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Cleanliness Has Its Rewards

Golden Phoenix marks 12 years with high health department scores.

p

otpourri ...
Phoenix is one of the very few
Among the most important
still in existence.
essentials of a good restaurant that
Nothing fancy, no menu
seem to be somewhat ignored by many
changes, prices that haven't
people is cleanliness ... and strict adher-
varied in over five years ...
ence to healthy environmental factors.
Same hours. The only differ-
Scores given by trained member agents,
ence is the high health scores
such as the restaurant division of the
keep getting even higher.
Oakland County Health Department, are
THE COLORFUL OUTSIDE
very thorough in their findings.
is hard to miss ... So was the
Food taste and quality are important,
former one-story Big Boy res-
but so are how the food is prepared and
taurant that once stood there
the kind of environment in which it is
for those seeking Big Boy sand-
prepared.
wiches, Slim Jims, etc.
Because of this, restaurants like Golden
As a Mexican-style eatery now, the for-
Phoenix Chinese restaurant in Sugar Tree
mer one-story Big Boy is two stories of fun
Plaza, Orchard Lake Road, north of 15
decor with overhead glass doors that go up
Mile, West Bloomfield, can add a whop-
or down, mirrors on the ceiling above the
ping 98 percent score from the health
bar and a glassed-in kitchen with windows
department to the celebration of its 12th
for servers to pick up food.
anniversary.
The name is Mex on Telegraph and 15
In fact, since purchasing Golden
Mile, Bloomfield Township, a different
Phoenix 12 years ago, owners Shawn and
type, it would appear, of Mexican restau-
Helen Ng have each year attained scores in rant ... The menu selections are the same
the upper 90s.
spelling but much of the food in many
With such health grades it is small won-
instances seems altered from the Mexican
der that retirement parties by the Oakland
choice, with novel attempts at Mexican
County Health Department
picks of tequitos,
have been held there.
tamales, tacos, etc. ...
Years ago, neighborhood
The fish taco is a deli-
mom-and-pop restaurants
cious choice.
were in abundance, with
Make no mistake,
most of them associated
though, Mex is inter-
with Jewish delicatessens ...
estingly different,
Today, the only mom-and-
with seating for 209
pop deli left in the north-
on the two floors ... It
ii
west sector of Metropolitan
may not look to be a
Golden Phoen ix owners Helen
Detroit is Siegel's Deli on
true Mexican restau-
and Shawn N
15 Mile, west of Haggerty,
rant, but that is for
Commerce Township.
customers to decide.
The same is true with neighborhood
Owner Zack Sklar, the 27-year-old
Chinese restaurants ... People have rarely
son of Larry and Sherry Sklar of West
associated them with mom-and-pop oper-
Bloomfield, is a Culinary Institute of
ations ... But at one time, there were many America (CIA) graduate, noted for his
... Today, however, like the Jewish delica-
innovations in interesting cuisine prepara-
tessens, mom-and-pop Chinese eateries
tion ... He also owns Social Kitchen & Bar,
are no longer in abundance ... Golden
Birmingham.... To be sure, Mex may be

SOUTHERN

appealing to those who enjoy
interesting dining ... Enough
so as to satisfy many patrons
... and even see them come
back which, after all, is the true
backbone of any restaurant.
THOSE FOLKS WHO
remember the breaded veal
cutlets they used to get years
ago at Chinese restaurants
didn't care that the veal may
not have been the best or even
close to it ... They just loved

