dining presen-
tations rarely, if ever, seen before ... He is
also quite a linguist, with five languages
(English, Italian, Spanish, German and
French) in his repertoire ... And Matteo
even sings ... It's not unusual for him to
come out from La Dolce Vita's kitchen
and knock out an aria or two.
A MIGHTY LUCKY gal in more
ways than one is 25-year-old Lauren
Greenberg, daughter of Fran and Marty
Greenberg ... She recently hit a five-
cent slot machine at Greektown Casino,
Detroit, and can thank her lucky stars
that all those noisy bells didn't mean
Lauren would have to haul home 180,000
nickels ... The $9,000 check looked bet-
ter and sure was a lot lighter.
CONGRATS ... To Jason Shain on his
35th birthday ... To Harry Partrich on
his 90th birthday. 0

Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.

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