arts & entertainment >> the best of everything 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 - I MONDAY APPETIZER CHECK OUT OUR 1--- DAILY SPECIALS! 1/2 OFF WITH PURCHASE OF 2 DRINKS DINE IN ONLY WEDNESDAY YOUR CHOICE =Ell& CLIDMEMZICES I i i 1 — NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS $20 MINIMUM PURCHASE • DINE IN ONLY EXCLUDES ALCOHOL • EXPIRES 4-1-2014 T i i i OFF , 1 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