Arts
Enterta
ST OF
17
V
H I N
No Man An Island? Try Three!
Greek Islands restaurants claim a trio of crafty cooks.
0
ne Greek gent with Greek cook-
ing expertise at a Greek restau-
rant is good ... Two of them is
very good ... and three with Greek cuisine
preparation experience is great.
The two neighborhood locations
of Greek Islands Coney Island ...
Farmington Road just north of 15 Mile in
the Maple West Plaza ... and Hamilton
Row, corner of Ferndale Street in down-
town Birmingham ... boast three men
whose Greek cuisine knowledge total up to
74 years ... What Greek dining the three
have to impart to their customers via the
culinary cuisine route!
Partners at the West Bloomfield site
are founder George Stefanakis, George
Diamantis and John Kotsogiannis ... In
Birmingham, Stefanakis and Diamantis
are partners ... And to top it off, all three
are also with previous Coney Island res-
taurant ownership!
When Stefanakis came to the United
States in 1982, his living was earned in the
construction business and when a pinched
nerve ended that work, he did what he
loved best ... with a firm desire to be in
the restaurant business which he jumped
into when in 1991 he opened his first
George Stefanakis, George Diamantis
and John Kotsogiannis
Greek Islands in Dearborn
moussaka, spinach pie, grape
... When he and John
leaves, tzatziki, skordalia, gyros,
opened West Bloomfield,
lamb chops, etc.
their cook also became their
Both Greek Islands are also
working partner at the loca-
heavy on vegetarian choices and
tion ... Another Greek chef,
pita selections ... The salads,
George Diamantis' nephew
including Greek (lettuce) and
Themis Rigas, heads the West
Village, comprise 10 different
Bloomfield kitchen with his
varieties ... With the Greek
uncle.
and Village salads, authentic
Danny Raskin
Greek Islands in West
imported-from-Greece
virgin
Senior Columnist
Bloomfield is the former
olive oil and vinegar bottles
site of three restaurants
are placed on the side ... At no
that couldn't make it ... The two Georges
extra charge, if requested, the server will
and John completely gutted the place
mix the salads at your table ... A very nice
and rejuvenated its looks with white tile
touch, indeed.
interior, windows around two walls, Greek
Fresh fruit and vegetable juice bar is at
columns, colorful neon tubing, dropped
both locations, with a machine making
ceiling with a miniature of Michelangelo's
drinks from oranges, apples, grapefruits,
Sistine Chapel painting except with one of parsley, celery, carrots, etc. ... and chil-
the angels flying while carrying a Coney
dren's menus, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Island ... and a picture on the wall has the
The very reasonable prices (five lamb
gods at a large table with Coney Island hot
chops, $14.75) and other specialties in the
dogs sitting in front of them.
$8.50 or lower range also including soup
Both Greek Islands, West Bloomfield
or Greek salad and choice of rice, green
opened in 2002 seating 80, and
beans or fries) and ultra-clean atmosphere
Birmingham, opened in 1994 with 130
of informal comfort help add up to a most
seats, have the same menu and hours ...
pleasant neighborhood experience of
Seven days, Monday-Saturday, 8-9, and
Greek culinary goodness.
Sunday, 9-8.
DANDY DINING DEAL ... Four days
Their Coney Islands are made with
only, Monday-Thursday, April 11-14 ...
either all-beef kosher or non-kosher hot
Choice of 23 entrees, including shrimp
dogs ... with almost everything, including in lobster sauce, cashew chicken, pepper
yogurt, traditional Greek dishes, etc., made steak, etc., plus soup and egg roll, $9.95 ...
directly on the premises ... Most of the
Shangri-La of West Bloomfield, Orchard
time-honored Greek specialty items are
Mall, Orchard Lake Road north of 15 Mile.
authentic Greek recipes George S. brought
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT....
from Crete ... traditional ways of prepara- "What part of Chile does Chilean sea bass
tion by his father, Stefan Stefanakis, that
come from? I am told that it doesn't even
include exotic combinations of Greek
come from Chili. Is that true? ... Merle
dishes that take in many favorites folks
Gottesman
have known for so long ... pastitsio,
[Whoever told you that, Merle, is correct
... Chilean Sea Bass is actually Patagonian
Toothfish, mainly caught in southern
ocean waters near and around Antarctica,
not always in Chilean waters ... The name
comes from Chileans being the first to mar-
ket toothfish commercially in the U.S.].
YOU CAN'T BEAT cleanliness both in
front and in back of a restaurant, and the
fact that this event could be held at any
of many restaurants in the region, being
selected is a feather in the hat of Golden
Phoenix Chinese restaurant on Orchard
Lake Road, West Bloomfield ... David
Mikkota senior public health sanitarian
with the Oakland Country Health Division,
twice inspected Golden Phoenix and gave
it a high rating which might account for
his retirement party being held there on
April 31.
SOME BRAGGED ABOUT their
exploits, and why not? ... They deserved
the right ... And one even said he could
have done better ... It was their morn-
ing at the recent first breakfast for past
inductees to the Michigan Jewish Sports
Hall of Fame and guests ... Award-getters
and family munched away on bagels,
etc., watched an impressive film on the
Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation and
the honorees were videotaped by their
plaques at the Jewish Community Center,
West Bloomfield ... Two biggie dates this
year are the Hank Greenberg Memorial
Golf Invitational and Banquet, June 6, at
Oakland Hills Country Club ... and MJSHF
induction dinner and ceremonies, Nov. 7.
CONGRATS ... To Sol Gold on his 99h
birthday ...To Marvin Slof on his 83rd
birthday ... To William and Edie Wolok on
their 60th anniversary. I
(
Danny's e-mail is dannyraskin®sbcglobal.net .
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