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Fusion With A Flair

New Mandarin Garden creates Asian taste delights.

T

he desire to be diverse in the res-
persons (80 in front and 45
taurant business is often attempt-
in back) ... Plus six stools at
ed ... Success ratios are many
a cute corner bar in the front
times higher when done with American
room ... As you enter or leave
fare.
New Mandarin Garden, a strik-
However, it is considered quite different
ing aquarium is there with col-
in attempts at many ethnic fusion-style
orful fish swimming and won-
efforts.
dering who the strange people
The thought of such an endeavor was
are that keep gazing at them.
made in 1990 following the tragic passing
Seven day hours of operation
of the restaurant's owner in an auto accident
are Monday-Thursday, 11-9;
... When his two sons and their mother
Friday and Saturday, 11-10;
took over New Mandarin Garden on 13 Mile Sunday, noon-9.
Road, just west of Orchard Lake Road, in the
Many of the dishes at New
Westbrook Shopping Center, Farmington
Mandarin Garden may have familiar names,
Hills, it was considered as just another good
but New Mandarin Garden's own identity
neighborhood Chinese restaurant.
is most prevalent ... with menu best-sellers
But their sons had grown up by now
being the pan-seared whitefish, beef short
and had other ideas ... With Garry Che in
ribs, Mongolian combination, along with
front and executive chef Jerry Che heading
rare selections like Gam Pong Gi (Korean
the kitchen with their mom, Nani Che, the
chicken wings), etc. ... Also items not on
32nd anniversary of New Mandarin Garden the bill of fare include Cantonese-style lob-
reveals a successful, more modern presenta- ster, seafood chow mein (Hong Kong style),
tion of Asian food that now takes in both
Seafood Banquet spice sour soup, etc.
Chinese and Korean regions along with
Introduced by New Mandarin Garden are
smatterings of Thai and Mandarin culinary
new appetizers like eggplant tempura, Bang
offerings.
Bang Shrimp and duck wraps ... The seared
The Che family is a
whitefish with baby bok
Chinese clan that had
choy and ginger ponzu
come to the United States
sauce is greatly endearing
from their residence and
to particular taste buds,
restaurant ownership in
as is the King Mushroom
South Korea ... Michael
Black Angus beef stir-fry,
and Nani and family were
and those who endear-
brought to this country
ingly love the Chinese-
in 1976 by their Uncle
Korean classic Jam Pong,
Robert Sun and worked
will appreciate the spicy
Jerry, Nani and Garry Che
at his Forbidden City
soup with shrimp and
restaurant in Flint ...
beef on top of homemade
Michael as a waiter and Nani cooking and
noodles ... along with the bevy of selections
prepping in the kitchen ... The Che family
that possess their own identification.
has come far, now owning the building in
Mother Nani continues to work with her
which their New Mandarin Garden restau-
sons and is still a much-endeared kitchen
rant is located.
stalwart ... prepping and cooking numer-
Seating in two newly renovated rooms
ous favorites, including the truly authentic
with soft touches that make for casual
Korean Kimchi (pickles) like she made back
dining within its quiet setting, is for 125
in South Korea.

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46

Francisco, was here as one of the 150 or so
successful former Detroiters selected from
around the country for its invitation-only
three-day "Detroit Homecoming" ... People
born in Metro Detroit who grew up or went
to school here, Gilbert, Chris Ilitch, Roger
Penske and others, banding together with
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Mary Kramer,
Crain's Detroit Business publisher, etc., in
helping to bring Detroit back even better
than ever.
Many thanks also to Lisa Dancsok, vice
president of Gilbert's Rock Ventures, for her
extreme graciousness and assistance at the
Lions game.
ANOTHER BIGGIE attendance is
expected for the 25th annual Lights,
Camera, Auction by Variety, the Children's
Charity ... Tuesday, Oct. 14, again at
member Paul Glantz' Emagine Theater
in Novi's Fountain Walk, 12 Mile, west of
Novi Road ... Strolling supper goodies will
be from about 30 food spots starting at 6
p.m., followed at 7:45 by the sneak preview
of a coming film attraction ... This year's
co-directors will be hubby and wife Bob
Golding and Leslie Miller.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... A farmer
was fertilizing his strawberries in his field,
which was next to an insane asylum.
One of the patients, who was standing
near the fence watching him, asked, "What
are you doing?"
The farmer replied, "I'm putting manure
on my strawberries:'
The patient said, "That's strange! We put
cream and sugar on ours and people call us
crazy!"
CONGRATS ... To Dr. Mark Shapiro on
his 47th birthday ... To Jon Greenberg on
his 89th birthday ... To Robert Soper on
his 75th birthday ... (Corrections ... To
Karrie Slominsky on her Oct. 8 birthday,
not September ... To Julius "Jule" Sigman
on his 93rd birthday, not 90th.)

Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere

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(248) 785-3645

Along with other choices
from these cultures, vegetarians
will take much pleasure from
dishes like the fried tofu sauteed
with diced eggplant in a black
pepper sauce that is made by
New Mandarin Garden.
On its 32nd anniversary,
highly accepted though the
building is somewhat hidden,
the fusion-style New Mandarin
Garden brings back many new
customers for its enchantingly
creative Asian cuisine that eas-
ily makes gastronomic love with the most
discerning palates.
NEW OWNERS HAVE taken over at the
popular Golden Phoenix Cantonese res-
taurant in Sugar Tree Plaza, Orchard Lake
Road, north of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield ...
Youthful proprietors now, Arthur and Ava
Fung, are retaining the many menu favor-
ites and, in answer to numerous requests,
have also added Thai dishes to go with the
Cantonese fare.
More Thai delights than presently shown
are being included in what will be a sepa-
rate section from which to choose ... In the
kitchen now with the same personnel as
before is the addition of Ava's father, Bing
Zhao ... Waitresses like excellent Yan Yu
have also been retained ... and future plans
include decor alterations ... Previous own-
ers Sean and Helen Ng have retired.
WHENEVER TALK IS ABOUT posh, it
would be sheer folly not to mention those
elegant seats that son Scott and I sat on at
the recent Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers
football game.
Thanks to Detroit Homecoming
Committee member Dan Gilbert, we were
guests to see the game in his swanky private
seating section of Ford Field ... Soft, ultra-
luxury leather lounges with attached foot
rests.
Scott, president and CEO of Mindjet, the
innovation software company based in San

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food bill

Not valid on holidays ,

(248) 538-8954

33210 W. 14 Mile Rd
In Simsbury Plaza, just east of Farmington Rd.
West Bloomfield

Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pm • Fri: 11am -11pm
Sat: 4pm-11pm • Sun: 4pm-9pm