arts & entertainment >> the best of everything Smile And Say, 'Cheese' Cheesecake Factory restaurant opens at Novi's Twelve Oaks. p yummy formula. Among the fare enjoyed by me and Alethea Rowe, Cheesecake Factory's fine senior director, public rela- tions and brand manage- ment, were menu items that have made it a huge favorite ... Like its most popular dish, Chicken Madiera (sauteed breast topped with fresh asparagus and melted mozzarella cheese and covered with fresh mushroom sauce), avocado eggrolls (the avocado filling is made by Cheesecake Factory), beets with goat cheese and pecans, and other goodies plus, of course, Linda's Fudge Cake with its layers of rich chocolate cake and fudge frosting. Seating of 225 at Twelve Oaks may be smaller, but the new 8,430-square-foot size is more compact and less crowded-looking ... It will probably be the prototype of other Cheesecake Factory restaurants to come ... As will be the striking decor of new hand-painted murals above the open kitchen instead of on the ceiling. Location of the Cheesecake Factory is the former Tin Fish restaurant site between Nordstrom's and Lord & Taylor. WINNER OF THE recent second annu- al Detroit Burger Brawl 2013 by Fairway Packing at Eastern Market was Nor 4 comfort food regular One-Eyed Betty's, Ferndale ... Second place went to upscale Rattlesnake Club, Detroit ... Dual honors were given to ... Local Kitchen & Bar, Ferndale, and Firekeepers Casino, Battle Creek, for presentation; Townhouse, Birmingham, and Red Crown, Grosse Pointe, for flavor; Green Dot Stables, Detroit, and O'Connor's Public House, Founder and CEO David Overton at the front desk Rochester, for creativity. of the new Cheesecake Factory at Twelve Oaks in More than 2,000 people, nearly Novi. triple last year's attendance, OTPOURRI Pre-opening ceremonies and lunch at Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi, prior to Cheesecake Factory's recently opened first venture into the Metropolitan Detroit area, brought many recognized waitperson faces from other dining ven- tures here. Even, too, from places like the Jewish News, where Laurel Schwartz worked 15 years ago ... Gals like Adrienne McDonald from Cafe Rendezvous in West Bloomfield, Shari Huiy from McCormick & Schmick's in Troy, amid numerous other smiling waitperson faces. Founder and CEO David Overton's childhood friends from elementary and high school here dining with him at Cheesecake Factory during its mock training meals included Dr. Allen Kash, to whom David's mom, Evelyn Overton, used to pay 50 cents to deliver her cheese- cakes; Mark Carney, David Silver and Bob Anderson, three of the young men who attended James Vernor Elementary School with David, etc. Sephardic Jew Linda Candioty, vice president, guest experience, worked with David and sister Renee's parents, Oscar and Evelyn Overton, in the bakery back in 1976 when in North Hollywood, help- ing create recipes ... The luscious Linda's Fudge Cake at Cheesecake Factory is her donated $10 each to dine on all- you-can-eat burgers (in excess of 5,000 pounds supplied by Fairway, including all the meat blends used to make them) and side dishes by participants ... Proceeds went to Gleaners Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. READER MINI REVIEW ... by Dennis Silber ... "Among the favorite restaurants of Debbie and mine in Boca Raton for brunch and dinner is Saquella Cafe on Via De Palmas, a wonderful place to eat and watch from their beautiful patio. "Brunch is worth the wait. We usually go there with a few other couples so we can share Saquella's Tuscan omelet topped with brie and caramelized onions on fresh-baked brioche, egg white florentine omelet with spinach and feta cheese, accompanied by delicious seven-grain bread. Also its thick and tasty Belgian waffles and a choice of berries, chocolate chips and whipped cream. "We also love the homemade organic Swiss Muesli and wide variety of sand- wiches such as rustic goat cheese baguette, chicken Waldorf and homemade toasted garlic bread with fresh roast beef. "We try to get there at least once every couple of weeks. Their salads, Raspberry Vin Gorgonzola and Citrus Avocado, are specialties that we enjoy. We thoroughly enjoy the chicken on panini-pressed seven-grain ciabetta bread and Caribbean mahi mahi with mango cilantro salsa and pistachio-crusted cod. Also Saquella's Asian stir fry and shrimp risotto. Its homemade desserts, too:' QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT.... "Why is it called Happy Hour when it is always more than an hour?" ... Roberta Sanweis. [It originally lasted only an hour and the term was never changed ... Actually cor- rect name of the popular segment might be Happy Hours or Happy Time.] WHAT A GREAT WAY to celebrate his Clippers Barber Shop anniversary, thought Hershal Gross ... 24 years at Applegate Square on Northwestern Highway and Inkster, Southfield, from where he had moved to after five years at another loca- tion on Northwestern. He is a very dedicated and avid golfer, so was thrilled at the prospect of having his first hole-in-one in 35 years of playing the green on the date that his shop opened at Applegate. It was a tremendous drive off the open- ing tee on the 185-yard fourth hole at White Lake Golf Course ... The hefty shot was straight as an arrow toward a golfing bull's-eye but, alas, hit the marker still standing defiantly in the hole, with the doomed ball falling just a few feet away from Hershel's almost-dream celebration. REUNION DEPT. ... Correction ... Name of leader lady with Ralph Woronoff at the recent 1953 Central High reunion is Debbie (Michaels) Iwrey. OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... Israel's economy was in bad shape with inflation getting higher. So, the Knesset held a spe- cial session to come up with a solution. After several hours of talk without prog- ress, one member stands up and says, "Quiet, everyone. I've got the solution to all our prob- lems. We'll declare war on the United States:' Everyone starts shouting at once, "You're nuts! That's crazy!" "Hear me out!" he says. "We declare war. We lose. The United States does what she always does when she defeats a country. She rebuilds everything, our highways, airports, shipping ports, schools, hospitals, factories, and loans us money and sends us food aid. Our problems would be over:' "Sure says another minister, "that's if we lose. But what if we win?" CONGRATS ... To Daryl Sklar on his 61st birthday ... To Jackie Bernhardt on her 90th birthday ... To Dr. Morton Lazar on his 100th birthday ... To Sander and Barbara Papo on their 55th anniversary. ❑ Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. Wishing our Customers Health;Happiness and prosperity 1 • Full Bar! • 8 wi Ikei i • • Catering & Carry-Out 126 August 29 • 2013 Jry ri OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK I • • 4 • New Comedy Club coming Sept. 26th in our lower level every Thurs., Fri. and Sat. BEST Lamb Chops, Period! .• I • Sat. & Sun. Brunch $10.99 adults Serving • .. - 11 1111111111111" 4' • 40380 Grand River • Novi • 248-615-2102 • Bigtommys.com Between Haggerty & Meadowbrook on the north side 1860900