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Saluto 'Romano

Roman Village celebrates 50th birthday with its family-owned Antonio's restaurants.

O

ver 50 years is a most impressive
number for a restaurant's continu-
ous existence ... And wonderful
when that restaurant also boasts of owning
other family eateries with another name but
the same fine menu as that of its "parent"
dining operation celebrating a half-century
of goodness.
When Roman Village originally opened
in 1964 on Dix Avenue in Dearborn, there
was absolutely no thought whatsoever of
someday having an eventual expansion
... That a family togetherness chain, all
named Antonio's Cucina Italiana, honoring
its founder, would also be opened ... (Ford
Road, Dearborn Heights in 1992; West 12
Mile Road, Farmington Hills, in 2000; and
North Canton Road, Canton, in 2007) ... A
fourth, Antonio's Piccolo Ristorante, is slated
to open in spring of this year.
It all began after Antonio Rugiero came to
America from Calabria, Italy, to tread along
that golden trail he had heard so much about
back home ... where opportunities came
knocking for so many ... Antonio often told
of his coming to America in the early 1960s
... Italy was still struggling from the war,
and times were rough ... He kept hearing
the great stories of how America was grow-
ing and thriving ... Arriving here, Antonio
held odd jobs and often frequented a local

eatery called Joe's Pizzeria ...
Told one day that the owners
of Joe's Pizzeria had a violent
argument, with one of them
wanting to get out of the pizza
business, Antonio made them
an offer ... With a handshake
and an agreement on a placemat
that today hangs on a wall at
Roman Village, he borrowed
$200 from his uncle, Jim Bitonti,
and became its new owner ...
Antonio's friend, Frank Stella,
assisted in remodeling the res-
taurant and suggested the new
name of Roman Village Pizzeria.
Antonio had met his wife-to-be Enrica
(Rita) in Dearborn when she came to
America from Perugia, Italy, following her
brother Marcello, who had arrived three
years earlier and was employed at Ford
Motor Company ... Rita went to work at
Roman Village, cooking and waiting on
tables ... The employer-employee relation-
ship continued until 1965, with the addi-
tion of another kitchen in her life when she
became Antonio's wife.
When Antonio sadly passed on in 2008,
his and wife Enrica's four sons, Anthony,
Mark, Robert and Patrick, took over the
restaurants with their mother, known by
almost everyone as Mama Rita, the
wonderful creator of so many good
things to eat ... Anthony eventu-
ally became president and CEO of
the prominent Antonio's Cucina
Italiana and Roman Village eateries.
All locations, including Roman
Village, are run as one corporation
under one system ... "This assures
consistency in food, service and
price at all locations," says Anthony
... The brothers work at the various
sites, handling numerous aspects of
the company.
All the restaurants proudly pres-
Roman Village and Antonio's family: Patrick,
ent the same menu that includes
Mark, Mama Rita, Anthony and Robert.
the Rugiero highly noted pizzas

and more than 50 choice dishes
from which to select, including
recipes brought to America by
Rita that go back almost two
centuries ... Quite a difference
from the original Roman Village
early days of pizza and only
about six dinner items.
Today's full-service Roman
Village and its small chain of
Antonio's Cucina Italiana attach-
ment restaurants have made
a most indelible mark on the
satisfied palates of its customer
satisfaction base ... That the
four sons of Antonio and Rita Rugiero have
done wonders goes without saying ... Like
her, how proud he would have been.
NEW DINING shift by popular maitre
d' and general manager Zoran Milcic is to
anticipated Triple Nickle on Old Woodward
in Birmingham ... The well-liked Zoran,
formerly at Lelli's on Woodward, Townsend
Hotel's Rugby Grille, GM at Saltwater in
MGM Grand and recently GM at Troy's Mon
Jin Lau, will do his popular GM greetings
with the expected opening of Triple Nickle in
February or March.
IF YOU HAVEN'T made a reservation
to see Max Pelicano at Andiamo Celebrity
Showroom, 14 Mile, Warren, Saturday, Jan.
24, you may be sorry ... He's rated among
the world's top impersonators of Elvis Presley
in his 50s still doing swirls, shakes and
rhythmic gyrations while singing his great
songs ... Pelicano is an unbelievable talent
and never misses a beat ... The Las Vegas
dancers will also be with him in what is
expected to be a sellout.
CONTRARY TO WHAT a few have
thought, at the new dining location of the
former Le Chef family, all those wonderful
authentic Lebanase specialties are absolutely
prepared by chef/co-owner Malaki Bitar
... It is now named Mandaloun Bistro, on
Telegraph and 121/2 Mile, Bingham Farms
(former site of Shiraz).
HE'S CALLED "Mr. World Traveler"

RISTORANTE

Fine Italian Dining in a
Casual Atmosphere

10%
Off

food bill

Offer Good Sunday-Thursday, dine-in
only not valid with any other offer
with coupon, not valid on holidays.

food bill

I Offer Good Friday-Saturday, dine-in
only not valid with any other offer
with coupon, not valid on holidays.

"My wife is pregnant and her contrac-
tions are only two minutes apart!"
"Is this her first child?" the doctor asks,
"No, you idiot!" the man frantically yells
into the phone. "This is her husband!"
CONGRATS ... To Edward "Ed" Sosnick
on his birthday ... To Shelli Dorfman on
her birthday ... To Diane Gussin on her
birthday ... To Gary Schwartz on his birth-
day ... To Sheldon Rott on his birthday ...
To Francine Wunder on her birthday ... To
Carla Schwartz on her birthday ... To Dennis
Frank on his birthday ... To Daniel "Danny"
and Yetta Weintraub on their 67th anniver-
sary.
(Apologies to those with birthdays and
anniversaries in late 2014 or early 2015 ...
Congrats were late because of early holiday
deadlines and the Jan. 1 column was solely a
2014 wrap-up ... with no congrats.)

❑

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

MICHIGAN'S PREMIER LEBANESE EATERY

SPOSITA'S

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because of his awards from around the
world: England, India, Argentina, America,
etc. Marvin Yagoda keeps getting the honors
for his massive collection of antiques, video
games, etc. ... But that's not all he is noted
for ... Plus being a pharmacist (owner of
Sam's Drugs on Fenkell, Detroit) and his
Marvin' Marvelous Mechanical Museum
on Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, he
is also a certified art and antique appraiser
... His latest appearance in Iowa was on
TV's American Pickers show on the History
Channel, with Marvin called to appraise the
novel antiques and games.
At his museum, Marvin serves all fried
food at high temperature without using any
oil, grease or vent ... He bought the large
made-in-America fryer at a carnival show
while appearing in Orlando, Fla.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE QUICKIES ...
"Doctor, doctor, will I be able to play the
violin after the operation?"
"Yes, of course
"Great! I never could before!" ...

MANDALOUN BISTRO

(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

30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130
Bingham Farms

248.723.7960

www.mandalounbistro.com

The finest and highest quality of
foods, fresh ingredients, and
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Total Food Bill

HOURS:

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Sunday 4pm -10pm • Friday 10am-11 pm
Saturday 4pm-11 pm

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ANDALOUN BISTRO

Espies, 2/13/15.

1971790

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January 15 • 2015

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