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! r ISM Di nn Ifo er r 4 1 5 M 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 r 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 lkerktaelltNems 1111 ■ 248.855-9463 Order online: www.VineyardDeli.com Weekday Dinner Hours 4.7 pm