Arts & Entertainment

THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

No Joke

Hubby and his mother-in-law (?!) team up to create Greek and Italian delicacies.

H

aving a mother-in-law in the
Customers return many
kitchen at all times shows true
times for items like lamb chops,
love ... Which is a big part of
moussaka and souvlaki with
the warmth at the restaurant owned
the moussaka and pastisio
by Tom Pascaris and his wife's mother,
among those said to be better
Ruzhe Prendushi.
than enjoyed in Greece.
Most people will agree that there is
The Italian recipes are
little like a good ol' family restaurant ...
choice ... Sophia's Stuffed
But about a guy and his mother-in-law?
Eggplant is much unlike the
... As the joke would imply, who is the
normal, made from a back-
boss?
home recipe stuffed with fresh
In the case of Sophia's on 10 Mile,
parsley and feta cheese ... as
between Grand River and Haggerty,
is the big-selling, steak-stuffed
Farmington Hills, both Tom and Ruzhe
eggplant topped with marina sauce ...
Prenduski have the same say ... and
Also unique is the Veal Florintini of
customers not only attest to their
sauteed veal medallions with spinach
equal abilities, but since its opening in
and mozzarella cheese in a garlic lemon
November of 2009, also
sauce ... and not too
rave about the home-
many places have the
styled and prepared
calamari filets with
Greek and Italian dishes
tomatoes and banana
... Ruzhe's Italian reci-
peppers sauteed with
pes were handed down
white wine, lemon
from her mother ...
and garlic.
Tom's mother, Sophia
The raves are
Pascaris, after whom
many for Sophia's
the restaurant is named,
Restaurant Lamb
comes in to prepare
Chops, Veal
some of the fine Greek
Ossobucco, etc., amid
specialties, many of
many dishes from
which are from back
Italy and Greece ...
home in Florina, north-
People
are drawn, too,
Sophia's restaurant owners Tom
ern Greece.
by
the
specialty
piz-
Pascaris and his mother-in-law,
Tom's family has
zas;
and
folks
gorge
Ruzhe Prendushi.
owned restaurants in
themselves on the
Metro Detroit since
premises-made fresh
1962 ... A brother has the Bone Yard BBQ bread and dipping sauce.
in Sterling Heights, an aunt owns Tina's
Sophia's is open seven days Monday-
Coney Island in downtown Farmington
Thursday 11-10; Friday 11-11; Saturday
and the family operates another restau-
noon-11; Sunday, 12:30-9 ... with seating
rant back in Napoli, Italy.
for 170 plus another 15 at the full-service

bar.
Add Sophia's to your list
of neighborhood restaurants
whose good food and low
prices make it the sleeper
kind of family-owned din-
ing operations that so many
people enjoy.
WHAT STARTED OUT
four years ago as just a
thought has developed into
a booming success ... Why
not one night a week for
something special? ... And so, was born
the Wednesday evening Shanghai Nights
at Mon Jin Lau, East Maple, northeast
corner of Stephenson Highway, Troy.
Like a monthly ladies evening with the
gals getting one-half off their dinners,
or special theme evenings like circus,
holidays, etc. ... Although the themes
are according to the whims of Mon Jin
Lau brothers Brian and Brandon Chin
who operate the highly touted Asian-
American eatery, every Wednesday does
include a disc jockey and percussionist
along with a lot of hellos.
The crowds of people have to be seen
to be appreciated ... Definitely the work
of a couple of youthful young men who
can certainly show many restaurateurs
how to get business ... While there
recently, the place was jammed to the
walls; and I understand this goes on
every week ... If Shanghai Nights at
Mon Jin Lau are any indication, this sec-
tor of the country is sure on its way to
boomtown hopes ... No ordinary match
game here, just a lot of laughter and joy
as young folks (and many not so young)
meet others to savor some of the best

Asian-American food available while
enjoying much conviviality ... thanks to
a very successful thought.
DINING DEAL DEPT. ... 1%-pound
live Maine lobster, blue mussels, corn-on-
the-cob, redskin potatoes, bread, $22.95
through Oct. 30 at Rocky's on West 7
Mile, Northville
REMEMBERING WHEN ... "I'll never
forget my frequent visits to Joe Muer's on
Gratiot. The seafood was the best I have
ever tasted, and I have been a traveling
salesman around the country for many
years. I used to love the baked floun-
der stuffed with crab meat; and I can't
remember ever being able to get smoked
haddock anywhere else." ... Irving
Fedderoff
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. ...
"Did we ever have a kosher nightclub
here?" ... Lori Gershoff
[I don't recall any. The closest I remem-
ber was owned years ago by Bill and Mae
Kozin whose Kozin's Kosher Restaurant
on West 7 Mile, Detroit, had a very mod-
ernistic look and dance floor.]
REUNION DEPT. ... Next year's date
for Oak Park High School's 50th biggie is
set for Aug. 13 at Edgewood Country Club
in Commerce Township ... For more info,
call Sandra (Silber) Samson, (248) 788-
0250.
CONGRATS ... To Eleanor Dorfman
on her 90th birthday ... To Harold
"Hutch" Bobroff on his 88th birthday ...
To Denise Dunn on her birthday ... To
Boris and Jan Shain on their 48th anni-
versary. ❑

Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

Such a Deal! ...Worth the stop at Vineyards!

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Di nn
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1 5

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MOM IMIN

Includes choice of:

LB Turkey, Corned beef or Pastrami
1 LB or Potato salad or coleslaw
1 LB Double baked rye bread
Old and new dill pickles
Russian dressing

Valid after 3:00 p.m • Not valid with
any other coupon or discount
Exp 10/30/10

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BIM M NMI MIN MEE

WEEKEND BRUNCH

111

I I Fish Plate & Eggs

Serves 2 • Includes:
Nova Lox & Whitefish Salad

I I

$

L

1

5

• Scrambled Eggs
• Served with Vegetable & Garnish
• Cream Cheese & (2) Bagels

I

With purchase of 2 fountain drinks.

11111=

VEGAN &
GLUTEN FREE
AVAILABLE!

32418 Northwestern Hwy. between Middlebelt & 14 Mile

50 October 7 • 2010

JN

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1111 ■

248.855-9463

Order online:
www.VineyardDeli.com
Weekday Dinner Hours 4.7 pm

