arts & entertainment >> the best of everything Relax And Enjoy! Casual, arty new interior enhances Steve & Rocky's creative menu. p OTPOURRI ... Rocky's menu brings much New impressive look at Steve culinary delight that can now & Rocky's, Grand River, Novi, be enjoyed surrounded by a has given this fine restaurant the kind of more impressive informal and atmosphere that makes for a pleasant din- casual attractiveness. ing experience. THERE IS A different look The strikingly modern atmosphere corn- at each of the three Andiamo plements the excellent food prepared by Italian restaurants that have co-owner/chef Steve Allen and the kitchen changed to steakhouse opera- tions (Bloomfield Township, staff of Steve and business partner Chuck "Rocky" Rackwitz. Warren and Livonia) ... But if Present seating with all-new chairs, decor now at the Bloomfield beautiful window treatments, spacious locale, Telegraph and Maple, is any indication, all three have and comfortable-looking dining area that formerly sat 210 reduced to 190 seats a striking steakhouse appearance, if there for more graceful surroundings, etc., all is such a thing ... Plain and simple with making dining at Steve & Rocky's a much- no frills ... All follow the main concept, relaxed happening. too, of today's true steakhouse, also having The new look is amid wonderful custom plenty of chicken, fish and seafood dishes metal art by Peter Loren, former executive to select from by those who may desire an chef at Charley's Crab, Opus One and for entree other than steak or cannot eat meat. the multi-restaurant Wisne Group, etc., In the Andiamo Italian Steakhouse's and now heading the case, they go steps fur- food goodness at Nino ther with Italian veal Salvaggio Markets ... specialties and pasta What began as just a and, according to Jerry hobby years back for Vitale, Joe Vicari's Peter is today a design- managing partner on er's dream collection of Telegraph, customers metal art. can just call ahead if Steve & Rocky's any former favorites annual Made in not on the menu now Steve Allen and C huck "Rocky" Michigan summertime Rackwitz are wanted, and it'll be dining program con- prepared for them. tinues through Sunday, DANDY DINING Sept. 9, with items like Steve Allen's deli- DEAL ... Fresh roasted one-half Empire cious Allen Farmhouse Heirloom Tomato chicken dinner (kosher poultry), includes Salad, grilled shitake mushroom salad, soup (chicken noodle), Anna roasted pota- flatiron steak, smoked chicken breast, pan- to, vegetable, challah and dessert (prem- seared salmon, baked whitefish, etc., along ises-made brownie) ... $8.95 one week with its regular notable menu listings that only, Thursday, Aug.30 through Thursday, include added food surprises on many Sept. 6, Dine In Only ... Bloom's Jewish plates. Cuisine at Vineyards Cafe Northwestern About those tomatoes, Steve grows Highway between Middlebelt and 14 Mile, 38 varieties at his six-acre farm near Farmington Hills. Hartland, Mich., on which he has about READER MINI REVIEW ... From 1,100 vegetable plantings. Jerry Silecchia ... "My wife, Doreen, our The beautifully diversified Steve & daughter Andrea and son-in-law Dr. John Papadopoulos, recently went to Mackinac Island. Our first night we dined at the very quaint Woods restaurant with its decor akin to an old hunt- ing lodge. Doreen, Andrea and I had the moist and delicious whitefish almondine served with buttermilk-mashed pota- toes. John enjoyed his veal osso buco with roasted pars- nips and spaetzle. "The next evening, we dined al fresco at the Gate House, where Doreen and I shared delectable steamed mussels and crispy onion-crusted Michigan whitefish served with sauteed Broccolini. John had fish and chips and Andrea savored the pecan chicken served with Carolina gold rice and green beans. "Our last stop, Mary's Bistro, adjacent to the Starlight boat dock, served a mag- nificent signature dish that John shared with Andrea and me. It is the Spit-Fired Chicken, a half-chicken basted in garlic oil and served with fresh vegetables. Doreen said that her BLT&A Panini (bacon, lettuce and tomato with avocado) was wonderful." QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT.... "I always hear a lot about Caesar salads but have never had one. After reading about it in your column, I asked my wife, Ellen, if she ever had one. She says that she had but just with lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons and Caesar dressing. Is there a difference?" ... Sidney Kirman [I call the one your wife had a salad with bottled Caesar dressing ... The originator, Cesare Cardini, chef and owner of his res- taurant in Tijuana, Mexico, mixed it with romaine lettuce, olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, raw egg yolks, freshly grated Parmesan cheese and freshly prepared croutons ... Cesare used a wooden bowl that was rubbed tableside with fresh ground garlic.] Now taking orders for Rosh Hashanah Herb Roasted 1/2 Chicken $ i Roasted 1/2 Honey Apple Chicken $ I 6. 99per person Stuffed Chicken Breast Marmalade $ Lean Roast Beef Brisket $ I 9. 99per person with all Rosh Hashanah Orders. 0-person min) in " Stooto's uses OA POW leo:Was atvl cocked e*telten sep otat 40, 10r- Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. COMPLETE DINNERS & A LA CARTE COMPLETE DINNERS CHOICES: Hoiiday Honey C ke HE IS CALLED "The American Miracle" by Brno newspaper in the Czech Republic, as former Detroiter, concert pianist David Syme, continues to stun audiences throughout the world, including excellent performances from his master- ful bestselling rendition CD of Gershwin Live ... The brother of Temple Beth El's Rabbi Daniel Syme, and son of the late Rabbi emeritus of Temple Israel, M. Robert Syme, is referred to by the London Times as "the immensely accomplished American pianist!' David's 28th CD, Music from the Ahabeg Road, earmarked for the Irish market, is tilled after the street where he and wife Suzanne reside and will live totally in Ireland's County Cork as of next July... Its 19 songs include "Mi Shiberach," the Jewish prayer for healing, "Yankee Doodle Variations:' as done by many numerous artists, classical and otherwise, etc. ... Scotland's Glasgow Herald calls David "a limitless source of colour and brilliance." His scheduled appearances for this locale is thus far with the Birmingham- Bloomfield Symphony, Oct. 21, and Grosse Pointe Symphony, Oct. 28 ... A Temple Israel date may also be forthcoming this year. TAKEN TO A casino for the first time, the gal was intrigued with roulette and asked her friend the best way to pick a number ... He said that a favorite one was putting the money on her age ... So she placed her $100 in chips on No. 29 ... When number 38 came up, she fainted. CONGRATS ... To Jackie Bernhardt on her 89th birthday ... To Allen Lippitt on his 75th birthday ... To Meyer Blackman on his 100th birthday ...To Bruce Clayton on his birthday ...To Caleb and Lenore Simon on their 40th anniversary ... To Jerry and Rena Cohen on their 50th anni- versary. E • 99per person r 4,1 • 1 7. 99per person All Complete Dinners Include: Chopped Vegetarian Liver or Beef Chopped Liver, Chicken Matzo Ball Soup or Mushroom Barley Soup, Roasted Potatoes Anna or Potato Kugel, Whole cut green bean Almondine and Holiday Challah Bread www.VineyardDeli.com NibblesAndNuts.com 1 7754 40 32418 Northwestern Hwy (Between Middlebett & 14 mile Rd.) 68 August 30 * 2012 Dinner orders 248-855-9463 Rosh Hashanah Holiday Gifts Shipped Nationwide; 248-737-8088