arts & entertainment >> the best of everything
Well-Anchored
Detroit Seafood Market marks two successful years in Paradise Valley.
U
sually when a new restaurant
the Seafood Platter served for
reaches its first year of opera-
dinner on Friday, Saturday
tion, the verdict as to its future
and Sunday (shrimps, scallops,
is almost assured ... Some may reach that
salmon and grilled lobster
first year without too many hitches but
tail) ... or the much-requested
then begin to falter.
three-tiered appetizer with
The second year anniversary, in most
raw oysters on the half-shell,
instances, really tells the true story ...
shrimp cocktail and king crab
And it certainly has in the case of Detroit
legs.
Seafood Market, celebrating its second
No one in this region serves
birthday with the bright light that signals
the Spanish Paella in four
success.
different ways ... seafood,
Detroit Seafood Market's beginning two
chicken and sausage or veg-
years ago was an almost immediate win-
etarian, with half-size for one or full-size
ner... First, by being located in a sector
for two or three persons ... And the trio of
of Detroit that once was a highly visited
three deep-water lobster tails served over
locale of great jazz entertainment.
jasmine rice, or the very fine Flounder
Also, by the excellent food served, which Rockefeller stuffed with creamed spinach,
has since even further justified its lofty
parmesan cheese and Chef/Co-Owner
acceptance.
Leonardo Vulagi's noted Rockefeller mix
Detroit Seafood Market, located on
with a touch of Greek liqueur served over
Randolph, Detroit, in the
sauteed vegetables.
formerly named Harmonie
Big sellers are Detroit
Park that is now called
Seafood Market's salmon
Paradise Valley, where in
stuffed with crab and
days past many dined and
shrimp and topped with a
lived among greats from
fine lemon sauce ... Lobster
the world of jazz enter-
Mac and Cheese ... And the
tainment, fetes its second
Florida snapper topped with
anniversary amidst a flurry
lump crabmeat.
of kudos from lovers of sea- Co-Partners Ken Akinwale
Many people take full
and Chef Leon ardo Vulagi
farin' goodies.
advantage of the wonderful
The restaurant had taken
Wednesday evening dinner
over the modestly accepted
special (4-10 p.m.) of all-
site of a previous seafood operation, and
you-can-eat crab legs, and soup or salad,
greatly improved preparations and presen- $30 ... And of the feature on Monday
tations by culinary leaps.
nights of dinner-for-two that includes
The demise of a seafood restaurant at
choice of appetizer, selection from seven
that location might have brought question
highly ordered entrees, dessert choice
marks about a new dining operation that
and bottle of wine, $49 for two people ...
served the same style of food ... However, if Reservations are required for the latter.
anything, previous customers soon discov-
Chef Vulagi, co-owner with Ken
ered a change that has turned out to be an
Akinwale, is well noted among numerous
even better choice.
localites, with his successful tours of din-
Seafood items not seen before have
ing duties including Larco's, Andiamo, etc.
vaulted Detroit Seafood Market into a
... Since opening two years ago, almost
class of its own, with superior items like
400,000 have come through the doors
to indulge on the delicious
offerings that include about
6,000 pounds of shrimp, about
14,000 pounds of salmon,
around 4,000 gallons of soup,
etc.
Like the many jazz musi-
cians of yesteryears who
graced the streets and res-
taurants of Paradise Valley,
Detroit Seafood Market also
blows a loud horn of success
that brings people back.
MAIL DEPT.
"Why is it called
Detroit Prime when it is in Farmington
Hills?" ... Mort Gruenbaum
[Matt Prentice answers this ... "Years
back, my mother (Margaret Prentice)
showed me a black-and-white photo of
a city scene from the 1940s and asked if
I knew what city I was looking at. 'New
York?' and she shook her head. 'Chicago?'
again she shook no. 'Boston?' no again.
Finally, I gave up and asked where it was.
She said 'Detroit: and I was shocked.
"It became an obsession with me when
I went into the restaurant business that
someday I would open a restaurant,
regardless where, that would be a tribute
to Detroit in its 1940s heyday. When the
Northwestern Highway space became avail-
able, I jumped to finally create my dream".]
Remembered at Detroit Prime are
Hudson's, the Guardian Building, Tiger
Stadium, Boblo, Sanders, Vernor's,
Hitsville USA, Stroh's, the Penobscot
Building, the historic Detroit Fire Station,
Belle Isle Conservatory, Henry the Hatter,
S.S. Kresge, Michigan Central Depot,
Orchestra Hall, Olympia, Majestic Theatre
and Eastern Market.
CELEBRATING ITS 23RD Stone Crab
season, owner Dan Dunsky at O'Brien's
Crabhouse, Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills,
reminds folks that the best time in
Michigan to enjoy Stone Crab Claws is
now until Thanksgiving ... And that the
recent shipments he has been receiving are
better than ever.
BACK IN THE days of prohibition,
business names were used that would not
create suspicion of liquor on the premises
... Thus, in keeping with its theme appear-
ance and clever presentation is the unusu-
ally named Oakland Art Novelty Company
on West Nine Mile Road, Ferndale.
No novelties at this bar, no food either,
owned by Sandy Levine, husband of
the former Sheila Goldberg of the Stage
Delicatessen family.
Sandy's interior-decorator mother,
Donna Heligman, owner of the onetime
Bardone's Interior Design at Applegate
Square in Southfield, designed the throw-
back Prohibition-era decor for her son.
No novelties or food, but plenty of hand-
crafted hard drinks created by Sandy.
REUNION DEPT. ... 30th year shin-
dig by Oak Park High Class of 1982 is
Saturday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m., at Regency
Manor of Southfield ... For more info, call
Diane Diem, (734) 716-7410, or email her:
did129@yahoo.com.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... David
is telling a new joke to Yossi ... "Yitzhak
and Hymie were talking one day ..." Right
away, Yossi interrupts him, "Always with
the Jewish jokes! Give it a rest! Why do
your jokes always have to be about Jews?
Just change the names to another ethnic
group for once!" So David starts again,
"Hashimoto and Suzuki were talking one
day at their nephew's bar mitzvah ..."
CONGRATS ... To Melissa Litvin on
her birthday ... To Dennis Green on his
birthday ... To twins Marilyn Saperstein
and Lenore Averbach on their birthdays
... To Sylvia Chodun on her birthday ...
To Barbara Sherman on her birthday ...
To Bert Green on his 50th birthday ... To
Sally Lux on her 99th birthday ... To Kathy
Kwiecinski on her birthday.
❑
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.
Novi MAKE YOUR SPECIAL DAY COMPLETE
WITH AN EVENT AT ANDIAMO NOV1 a
LET ANDIAMO
Whether it's a wedding, rehearsal dinner or shower, let us design
a custom event that suits your style, taste and budget *
• Full service event planning staff available • Never a Room Fee
• Banquet rooms available from 20 - 500 guests ...Valet available
NEW Bar/Bat Mitzvah packages available. Call for details.
Plus tax and gratuity
Contact Rachael Love, Catering Sales Manager at 248-348-3838
76
November 1 • 2012
andiamoitalia.com
NOVI
42705 GRAND RIVER AVE. I NOVI, MI 48375 I 248-348-3838