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More Than The Name Implies

Novi's China Cafe features tastes of many Asian cuisines.

y

ou scan the menu and begin to
but have also seemingly
wonder ... This is a Chinese res-
taken another road in their
taurant but where are the usual
Asian presentations ... She
favorites that so many expect when visit-
is the daughter of the late
ing one?
Mike Che, whose Mandarin
Suddenly the revelation comes that
Gardens in Farmington Hills
China Cafe on Novi Road, Novi, is differ-
is now being operated by
ent ... Many styles of dishes with Oriental
her brothers, and Kelly is an
flavor, but where is the usual presence of
accomplished Chinese chef.
truly traditional dishes that are always
No doubt that China Cafe
expected in a Chinese menu ... like chow
is uncommon... There's even
mein, egg foo yung, etc.?
a Korean menu section with
However, do not despair ... They are all
14 selections.
available simply by asking the wait person.
The quiet presence of
Instead are delicious items like
China Cafe is like a hidden charm.
Mongolian Combination, with beef,
THE MELODIC STRAINS years ago of
chicken and shrimp, wok-fried with
"When You're Smiling; the theme song of
spring onion and white onion ... Double
wonderful Sammy Woolf and his orches-
Wonders, steak and shrimp, wok-fried
tra, seemed to waft through the air for
with mixed vegetables with teriyaki sauce
many as they watched the recent 2014 TV
... Spicy Seafood ( shrimp and scallops) in
showings of American Idol.
Thai coconut curry ... etc.
His and wife Ann's great-grandson, Sam
Of course, the chicken egg roll and veg-
Woolf, named after Sammy and presently
etable spring roll are avail-
living with grandparents,
able ... But so is calamari
dental Dr. Elroy "Roy" and
and potstickers and lettuce
Jacqueline "Jackie" Woolf,
wraps with either seafood or
continued the beautiful
chicken.
Woolf musical legacy by
China Cafe is open six
singing and playing the gui-
days, closed Mondays, and
tar and being voted among
seats 100 in the dining room
the top finalists and is
and eight at the bar with
expected to tour the United
its large wine list ... Once a
States this summer.
year, a wine tasting event is
Another relative, Sammy
Susana and Kelly Chang,
presented.
Woolf's uncle Mickey Woolf,
owners of Ch Ina Cafe
China Cafe's features are
was also a prominent local
the three styles of potstick-
band leader ... and Sam's
ers that it presents ... all made on the
grandmother Jackie Woolf sang with
premises and for which China Cafe is well- Sammy's band many times when a fill-in
noted.
was needed.
Vegetarians enjoy the eight varieties of
Is Sam a chip off an illustrious musical
Chinese veggie delights that have become
name hereabouts in the Detroit area? ...
huge choices ... Green bean stir fry in
You betcha!
oyster sauce; mixed greens in a spicy black
CO OWNER OF the new Pickles and
bean sauce; tofu and green beans in a Thai Rye Deli, expected to open in May at
curry sauce, etc.
the former Deli Unique location in West
Bloomfield, Rick Therrien, recalls being
Owners Susana and Kelly Chang are
steeped in Chinese dining convention
10 years old when he began calling Shirlee

F

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I MONDAY
APPETIZER

CHECK OUT OUR
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WEDNESDAY
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CLIDMEMZICES

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NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS
$20 MINIMUM PURCHASE • DINE IN ONLY
EXCLUDES ALCOHOL • EXPIRES 4-1-2014

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7170 Orchard Lake Rd. West Bloomfield
248.406.5555
www.happyspizzapub.com

48

March 6 • 2014

i

59

EACH

10PC MINIMUM
DINE IN ONLY

FRIDAY/SATURDAY

Elli71113213
EMMY=

$12

DINE IN ONLY

TUESDAY
FEED THE WHOLE FAMIL`rm
US57 =23

=mama)

