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Family Fare
Loccino Italian Grill & Bar succeeds where fancier predecessor failed.
T
his is the sixth anniversary since
rice with grilled tomatoes ...
the takeover of a site where high
and a lightly-floured Chicken
prices at the former upscale res-
Giuseppe baked with tomato
taurant may have been a major reason for
and fresh mozzarella over gar-
its downfall
lic-mashed potatoes and served
Instead, the new presence of a more
with its Giuseppe sauce.
Dining items not found on
family-oriented dining operation was
readily accepted.
the menu are among the daily
Loccino Italian Grill & Bar on Crooks
specials for both lunch and
Road, between Long Lake and Square Lake dinner ... Usually about five
roads, Troy, owned by brothers Tony and
items of fresh seafood options
Frank Shushtari, were smart in continuing
like salmon Oscar to double-cut
lamb chops, filet linguine, lob-
a reputation they had garnered from their
other operations, Alfoccino, in Farmington ster ravioli with a sherry wine sauce, etc.
Hills and Auburn Hills ... Not even
It is of much importance that the chefs
attempting to follow the former Palm eat-
at Loccino are quite adept at satisfying
ery even in the slightest way has brought
whatever dining restrictions customers
them added success.
may have, dietary or
As a much more
allergies ... And also
wanted style of family
the availability of a
dining, Loccino has
gluten-free menu or
been acclaimed with far
whole wheat pasta
greater acceptance.
upon request.
The serving of notable
Loccino is open
Italian food, including
seven days ...
best-sellers like chicken
Monday-Thursday,
11-10; Friday, 11-11:
piccata, delicately-
Brothers Frank and Tony Shushtari
floured and sauteed
Saturday, 3-11;
breasts accompanied
Sunday, 4-9 ...
Seating in the main
with fresh mushrooms
dining room is 220, plus 12 in a lounge
and capers in a light lemon wine sauce ...
or freshly sauteed perch served over a gen-
and 14 stools at its well-supplied bar.
Experience shows and the many dining
erous portion of homemade garlic mashed
potatoes and topped with a lemon wine
years of Tony and Frank Shustari at their
cream sauce and capers have been much
other restaurants bring out a family qual-
requested selections at Loccino.
ity of reasonable pricing and clean fresh-
All the soups are made fresh daily,
ness that are acclaimed dining assets.
including homemade minestrone and a
NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF at Andiamo
chef's special ... Even its own Italian and
Italia, Telegraph just south of 15 Mile,
Mike Osinski, is a mold in the Joe Vicari
ranch dressings are premises-made along
dining tradition ... His more than 10 years
with tomato-based, cream- and wine-
in Andiamo kitchens include helping open
based sauces.
Items not on the menu at other Italian
Joe Muer's Seafood in the Renaissance
restaurants include its skewered Roman
Center, and being with award-winning
Chicken, a boneless breast grilled with saf- Head Chef Joe Parrino when Andiamo
fron over an open flame and topped over
opened at the D Hotel in Las Vegas ...
Mike is a graduate of the fine
Schoolcraft College culinary
program and loves to cook and
train others.
MAIL DEPT.... "We want-
ed to do a little bragging about
our niece Emmele Herrold,
who is the chef at One-Eyed
Betty's in Ferndale. Emmele
participated in the World Food
Championship in Las Vegas
for the best hamburger. She
was the only woman in the
top 10 and finished fourth in a field of 50
chefs:' ...Erwin and Elaine Waldman
SINGLE DINING has finally taken
much larger steps into acceptance at some
restaurants who once frowned when he
or she walked in ... Except to very few
restaurant owners, it is not considered a
problem anymore ... In many instances, it
was the fault of waitpersons who cringed
when a single diner sat at his or her sta-
tion ... "How dare they take up an entire
table in my station" ... Smart owners and
managers should still instruct their servers
to the fact that single diners may result in
tips from many more visits in that wait-
person's station tomorrow.
RECENT SIGNING OF Josh Zeid,
would put him as the third Jewish member
of the Detroit Tigers baseball team if he
makes the squad ... The former Houston
Astros relief pitcher would join Tigers
Manager Brad Ausmus and second base-
man Ian Kinsler Zeid, who wears a
Jewish star around his neck and pitched
for Team Israel, was managed by Ausmus
in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
REUNION DEPT.... Mumford High
class of 1969 has set its 46th year shindig
for Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at the Double
Tree Hotel in Dearborn ... For more info,
call Charles Underwood, (313) 613-0637 or
email him at cwbjunder@sbcglobal.net.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... From
Russi Arden ... A fleeing Taliban terrorist,
desperate for water, was plodding through
the Afghan dessert when he saw some-
thing far off in the distance. Hoping to
find water, he hurried toward the mirage,
only to find a very frail little old Jewish
man standing at a small makeshift display
rack selling ties. The Taliban terrorist
asked, "Do you have water?"
The Jewish man replied, "I have no
water. Would you like to buy a tie? They
are only $10."
The Taliban shouted hysterically, "Idiot
Infidel! I do not need such an over-priced
Western adornment! I spit on your ties. I
need water!"
"Sorry, I have no water. Just ties, pure
silk, and only $10.
"Pahh! A curse on your ties! I should
wrap one around your scrawny little neck
and choke the life out of you, but I must
conserve my energy and find water!"
"01c said the little old Jewish man. "It
does not matter that you hate me, threaten
my life and call me infidel. I will show you
that I am bigger than any of that. If you
continue over that hill to the east for about
two miles, you will find a restaurant. It has
the finest food and all the ice-cold water
you need. Go in peace!"
Cursing him again, the desperate
Taliban staggered away over the hill.
Several hours later he crawled back,
almost dead, and gasped, "They won't let
me in without a tie!"
CONGRATS ... To Ethel Bobroff on her
birthday ... To Debra "Debbie" Winkler
on her birthday ... To Karen Wechsler on
her birthday ... To Steven "Steve" Hartz
on his birthday ... To Paulette Koffron on
her birthday ... To Esther Ingber on her
birthday ... To Dr. Michael "Mike" Sherbin
on his birthday ... To Martin "Marty" and
Nancy Myers on their 65th anniversary.
❑
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
EXPERIENCE NEW YEAR'S
DINING AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL
LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE
4-7 PM Dinner Menu Available
*9-2 AM Limited Menu ($100 per person)
(*includes live entertainment at 9 pm - close &
complimentary champagne toast at midnight)
Just in time for
the holidays
'7
IME 29
GIFT CARD
6545 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD. I WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322
(SE CORNER OF MAPLE & ORCHARD LAKE, NEXT TO PLUM MARKET)
WWW.PRIME29STEAKHOUSE.COM 1 248.73.PRIME (77463)
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December 11 • 2014
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