arts & entertainment >> the best of everything Getting Even Better! Much-heralded Hong Hua adding new interior decor, new menu items. A s an anniversary gift to them- Knapp's site, the four owners, selves, four owners want their Danny Yu, Gary Yau, Shetwai restaurant to look even better Seto and Executive Chef Peter than it does. Chan, had another one on And so, with a few head-nods and the east side ... It wasn't long smiles, it will soon complete a new look after opening Hong Hua in along with a highly styled revamped menu Farmington Hills that they that will include additional dishes to go decided to concentrate all their along with its present favorites. efforts into just one. Celebrating its 12th anniversary, Hong As a result, its standing is Hua on Orchard Lake Road just north more than just a very good of 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, is no Chinese restaurant ... And ordinary Chinese restaurant ... When among those who are consid- completed, the cosmetic interior changes ered aficionados of Chinese dining, the thinking is much higher as Hong Hua con- and alterations, along with additional items, are expected to enliven even more tinues to gather honors. Celebrating its 12th anniversary, many the tasty dining which has been drawing raves. of its dishes today easily place Hong Hua It has been named a Restaurant of the in a gourmet class of Hong Kong culinary Year a Zagat selection as one of America's excellence. best Chinese dining establishments and Twelve years may not sound like much, numerous other but in the restaurant business, that long awards. First-time visitors without a hitch is to Hong Hua some- much cause for ela- time show a strange tion by its owners look as they wonder ... Also a lot of eye- if their ordered dish brow-lifting by other was true Chinese restaurateurs. food. One of the own- Yes it is, but not ers, Executive Chef Hong Hua owners Danny Yu, Gary Yau, the Cantonese way Peter Chan, is noted Shetwai Seto and Executive Chef/ that they may be highly for his inno- partner Peter Chan. accustomed to ... vative ways in the Hong Hua selections culinary preparation are not the same, having Hong Kong styl- of fine Asian dishes, working on different ing, but taste buds are highly satisfied with methods in preparing favorites in such return visits for the Asian-fare enjoyment. a way as to bring out even more elegant The saying that pertains to "not being taste delights ... Chef Chan's kitchen able to ride two horses with one rear end" prominence is well documented with a is an expression that has been especially diversified menu that also includes dishes prevalent in the restaurant business ... Of not usually found in a Cantonese- or course, it does not pertain to all restaura- Szechuan-style restaurant. teurs, who, in their own way, have proven The other three owners carry out the otherwise. daily routines of restaurant possession When Hong Hua Chinese restaurant with constant presence in assisting their originally opened at the former Bill waitpersons when needed, along with other chores necessitated in the thriving of a successful restaurant. READER MINI REVIEW ...From Susan Sherbow ... "My husband, Mark, and I recently dined at Chandler's on Howard Street in Petoskey, one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The restaurant's main section is reminiscent of a 1950s rec- reation room with knotty pine throughout, a bar where locals hang out and the walls filled with paint- ings for sale. "I had the sauteed veal tenderloin sca- loppini which was nicely browned and very tender. It was served with a creamy gnocchi that was perfectly salted and in a mild cheese sauce. Sauteed asparagus and wild mushrooms completed the meal. "Mark ordered scallops from the day's special menu, served with grilled arti- chokes, roasted beets, dry-cured salami, orange, mint, goat cheese, fennel and a dill vinaigrette. This wide variety of flavors blended well, creating a delicate sauce for the scallops, even though the salami's flavor was a little strong for Mark's taste. We also enjoyed the friendly service and entertainment provided by the chefs pre- paring and plating these inventive dishes in an open kitchen:" GOOD GENERAL MANAGER DEPT. ... Darlene Peterson at Buddy's Restaurant Pizzeria, Northwestern Highway, Farmington Hills ... Her gracious smile relaxes customers and Darlene's servers also win by being shown the correct way to wait on their tables and booths ... She is always on hand to assist the employ- ees when needed and make certain that Buddy's dining attendees enjoy their visit. MAKING ROUNDS ... To Cork Wine Pub, Woodward Pleasant Ridge, for pan- seared duck breast ... To Il Gabbiano, Erie Street, Windsor, for linguine with shrimp in tomato sauce ... To Harbor Steak House, Orchard Lake Road, Keego Harbor, for New York steak stuffed with shrimp, mushrooms and onions ... To Hill Seafood and Chop House, Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Farms, for broiled Lake Superior whitefish with white-wine glaze. MAIL DEPT.... "Do you remember when the Beefcarver used to be called the Beefeater before the gin company sued them for trademark infringement and when there were a bunch of loca- tions in the Detroit area? I still love the one in Royal Oak and another one located Downriver when I get to that area. It has the best strawberry and rhubarb pie in town ... Patrick Labadie. REUNION DEPT. ... Forty-year togeth- erness by Berkley High School is this Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Embassy Suites Livonia ... For more info and tickets, call Andrea (Andi Rott) Solomon, (248) 626- 3421. OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... Three men, a Frenchman, an Italian and a Jewish gent were condemned to be executed ... Their captors told them that they had the right to have a final meal before the execu- tion ... They asked the Frenchman what he wanted ... "Give me some good French wine and French bread, he requested. So they gave it to him, he ate it, and then they executed him. Next it was the Italian's turn. Give me a big plate of pasta," said the Italian. So they brought it to him. He ate it, and then they executed him. Now it was the Jew's turn. "I want a big bowl of strawberries," said the Jew ... "Strawberries!!! They aren't even in season!" "So I'll wait". CONGRATS ... To Bernard "Bernie" Beigel on his 90th birthday ... To Carol Weiss on her birthday ... To Morris Margulies on his birthday. ❑ Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . AMERICAN PRIME. iTALIAN f LAVOR. Ill [)r(I)fl ke you (milli tiny wonderful food mut dic vely het,i dining iIi Metm D( "IN)11. Appehio!" gt. 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