Bloom "Aunt Shirlee" ... He
had grown up in Oak Park
with Shirlee's son, Robert, and
remembers riding their bikes
together to Lil Bloom's Kosher
Catering on Coolidge, Oak Park,
to get free knishes.
Rick also recollects his days
as a delivery boy for Richard
Lichtman, owner of Northgate
Deli on Greenfield in Oak Park
(ironically, the first home of
the former Deli Uniques)
and delivering newspapers to
Northgate Apartments on Greenfield,
where he received fresh homemade
rugelach for tips.
Rick will leave his post as director of
restaurant operations at the D Hotel in Las
Vegas to co-own and operate Pickles & Rye
Deli with Linda Collins.
FOX GRILL on Woodward has been
sold to Bill Roberts, owner of Cafe ML,
Town Tavern, Roadside B&G, Beverly Hills
Grill and Streetside Seafood.
His new restaurant there is expected to
be opened this summer.
READER MINI REVIEW ... From
Armen Darakjian "On a recent visit to
Trattoria da Luigi Italian restaurant on
Washington between Fourth and Fifth
streets (Royal Oak), mama's home-cooked
flavors were brought to life. I started
out with a delicious Mozzarella Burrata
con Caponata (burrata with eggplant)
that melted in my mouth. Then the
Barbabietole ala Americana (roasted beets
salad on a bed of goat cheese). Next was
a very flavorful, made-fresh-daily Luigi's
Gnocchi Casarecci that came with Italian
sausage and cheese sauce in a beautiful
perfect pairing. The gnocchi are so tender
and flavorful, perfectly sized and an easy-
to-eat full order.
"Our pizzas were great. One of them,
Pizza Teresa, with tomatoes, fresh moz-
zarella cheese, baby arugula, prosciutto
di parma and shaved parmigiano, was

FREE

WITH PURCHASE OF 2 DRINKS

DINE IN ONLY

SUNDAY

LIE ECU

FREE

LIMIT 1 PER ADULT MEAL PURCHASE
12 YEARS OLD AND UNDER ONLY
KID'S MENU ONLY

1875370

Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobalmet.

65 Freshest and
High Quality Ingredients!!

DINE IN ONLY

THURSDAY

❑

Over 35 years of Chinese Food Experience.

$12

IMMO =1
EOM

exactly the way that I liked, especially with
a little amount of balsamic vinegar lightly
drizzled over the slice. Our other pizza
was simple but very delicious, its own
interpretation of the classic pepperoni and
mushroom:"
NOW THAT Ndamukong Suh, all-pro
defensive tackle with the Detroit Lions has
become a regular at Steven Lelli's Inn On
the Green, 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, he
may have tipped his hand about staying
long-term with the Lions ... Suh also has
gotten his own wine locker at the Italian
restaurant.
FUN TIME IS HERE again for the
Eighth Annual JCC/Michigan-Florida
Golf Classic, Tuesday, March 18, at
Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton
Beach, Fla. ... Includes bar and dinner ...
Proceeds are for needy families and folks
with special needs at the Nursery and
Day Camp of JCC/Metro Detroit ... For
information, call Mort Plotkin, former JCC
executive director, (248) 210-8489, or Geta
Richman, (561) 272-5917.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... A Jew,
a Russian, an Irishman and a British gent
were discussing business during dinner.
The Russian says, "I have a large for-
tune. I am going to buy Citibank!"
The Irishman replies, "I am very
wealthy and will buy General Motors!"
The British gent says, "I am fabulously
rich. I intend to purchase AT&T!"
They all wait for the Jew to speak. The
Jewish man stirs his coffee, places the
spoon neatly on the table, takes a sip of
his coffee, looks at them and casually says,
"I'm not selling!"
CONGRATS ... To Michelle Farber
on her birthday ... To Daniel "Danny"
Weintraub on his 80th birthday ... To
Frank Ellias on his 71st birthday ...To
Albert "Al" Holtz on his birthday ... To
Marsha Rofel on her birthday ... To David
Rogovein on his birthday.

I( GRAND
OPENING
1
15%

, 1

OFF , ,

"WE HAVE
1
GLUTEN
FREE
1 TOTAL FOOD BILL 1
& VEGETARIAN
'cannot combine with other
I 1
♦
DISHES"
_ _ _ _ _. /
._ offers. Expires _ 4/16/14.

Order online: www.ChinaTownMl.com

248-683-5566 • W. Bloomfield • 4276 Orchard Lake Rd.

(Between Lone Pine & Pontiac Trail
2nd location Commerce Township • 248-669-1133
1901790