arts & life >> the best of everything Family Ties Highland House kinfolk bring a bevy of dining goodness. T he blood of an 11-year-old young- those that people would go gaga ster flowed with rapid pace in over at the former Mitch's ... anticipation of someday becoming The same cheese mix of moz- a man and going into the restaurant busi- zarella and muenster that make ness. them different from others. Elia Nicholas watched intently from the And, of course, who can kitchen where he washed dishes and, in forget those delicious lamb ribs front, helped older busboys as grandparents that Elia and Tony used to serve Ella and George Mitchell, owners of Mitch's at E.G. Nick's? ... Plus these, he Tavern that once stood so proudly off Cass now also has barbecue beef ribs Lake Road in Keego Harbor, worked so hard ... Another big favorite on the ... He stayed on until 18 years old, hoping Highland House menu are the someday to open his own restaurant that lemon pepper wings that are would be just like theirs. marinated, lightly seasoned and If popularity means anything, the dream cooked to a golden brown. of having a restaurant like theirs came in Also that very wonderful Greek salad almost a like theme 38 years later, when he with imported Feta cheese and Elia's noted and cousin Gene Ryeson opened Highland special dressing customers enjoyed at House restaurant in 1976 Mitch's ... Also a wonder- on East Highland Road, fully delicious Village Highland, Mich. Salad with white beans ... Its first menu offered 30 To many, there are none items ... Today, there are better anywhere with the more than 50 suggestions, same excellent and deli- including the famous cious hot bread sticks that planked whitefish so huge are made and hand-rolled in the northern sector of at Highland House. Michigan ... and served Each week, Highland exactly as it was at E.G. House goes through 2,000 Nick's, which Elia owned pounds of St. Louis cut with cousin Tony Belli in Gene Ryeson and Elia Nicholas barbecued ribs, over 200 West Bloomfield. pounds of whitefish, more The wonderful whitefish than 120 cases of lettuce is broiled and brought on a maple plank (30 heads per case), etc. that retains the heat with colorful and When Highland House restaurant swirled Duchesse potatoes and a medley opened, space was large enough for parties of cooked fresh vegetables ... It is certainly and events with seating for 250 ... Today more proof of people eating with their eyes there is seating for 300 ... Daily hours are ... the presentation making so much for Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday vivid and tasty delight. and Saturday, 11-11; Sunday, noon-9 p.m. Another big seller at Highland House are When he was 18 years old and still work- the St. Louis barbecue ribs, which Elia origi- ing at Mitch's, grandmother Ella Mitchell nally cooked on a Joseph Cheifer & Sons gave Elia an ultimatum of going to school or barbecue machine before switching to dry to continue working ... He chose the restau- rub basting after marinating in Highland rant game and opened Highland House with House's own special seasoning. his late brother, Tom Nichols, and cousins Elia's selection of pizzas are the same as Gene and and the late Steve Ryeson. Highland House became so well-noted that people like Joey Nederlander would often bring in entertainers following their performances at his Fisher Theatre and Pine Knob venues. It is evident that the great wonders of former Mitch's Tavern have stayed with Elia ... and rubbed off greatly into a wonderful Highland House dining operation. QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT.... "We traveled all the way to Trenton and discovered that Uncle Harry's is closed and was not even a delica- tessen. What happened? ... Sara Glazor (I don't know much about this restau- rant, but the one you're looking for is Uncle Harry's Deli on Greater Mack in St. Clair Shores ... It is owned by Rick Meltzer, nephew of the late Harry Meltzer, and has a full line of Jewish delicatessen standby food, including kosher hot dogs, kosher knock- wurst and kosher pickles.) MANY FOLKS KEEP ASKING what Matt Prentice is doing ... He is on his own and opened Matt's Bagel Deli on 14 Mile and Mound, Warren, Monday through Saturday, 5 a.m.-2 p.m., and 8 a.m.-noon on Sunday ... Matt also caters trays and full-service events, the largest being for 600 people ... The lawsuit that bars him from his own operation in Wayne or Oakland counties lasts until March 2017. Matt also still does some consulting work and tells of recently assisting an interna- tional company in winning a $1 billion food service contract. BIG DATE FOR chocolate lovers is Tuesday, March 10... That's when Sandy Benson and her American Bulk Food in the West Bloomfield Plaza, Orchard Lake Road between 14 and 15 Mile, West Bloomfield, will display its huge and complete bevy of sugar-free chocolate yummies, available by the piece or pound. HAVE INSURANCE They will join other present American Bulk Food sugar-free items like chocolate- covered almonds, chocolate bridge mix, chocolate peanuts, chocolate malt balls, muffins, etc. ... including all-natural choco- late bars sweetened with Stevia ... 75 to 120 calories. If you don't see what you want in sugar- free items, tell Sandy and she'll try getting it for you. IT'S HERE AGAIN ... and anticipated every year ... This is the ninth year for the annual JCC Michigan-Florida Reunion Dinner and Golf Classic by the local Jewish Community Center ... Date is Tuesday, March 17, at the Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton Beach, Fla. The 2015 event is in memory of Leonard Baron ... and honors Steven and Linda Weiss and Elliott and Denise Parr... Proceeds assist the JCC summer day camps, Irving and Sara Pitt Child Development Center and youngsters with special needs. For more info, contact Mort Plotnick, for- mer local JCC executive director, (248) 210- 8489 or Geta Richman, (561) 272-5917. OLDIE BUT GOODIE Dept. ... Jake says to his doctor, "Doctor, my wife needs an appendix operation:' "But I took out your wife's appendix only a year ago. I've never heard of a second appendix?" says the doctor. "Maybe doctor:' says Jake, "but have you ever heard of a second wife?" CONGRATS ... To Maurice Bloch on his 88th birthday ... To Matthew (Matt) Raskin on his 28th birthday ... To Frank Ellias on his 72nd birthday ... To Dr. Maurice Reizen on his 96th birthday ... To Albert "Al" Holtz on his birthday ... To Marsha Rofel on her birthday ... To David "Dave" Rogovein on his birthday ... To Sandy Hermanoff on her birthday. ❑ Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. NO INSURANCE CAP; TAKE $100 OFF Direct Optical® SUPERSTORE Farmington Hills Canton 248-553-8270 734-981-1760 directopticalsuperstore.com ! YOUR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE ' ON A COMPLETE EYEGLASS PURCHASE SAVE EVERYDAY - ALWAYS 48 March 5 • 2015 JN OUR EVERYDAY LOW . • PRICES ON A COMPLETE EYEGLASS PURCHASE Exp 3/31/15 Exp 3/31/15 2 PAIR SINGLE VISION PLASTIC HIGH INDEX b 1 PAIR O' NO LINE BIFOCAL $ R ome Required