arts & entertainment >> the best of everything A Class Act Prime 29 shows off its customer satisfaction approach. W HEN A RESTAURANT holds lamb chops, etc. ... in addition its official public grand open- to choice wines, fruits, cheese ing and ribbon-cutting more station, pastries like carrot than two months after throwing open cake balls on skewers, cup- its doors to the public, much then is told cakes, cookies, brownies, plus about the eatery and its owners. creme brulee, chocolate-cov- Although maybe considered by some ered strawberries, fruits, etc. ... as being a bit too long time-wise, it would Also a live orchestra and much seem like a very good thing to do in mak- conviviality for an all-around ing certain that everything is according to pleasurable evening. their plans for as much customer content- MINI READER REVIEW ment as possible. ... From Susan Sherbow This is what the new Prime 29 "During our recent trip Up Steakhouse on Maple, off Orchard Lake North, Mark and I stopped for Road, in the Old Orchard Mall, West lunch at Amical's on East Front Street in Bloomfield, recently did in a very classy Traverse City. The restaurant does a brisk way of telling the public that it is ready for business all year long so it might be wise a more complete satisfac- to call ahead for reserva- tory consumer attendance tions. I enjoyed my butter- ... It held an "all-out" open nut squash ravioli served house for more than 300 in a light cream sauce people who attended in with a sprinkle of peas on what seemed like a never- top. The squash was sweet ending throng for the com- and the pasta thin and bination grand opening, delicate. The contrast of ribbon-cutting ceremony colors also made the dish and casual reception in appealing to look at. Mark Prime 29 co- owner Joe showing off Prime 29's ordered Croque Monsieur, Barbat and 0 akiand County "look at us now" theme. which always reminds Treasurer And y Meisner Expense be darned, it him of our past trips to appeared, in favor of show- Paris. The thinly sliced ing off topnotch service by wonderful wait ham and gruyere were nestled between people and all-around employee smiles slices of sourdough bread. The sandwich along with luscious food prepared by very was grilled until the cheese melted, then excellent Executive Chef Hai Ying, one of topped with a béchamel sauce. This was this area's best, and her staff ... The huge one of the best Croque Monsieurs we have throng of attendees enjoyed almost 3,000 had outside of Paris, and Traverse City is pieces of hors d'oeuvres that included certainly more accessible:" shrimp cocktail, oysters Rockefeller, fried DANDY DINING DEAL ... Short Ribs lobster, seared Ahi tuna, crab cakes, ... complete with soup or salad, potato Caprese salad, filet mignon, red snapper, and vegetable ... $6.95 ... One week only, seared salmon, Chilean sea bass, seared Thursday, Oct. 25, through Thursday, scallops, pan-seared lobster claws, potato Nov. 1 ... Siegel's Deli, 15 Mile, just west of Croquette, glazed vegetables, creamed Haggerty, Commerce Township. spinach, guacamole, New York strip, red GOOD SERVER DEPT ... For smiling, wine-braised short ribs, succulent rack of congenial and efficient Wai Yee U, who Chef Travis Waynick "glamorizes the lesser cuts so many ask for — and there are quite a few ... simply say "Catherine" ... The favorite waitperson of many has been a stalwart at Shangri-La West Bloomfield, Orchard Mall, Maple and Orchard Lake roads, since it took over the former Rikshaw Inn site 19 years ago. QUESTION & ANSWER ... "I have gotten different answers from everybody I ask. Who are the owners of the Joe Muer Seafood restaurant now in Detroit?" ... Sylvia Stegman [The only person that I know of own- ing Joe Muer Seafood in the Renaissance Center, Detroit, is Joe Vicari, also owner of the Andiamo Italian Restaurants and Andiamo Steak Houses.] MAKING ROUNDS ... To Franklin Grille, Franklin, for premises-made corn chowder ... To New Seoul Gardens, Southfield, for beef barbecued on a table- top grill ... To Thang Long, Madison Heights, for Vietnamese barbecued duck ... To Roma Café, Detroit, for veal saltimbocca. MAIL DEPT. ... "Thank you for recom- mending Pegasus Taverna in Greektown when I wrote to tell you that my daughter, Heidi, and my grandkids, Alex and Anna, were coming to see me. They have been to Greece many times, since Heidi takes her Villanova University students there every other summer, so they know what authen- tic Greek food should be like. "They were not disappointed in your recommendations. Heidi ordered tzatziki (yogurt-garlic dip), saganaki (flaming cheese), melanzane salata (eggplant dip), pastitsio, horiatiki and roast lamb and pipera (stuffed peppers with feta). "Greektown has retained some of its charm even though the casino has obliter- ated Trapper's Alley, even to the loss of October 25 • 2012 iN Euni Rose PLEASE TELL ME when you visit a restaurant and see the kitchen employees wearing gloves ... Especially those who handle or touch food ... I will be proud to pass on this very sanitary information to the many who have asked about it. OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT ... The fellow had been drinking at a bar until the bartender finally said they were closing, so he stood up to leave and fell flat on his face ... He tried to stand one more time with the same result ... Finally, the gent figured he'd crawl outside and get some fresh air and maybe that would sober him up ...Once outside, he stood up but fell flat on his face again, so decided to crawl the four blocks to his home ... Arriving at the door, the gent stood up, fell on his face again and crawled into his bedroom ... Reaching the bed, he tried one more time to stand up ... This time he managed to pull himself upright, but quickly fell right into bed and sound asleep. The next morning the fellow was awakened by his wife, standing over him shouting, "So, you've been out drinking!"... "What makes you say that?" he asked, putting on an innocent look ... "The bar called:' she said. "You left your wheelchair there" CONGRATS ... To Scott Raskin on his 51st birthday ... To Sharon Schultz on her birthday ... To Sarah Schultz on her birth- day ... To Larry Dictor on his birthday. E Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . The Fig and Melon Salier with Heirloo "is one of the best all summer." \\NI\ - Sylvia Rector, Detroit Free Press Reservations 248-737-96004 84 the marvelous brass "cages" where the trappers brought their furs. We were so happy to see that the Astoria Bakery was still there and went to it following the Tigers game for the special Greek pastry that Heidi, Alex and Anna have enjoyed in Greece. It was a glorious experience"