the taste.
But owner/chef Hamad Kukas at Pasta
Fagoli, just off Telegraph Road in the
Sugarbush Plaza on Square Lake Road,
Bloomfield Hills, has brought it back
using top-grade Provimi veal with choice
of plain or tomato gravy... It's not on the
menu ... just ask for the veal cutlet at his
and Janine's good little restaurant.
NEW RESTAURANTS continue to
open in the Metropolitan area of Detroit
Piada Italian Restaurant is scheduled
for late November on Big Beaver, Troy ...
Bozil, from Canada, will follow its recent
Great Lakes Crossing opening with two
more at 12 Oaks Mall, Novi and Fairlane,
Dearborn ... Both are chain operations.
THE TWO T's ARE back together
again ... Ted Stavropoulos is manager and
Tony Hadjisofroniou is general manager
at the recently opened New Hellas Greek
restaurant on Northwestern Highway,
Farmington Hills ... Both were formerly
together at Uptown Parthenon, Orchard
Lake Township ... Ted, 13 years, and Tony,
15 years.
MAIL DEPT ... "We were recently in
Savannah, Ga., and after enjoying seafood
at the riverfront restaurants, we came
upon a Greek restaurant there and had a
fantastic lamb dish. The owner came to
the table to ask how we enjoyed the din-
ner. He turned out to be Nick Pappas,
former owner of Mykonos restaurant in

Southfield, MI 48034
Ph. 248-352-1682

Place your order by Tues. 11/26 for pickup by Wed. 11/27

70

November 14 • 2013

❑

Danny's email address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

HAPPY HANUKKAH L THANKSGIVING!
HAPPY THANKSGIVVUKAH!
,'

Soulful vegetarian options for your holiday table! All the flavor without the meat or the work!

Meatless Entrees %gam

•
Plant Based Down Home Cooking
29540 Northwestern Hwy.

Greektown, Detroit, many years ago. If
anyone has wondered what happened to
Nick, he is alive and well and enjoying the
South for the past 26 years:' ... Marilyn
and Mel Rubin.
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Crumpets,
Troy, for hamburger with bleu cheese or
white wine ... To Lily's Seafood Grill and
Brewery, Royal Oak, for Lake Superior
whitefish dusted in malt flour.
NAMING IT THE Gerald E. Naftaly
Municipal Complex is a huge compliment
to the many years of service by the former
Oak Park mayor ... It certainly shows the
high esteem in which he is still held.
Jerry served 14 years as councilman and
then 20 more as mayor ... longer tenures
than former mayors Dave Shepherd and
Charlotte Rothstein.
NO SIREE ... THEY DON'T call him
"Reverend" for nothing in the newsroom
at the Detroit News ...Ace reporter and
editor Steve Pardo, hubby of Marks Layne
vice president, Leslie Pardo, was ordained
via the Internet and has already officiated
at three weddings ... One of them was the
ringing and kissing of their good friends
David and Eve Josar at the Whitney res-
taurant on Woodward, Detroit.
Steve and Leslie were married 12 years
ago at Temple Israel by Rabbi Harold Loss.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT ... At
a local restaurant, a young woman was
expounding on her idea of the perfect
mate to some of her friends. "The man I
marry must be a shining light among com-
pany. He must be musical. Tell jokes. Sing.
And stay home at night."
A cynical male listener at the next table
overheard and said, "Lady, what you really
want is a television set!"
CONGRATS ... To Kathie Anderson on
her birthday ... To Jeff Metzger on his birth-
day ... To Todd Skiba on his birthday.

Sides Items

Cajun Cutlet

B&C's Macaroni & Cheese

Grilled and seasoned with Cajun spices & smothered in
Gumbo — $4 per piece / $32 per dozen

—$30, $38, $60

Jerk Grilled Protein

Jerk seasoned & garnished with pineapple-mango
relish — $4 per piece / $32 per dozen

Veggie Drumsticks

lightly seasoned, floured, and southern fried to perfec-
tion or slathered with our tangy BBQ sauce, or gravy
for $2 more. — $1.50 per piece / $16.00 per dozen

Red Beans & Rice

$24, $33, $50 vegan/gf

Collard Greens

Vegetable Rice

—$30, $38, $60 vegan/gf

—$23, $30, $49 veian/

Garlic String Beans

- $23, $32, $49 vegan/gf

Pinto Beans

—$23, $32, $49 vegan/gf

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