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Mom's Mideast Feast!
From lunch through late night, Oak Park's Sahara is an eating oasis.
T
wenty-three years as a successful
Monday-Thursday, 11-1 a.m.,
tional and hard- to-find items
dining operation that has gained
Friday, 11-2:30 a.m., Saturday,
that mother Masouda and
a highly respected reputation as
11-4 a.m. and Sunday, 11-mid-
her staff will also prepare for
one of this region's more popular Middle-
night.
customers with ample notice
East restaurants ... and then to abruptly be
Among the tasty Middle
... This feature is important
forced to call it quits at the locale because
Eastern and Mediterranean
because many returning or
of a fire was devastating.
offerings at Sahara are
visiting from the Middle East
But with perseverance and fortitude,
numerous favorites made by
who enjoyed a particular dish
Saad Attisha has no use for the word "quit," Masouda from her own private
there are thrilled to be able to
and so his Oak Park Sahara restaurant
recipes ... In fact, just about
get
it here ... thanks to Saad
Danny Raskin
reopened in June this year again as a pre-
everything in the kitchen is
and
Masouda.
Senior Columnist
mier Middle-Eastern dining emporium
prepared by Saad's very tal-
Other Sahara locations
... It is on the corner of Coolidge and 10
ented mother ... including the
owned by Saad are on Orchard
Mile Road in the shopping center where
Sahara specialties of potato
Lake Road, Farmington Hills,
Norman Cottler once called his Dexter-
chop (beef stuffed into a potato), etc.
and E. 15 Mile, Sterling Heights.
Davison Market the only place he could
Among the heartier most-wanted dishes
No fire is pleasant ... In the Sahara Oak
relax because
is a "create your own combo"
Park case, though, at the new location,
Norman could
with choices of two or three
many people are discovering a new and
spend the day talk-
items out of 10 from which to
better Middle Eastern restaurant experi-
ing to friends.
select... Big favorites include
ence with widely diversified styles of
When Saad
fresh kibbee, ground beef
dining and selections they might not have
came to America,
and lamb mixed with cracked
had before.
the only restau-
wheat; cream chop, etc.,
READER MINI-REVIEW ... By Susan
rant job he ever
headed by a delicious mas-
Sherbow ... "While recently in New York,
held was as a
goof, broiled white fish split
my husband Mark, our daughters (Alex
13-year-old doing Sahara's Saad Attisha and
open
and
topped
with
grilled
and Rachel) and I finished shopping and
mother, Masouda Attisha
everything in its
onions, tomatoes and green
headed to a taping of the Daily Show with
kitchen but cook
peppers.
Jon Stewart. For lunch, a local resident
... He put the cooking in very good hands
Dinners include soup or salad and choice pointed us to a French restaurant, La
when opening the Eastern Restaurant
of fries, rice and stew, or seasoned veg-
Bergamote Patisserie on W. 52nd Street,
on Woodward in Ferndale with mother,
etables ... One of Sahara's best customers is
that was not only reasonably priced with
Masouda Attisha, whose cooking talent is
Saad's brother Sam who loves mom's cook-
choices under $10, but also delicious.
by someone who many like the Vineyard's
ing too and assisted Saad in setting up the
The French onion soup had exactly the
Ron Asmar consider "the Shirlee Bloom of food-ordering computers ... Sam owns his
right sweetness and was not overpowered
Chaldean cooking."
own software company, which, Saad says, is by the cheese and croutons on top. My
The wide-open, 8,000-square-foot look
second only to Mom's cooking.
onion tart had a buttery crust that was
at Sahara Oak Park is beautiful with its
The bread that comes before each
delectable, and the Crouque Monsieur,
entire room fully carpeted and large ceil-
meal is premises-made from scratch in a
while not the same as on Paris streets,
ing with recessed islands accentuating 11
brick oven ... And the very tasty baklava,
was fantastic with Swiss cheese and Black
chandeliers ... Seating is provided for 300
not overbearing with honey, is another
Forest ham inside and a bechamel sauce
at tables and high-back padded booths.
Masouda pride.
spread on top. We all agreed it was our
Seven-day hours for lunch and dinner
Sahara in Oak Park's wide-open space is favorite dish.
bring much convenience, especially in
also perfect for bar mitzvahs, showers, etc.
Dinner plans were at Scarlatto on 47th
the evening, which accommodates many
Kitchen space too is quite ample, more
Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues.
merchants after their closing as well as
than 2,500 square feet for preparation of
For the first course, we shared salads. The
guests attending entertainment venues ...
the large number of Middle Eastern tradi-
arugula, walnut and pear salad was lightly
dressed with the pear thinly sliced and
arranged like ribbon. Our second salad
was sliced golden and red beets surround-
ing a dollop of goat cheese and drizzled
with balsamic vinegar. Our entree selec-
tions were just as well presented and tasty.
The pasta carbonaro was creamy but not
too heavy. The pumpkin ravioli had a hint
of cinnamon and was served in a sage but-
ter sauce, and the tortellini, stuffed with
the perfect balance of goat cheese and
sun-dried tomato, was served in vodka
sauce. Both came with asparagus. Our
most costly entree was a perfectly charred
sirloin steak with broccoli rabe, roasted
potatoes and a red wine sauce. The price
was great, especially in New York, with
entrees at $15 to $25, and delicious."
REMEMBERING DEPT.... When
movie star Jack Lemmon appeared here
on stage, he was invited to the Apartment
Lounge on Six Mile, owned by Jack Freed
and his father-in-law Ray Bresler, by enter-
tainer Bobby Laurel, whom he had met in
Hollywood ... Lemmon saw the couches,
fireplace and other living room comforts
and remarked to Bobby, "It's better look-
ing than the place I rented to playboy Fred
MacMurray" ... (In The Apartment movie,
MacMurray was his boss.)
CONGRATS ...To Jon and Addy
Greenberg on their 65th anniversary.
To Russi Arden on her birthday ... To
Sherryl Antcil on her 60th birthday ... To
Mary Mitchell on her 90th birthday ... To
Arnold Gilbert on his 60th birthday ...
To Dennis Green on his 68th birthday
.... To Evelyn Kasle on her 85th birthday
... To Wilbur "Willie" Blake on his 73rd
birthday ... To Elaine Bass on her birth-
day ... To Herb and Audrey Saperstein on
their 55th anniversary. II
Danny's email address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
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