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Downtown Vegas' new D Hotel & Casino
offers a pair of classic Detroit eateries.

T

he dining sensation at the beautiful recognize is that of Rick
new D Hotel & Casino in the down- Therrien, former COO of the
town sector of Las Vegas, opened
Matt Prentice Group and with
by former Detroiters Derek and Greg
Joe Vicari at Brownies on
Stevens, is also a hidden ambition held by a
the Lake and his Joe Muer's
popular Detroit dining icon.
Seafood in the GM Global
Joe Vicari's Andiamo Italian Steakhouse
Renaissance Center ... Rick is
at the D is the realization of his longtime
now director of restaurant and
silent desire to include an Andiamo in Las
banquet operations at the D
Vegas after frequent visits there to catch
Hotel & Casino.
acts there that he would bring back to his
Performing during our visit
Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren
to the D included another
... and various Andiamo dining emporiums joyful eye-opener ... Seeing
in the Metropolitan Detroit area.
and thoroughly enjoying
My recent visit to Las Vegas would not
the Scintas singing, comedy, etc., backed
have been complete without a look-see at
by an eight-piece orchestra, was again, as
the new D that took over at the site ... and
always, priceless ... It is about 18 years
I mean just the site ... The rebuilding and
since Joe Vicari saw them in Cleveland, and
facelift of the former Fitzgerald Hotel on
the Scintas have become the only act that
Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas is
appears two times yearly at Joe's Andiamo
beyond words ... Although off The Strip, it
Celebrity Showroom in Warren, selling out
has become a huge "must" draw for many
every appearance.
when visiting Las Vegas.
Joe and Dick Scott originally got the
Seeing the Joe Vicari Italian Steakhouse
Scintas their start in Las Vegas, where they
and American Coney Island were thrills
now appear Wednesday-Saturday in the D
that many will not soon forget ... In their
Showroom ... Although not with their sis-
own ways, both are epitomes among the
ter Chrissy because of her lingering throat
best that Detroit has to offer.
problem, brothers Frankie and Joe are very
Joe Vicari's Andiamo Italian
capably accompanied by Janien
Steakhouse in Las Vegas has only
Valentine, whose vocal renditions
been open about six months,
and stage presence are top-grade.
but already people are coming
Those who haven't seen
from The Strip to dine there
downtown Las Vegas for years
because of the popular prices
will now witness an enormous
and excellent food put out by
change ... The glittering, seem-
Executive Chef Joe Parrino, who
ingly reborn atmosphere, hard-
was formerly kitchen head at
to-believe low prices, fun times,
Joe Vica ri
the Andiamo on Telegraph in
etc., have replaced what was
Bloomfield Township.
once just a so-so region.
Also wonderful service by waitpersons
Prior to the three days in Las Vegas,
like John "Yanni" Bellos, whose "lost art"
I enjoyed four days in San Francisco ...
tableside creation of a Caesar salad mixed
Wonderful dining except for some of its
in a wooden bowl brings smiles of approval, Jewish-style delicatessens that left much to
as does his deboning and presentation of
be desired ... No coffee served at Morty's;
Dover sole, among other fine Andiamo
corned beef and eggs only until noon
Steakhouse dishes of prime steaks, Italian
at Miller's and Wise and Sons, the latter
favorites, seafood choices, etc.
also with bagels served only on Saturday;
Another very familiar face many will
Moishe's Pippic with just tea, no coffee.

Good San Francisco dining
is always among the best ...
And a top reason why places
like Tadich Grill on California
Street are considered among the
nation's finest.
THE CLOSING of Morels fol-
lows the same unfortunate fate
of its next-door sister restaurant,
the also-shuttered Detroit Prime
... on Northwestern Highway,
Farmington Hills ... In its stead
will be a style of restaurant
operation that was originally
intended to be at the former Morels site in
the first place.
It will become a full-service Greek din-
ing venture using the former Greektown
name of New Hellas instead of Mykonos
... Excellent Executive Chef Demetrios
Papatriantafyllou (better known as "Jimmy
Pappas"), co-owner years ago of Hellas
Cafe with Gus Anton when it opened
back in 1962, and General Manager Tony
Hadjisofroniou, need little introduction.
DANDY DINING DEAL ... Anniversary
super special ... Dinner or lunch through
August (except Saturday evenings) ...
16-ounce chopped prime filet/prime sirloin
steak, covered with sauteed mushrooms
and onions and rich, garlic Burgundy sauce
... $9.95 ... Includes Potatoes Lelli, vegeta-
ble and bread basket with house-made gar-
lic Reggiano rolls, etc. ... Steven Lelli's On
the Green, 12 Mile Road, between Halsted
and Haggerty, Farmington Hills.
RESTAURANTS AND CHEFS galore,
among other fun food folks, will be the stars
at Fairway Packing's Second Annual Detroit
Burger Brawl, Saturday, Aug.10, 11 a.m.-2
p.m., at historic Eastern Market, Erskine,
between Russell and Rivard, Detroit.
Guys and gals will sample hamburg-
ers from Beau Jack's, Whitney, Prime 29,
Townhouse Bistro, Cafe Via, Motor City
Casino and many more food emporiums.
A panel of local food judges, along with
Burger Brawl attendees, will select finalists,

D Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas

with the ultimate winner noted as "Detroit's
Best Burger of 2013'.'
The judge's panel will include Susan
Selasky, Detroit Free Press; John Gonzalez,
MLive; Michael Urbin, executive chef,
MGM Grand Detroit; and myself.
Admission will be $10 per person with
proceeds going to Gleaner's Food Bank of
Southeast Michigan.
NEW DISHES available through Sept.
7 during the annual "Made in Michigan
Summer" menu at Steve & Rocky's on
Grand River, Novi, include grilled Atlantic
Swordfish Rockefeller, lightly smoked breast
of free-range chicken, grilled bone-in sir-
loin, Maine lobster, delicious desserts, etc.
... The specialty dishes were developed by
Chefs Steve Allen and Jeff Evans.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... A fel-
low saw the rabbi's gold watch laying on the
bimah and took it. He didn't feel too good
about it, so after a sleepless night decided
to go to the rabbi, even though the rabbi
hadn't missed it yet.
"Rabbi, I took a gold watch that didn't
belong to me he said.
"That is forbidden:' replied the rabbi.
"You should return it immediately!"
"What should I do?" asked the fellow.
"Give it back to the owner; said the rabbi.
"Do you want it?" asked the fellow.
"No; replied the rabbi, "I said return it to
its owner."
"But he doesn't want it:' said the man.
"In that case said the rabbi, "you can
keep
CONGRATS ... To Mary Lou Zieve on
her birthday ... To Stuart Wilhelm on his
80th birthday ... To Harvey Berman on
his birthday ... To Mary Must on her 94th
birthday.

❑

Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

custom event that suits your Style, Neste at di liniget

ITALIAN 4/

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36

August 1 • 2013

JN

2 banquet rooms that can fit up to 150 guests
Full service catering from cocktail parties
and strolling dinners to chef plated meals
in your home, business or venue
Email banquetswest@andiamoitalia.com
for more information

Nip

6676 Telegraph Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48301 248-865-9300 www.andiamoitalia.com