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An Italian Family Tradition
Antonio's of Farmington Hills is an authentic "Old School" delight.
U
nder the prestigious umbrella of
Since the opening of Antonio's
its original Roman Village family of Farmington Hills 11 years ago,
restaurant still open in Dearborn almost 2 million pounds of its
since 1964, one of its three Antonio's oper- famous house-made bread has
ations is celebrating its 11th anniversary
been sold with a silent warning
with continuation of a tradition owned
not to fill up on the delicious
and operated by a true Italian family ...
offering ... Around 700,000
The other two are in Dearborn Heights
pounds of pasta, almost 150,000
and Canton.
pounds of Provimi veal, more
Antonio's Cucina Italiana of Farmington than 7,000 gallons of minestrone
Hills in the Halsted Shopping Center, 12
soup, a like amount for the
Mile and Halsted, provides the same fine
chicken pastina soup and around
Italian culinary presentations that have
6,000 gallons of pasta fagioli.
brought standout raves.
Among the big sellers,
All dishes at this and the other sites
Gnocchi Rita continues to satisfy the palates
are made from "old school" recipes, many
of many ... The tender potato dumplings
which go back at least 150 years ...
are smothered in a creamy tomato sauce
Executive Chef Rita Rugiero learned her
with pancetta and fresh mushrooms ... Also
excellent style and presentations from an
ordered frequently is the Chicken Antonio,
aunt years ago in Pergia, Italy ... And her
tender breast smothered in a cream sauce
sons Antonio, Mark and Robert are also
and topped with Provolone cheese.
adept at Italian cooking ... One or more
All food at Antonio's is prepared fresh
of them is always present to
when ordered, one of the rea-
offer assistance at the four
sons why requests for Veal
locations in overseeing the
Ossobucco are many ... Its
food put out and served.
tender veal shank is slowly
Important factors needed
simmered in its own juices to
for successful dining are
provide a distinct taste and easy
only as good as the people
release from the bone, served on
behind them ... The Rugiero
top of house-made polenta
family shines brightly ...
Seafood lovers certainly enjoy
The patriarch and founder,
the Linguine Del Mar, with a
Antonio Rugiero Sr., is gone,
variety
of seafood prepared in a
.1
but his and Rita's three sons
zesty
tomato
sauce and served
Antonio Rug iero Jr.
continue to operate the
with linguine noodles.
small, four-restaurant chain
The Antonio pasta, by the
and have done their parents proud in the
way, is made in its own "pasta factory"
maintenance of attributes necessary for
located in the heart of the dining room.
successful dining.
Being dishes handed down through
Antonio's of Farmington Hills is a prime generations might make the entrees at
example ... Its customer base was not
Antonio's Cucina Italiana unique ... In
only built on the excellent reputation of
many instances, this presents an even
the Roman Village, but a repetition of
more delicious dining experience.
constant visits by those who seemed to
Antonio's of Farmington Hills is open
patronize it as their own exalted discovery. seven days, Monday-Thursday, 10:30-10;
Friday, 10:30-11; Saturday,
1-11 p.m.; Sunday, 1-9 p.m.
In being an authentic fami-
ly-owned and operated Italian
restaurant, there is much pride
involved ... And it shows
greatly in the presentation and
taste of Antonio's cuisine.
READER MINI REVIEW
... From Susan Sherbow
"Our recent experience at Tre
Monti on Big Beaver in Troy
was again a delightful experi-
ence for my husband, Mark,
and our daughters Rachel and Alexandra
(Alex).
"We began our meal with Caesar salad
served in a crispy parmesan bowl with a
mild anchovy taste. Service is purposely
slow to offer a relaxing dinner. Our fla-
vorful entrees of penne pasta in a vodka
sauce had a nice bite, and the prosciutto
added an interesting smoky flavor. One of
our specials was a veal chop stuffed with
prosciutto and mozzarella with a hearty
brown, red wine sauce.
"We also ordered the Pollo Mirabella,
chicken stuffed with asparagus, red pep-
pers, shallot and Italian stilfser cheese.
"Our Pollo Caracciolo was chicken
topped with jumbo shrimp, mushrooms,
roasted garlic and pignoli served in a
brandy lingonberry sauce that added a
nice sweet note to the dish:'
GOOD WAITPERSONS DEPT. ... Marie
Paradiso and Jessica Bianchini at Capital
Grille on Big Beaver, Troy ... A couple of
highly efficient gals with wonderful smiles
in their special ways of providing gracious
dining satisfaction evenings both inside
and on the Capital outdoor patio.
REUNION DEPT. ... Distance won't
stop many graduates from attending the
1952 togetherness of Mumford High School
... Saturday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m., at Somerset,
Troy ... Cap and gowner Thomas Wolf, a
former politics professor at the University
of Nairobi in Kenya, was coming from
North Carolina where he is a government
consul and opinion researcher but has to
go back to Nairobi, instead, where he would
have come from anyway even though it is
almost 8,000 miles away if not attending an
important meeting, he told Adria Brown,
chair of the reception committee.
Grad Paul Robertson will arrive from
Australia, about 10,000 miles from Troy
... Cap 'n' gowner Bruce Miller, Paul
Anka's, etc., musical director, will be here
from Hollywood, as will former localite
dance studio owner Joe Cornell, now a
Hollywood dance teacher to the stars,
who may not be a graduate of the 1952
Mumford class, but will travel 2,300 miles
to emcee proceedings ... Contact per-
son for Mumford High's 50th is Joannie
(Stegman) Simon, (248) 851-0272.
The ballroom lights at Stan Frankel's
Somerset Inn will also be on a week ear-
lier, too, when Oak Park High's 1972 class
has its 40th shindig at his wonderful place
in Troy ... Saturday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. ...
Contact persons are Saree (Goldenberg)
Hantler, (248) 892-0338, email: a54sh@
aol.com , or Judi (Silverman) Lang, email:
judisilvermanlang@gmail.com.
CONGRATS ... To Minnie Sachs on her
97th birthday ... To Bonnie Nosanchuck on
her birthday ... To Carolyn Nosanchuck on
her birthday ... To Leon Weiss on his birth-
day ... To Jack Adelman on his 88th birthday
... To Or Shalmiyev on his 20th birthday ...
To Amanda Shapiro on her 18th birthday ...
To Judie Weinstein on her 70th birthday ...
To Frank and Sonia Shaenboen on their 64th
anniversary ... To Ronald "Doc Ron" and
Sharyn Pelavin on their 38th anniversary ...
the same day as Ronald's 62nd birthday. E
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
*** The Place for a Party or Party Trays Too
MATT
PRENTICE
c;L:„.~,v7crience
Banquet Manager - Rachel Vanderbilt
54
June 28 . 2012
248.254 3840