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It's All Greek To Me

George Stefanakis celebrates 23rd anniversary of restaurant chain.

T

he thought years back that one
Islands Bar & Grill, overlooking the 18-hole
day he would go to America and
Farmington Hills Golf Course, also includ-
into the restaurant business was as
ing steaks, more fish, pasta, etc., plus wine
far-fetched as a Coney hot dog served on
and spirits.
crackers.
Although the large menu
George Stefanakis had come to the
selections are highly prevalent
United States from Greece with his wife,
at all four Greek Islands restau-
Terry, and their two children in 1982, fol-
rants, salads and chicken, for
lowing his 17 years as a mechanical engi-
example, are so popular that
neer officer on a Greek submarine.
15 cases of 40 pounds each of
After arriving here, his engineering
chicken (600 pounds) are used
knowledge was invaluable ... He had
daily for the salads, kebobs,
learned and practiced so much with using
marinating, etc ... Certainly a
his hands while being a handyman, so to
far cry from that first restau-
speak, that George opened his own con-
rant, when George remembers
struction company.
his restaurant was lucky to
But luck turned another way, and George
order 20 pounds a day.
suffered a sore arm that forced him to give
All the Greek specialties are
up the construction business ... His wife's
prepared daily on the premises ... Recipes
dad had owned a restaurant on Monroe in
from lentil soup, grape leaves, moussaka,
Detroit, and it was in her blood when she
and so much more are from authentic
suggested that George could make a living
methods handed down by George's mother
for the family by opening his own Greek
and father in Crete ... The gyro sauce, as
restaurant.
example, is made with house-made yogurt,
So it was that in 1991 he opened his
just like she did back home.
first Greek restaurant in west
Vegetarian features are big
Dearborn ... and it was the
favorites ... And the children's
beginning of what today is the
menus are more than adequate.
23rd anniversary of Greek eater-
Hours at West Bloomfield
ies that have become a highly
(dining room seating 90 and
respected small Greek dining
patio, 20), Birmingham (seating
chain.
130), and Plymouth (seating
That initial restaurant is no
160 and patio, 35) are Monday-
more, but the celebration today
Saturday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday,
takes in his other locations ...
9 a.m.-8 p.m. ... The Greek
George St efanakis
West Bloomfield (Farmington
Islands Bar & Grill is open 9
Road), with operating partner
a.m.-10 p.m. and later because
George Diamandis; Birmingham (Hamilton of the liquor served.
Row), John Kotsogianis, operating partner;
George Stefanakis has certainly come a
his son Stefan Stefanakis, operating part-
long way since arriving in the United States
ner in Plymouth (Main Street); and Kathy
... and can be counted among those who
Zervos, operating partner at the chain's
have found and given happiness with suc-
upscale Farmington Hills bar and grill (11
cessful endeavors as they honor their busi-
ness anniversaries in America.
Mile & Halsted).
All four Greek Islands eateries have
READER MINI REVIEW ... From
the same menu choices, with the Greek
Dennis Silber ... "We had heard about

a wonderful Spanish restaurant in Ft.
Lauderdale, Fla., and went with a group to
Cafe Seville to celebrate the 89th birthday
of former Detroiter Morrey Wexler. The
charming, romantic and cozy
bistro of only 50 seats has
been in the same location on
Oakland Park Boulevard for
28 years, owned by its original
owners, Chef Joe Esposito and
his partner, Tony Siragusa, for-
mer NFL star and now a side-
line reporter.
"Beginning with a couple of
suggested appetizers of shrimp
in garlic and escargots in white
wine and garlic, which were
shared by all, we could have
ended the evening on that gastronomic
high note. But it got even better as we
moved into various seafood dishes like hake
fish, impressively prepared and presented
and so tender and tasty; yellowtail snapper,
butterflied with tomatoes and scallions;
and paella, served with choices of either a
combination of fish or fish and chicken atop
succulent Spanish saffron rice.
"Others of us also enjoyed Spanish
touches of veal, beef and chicken dishes,
and our desserts touched off a great dining
experience:'
MAIL DEPT. ..."Tony Packo's on Front
Street in Toledo is amazing and really
jumping. It has hot dog buns all over the
walls with signatures of famous dignitaries
and celebrities. The first bun was signed
by Burt Reynolds in 1972. It also has one
by Robert F. Kennedy but chose to take it
down for fear it might be stolen:' ... Jerry
Silecchia.
NO BURGER BRAWL this year by
Fairway Packing ... It'll team with distribu-
tor Carmela Foods for a Food & Wine show,
Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the General Motors
Wintergarden at the Detroit Renaissance
Center ... Two local chefs will vie in a corn-

petition to prepare a meal in 30 minutes
from a mystery box of ingredients.
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT ... "Do
you remember who played the part of the
White Camelia on television? If so, wasn't
she Jewish?" ... Louise Adelman.
[You go back to the 1950s, when local-
ite Lori Marx was the White Camelia on
Channel 7 ... Yes, she was Jewish, married
to Al Marx.]
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... A fel-
low pops his head into his boss' office and
says, "Excuse me, but is now a good time
to talk about a decision I have to make?"
"Sure, Isaac:' says the boss. "How can I
help you?"
"Thank you, sir:' says Isaac. "I'm sure
you know, but I've been working for your
firm now for nearly 10 years:'
"Yes:' says the boss. "And you're a very
good worker."
"Thank you, sir:' says Isaac. "So I'll come
straight to the point. I'd like a raise. I cur-
rently have four companies after me, but I
thought before making a decision, I should
really talk to you first:'
The boss sits in silence for a while,
thinking carefully, then says, "OK, Isaac.
Taking into account all your positive attri-
butes and considering that I don't want to
start a brain drain by just letting you go, I'll
give you your raise. But just out of curios-
ity, could you tell me what companies are
after you?"
"Sure," says Isaac, "the electric company,
the gas company, the water company and
the telephone company:'
CONGRATS ... To Josh Mendleson on
his 30th birthday ... To Bret Hopman on
his 32nd birthday ... To Lila Lazarus on
her birthday ... To Morris Margulies on his
birthday ... To Bernard "Bernie" Conn on
his 92nd birthday.

❑

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

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