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L'Chaim!

Andiamo Bloomfield to unveil separate Jewish "to life" menu.

I

f you had told him at the time that he would
on Sunday, Nov. 1, when Andiamo Bloomfield's
someday own one of the largest independent
L'Chaim menu of Jewish-style dining darlings
fine dining groups of restaurants in this
may also be ordered and served along with
region ... let alone among others in the nation,
Andiamo's fine Italian dishes ... The L'Chaim
he probably might have laughed.
Menu will be available only at the Telegraph
At that time, Joe Vicari owned a small group
location ... Reservations for all days are being
of family dining restaurants on Detroit's east
taken ... Call (248) 865-9300.
side ... Then came his first Andiamo Italia on
From that little beginning, Joe's "dining
14 Mile, Warren ... Followed by one in Grosse
empire" of feasting and entertainment today
Pointe ... and without realizing it, Joe was on
includes 10 Andiamo restaurants (including
Danny Ras kin
his way to dining prominence.
in the Las Vegas' D Hotel and at Metropolitan
Senior Colu mnist
The location of Andiamo No. 3 on
Airport), Joe Muer Seafood, Detroit, four
Telegraph Road, just south of Maple Road,
Country Inns, Andiamo Celebrity Room and
Bloomfield Township, had received much publicity with
Banquet Center, Freedom Hill ... and when this comes out, I
its parking lot being where union boss Jimmy Hoffa was
don't know how many more.
last seen alive.
Still on the Italian menu at all Andiamos are huge favor-
Harry Machus' son Bob was looking to retire ... and
ites whitefish Sicilian, homemade pastas (including about
so Andiamo No. 3 was born in 1997
six from the beginning), and its highly
... Their Machus Red Fox had been
regarded filet ... Bestsellers today are its
based on an English hunt club theme
fruitti di mari, with homemade squid
and was considered the pride of the
ink pasta, shrimp, scallops, mussels and
small Machus chain ... Joe took over,
calamari; 8-ounce charbroiled Andiamo
renamed it and changed the decor
filet served with Italian-style potatoes,
to give it more of a Tuscan feel, with
seasonal vegetables and signature zip
sunflowers, etc. and called its fare
sauce; cedar-plank roasted salmon with
"modern Italian:'
roasted baby potatoes, Mediterranean
Joe didn't realize it at the time, but it
salad (chargrilled octopus, romaine let-
also would include the culmination of
tuce, chick peas, mixed olives, tomatoes,
a dream that someday he would have
basil, cucumber, lemon juice and olive
a restaurant closer to his many Jewish
oil).
friends, who patronized his other loca-
Daily specials usually include fish
Joe Vicari and Executive Chef Bill Hall
tions, but throughout the years would
flown in daily from the Pacific and
continually ask him to open one nearer
Atlantic oceans ... blue-fin tuna,
to his devoted Jewish populace ... This
Colorado rainbow trout, Florida red
type of venture is not easy and would certainly call for a chef snapper, Hawaiian ahi tuna, etc.
capable of producing Jewish-style dishes.
Weekly servings at Andiamo Bloomfield take in about
Celebrating its 18th anniversary Joe and semi-retired
400 pounds of pasta, 250 pounds of calamari, 250 pounds of
former managing partner Jerry Vitale hired Bill Hall for
veal, 400 pounds of beef, 10 gallons of scallops, etc.
his expertise in all dining menu preparations ... includ-
Andiamo Bloomfield is open seven days ... Monday-
ing a Jewish bill of fare among his favorites ... along with
Thursday, 11:30-10; Friday, 11:30-11; Saturday, 4-11; Sunday,
Andiamo's noted Italian specialties ... Bill's knowledge of
4-9 ... Seating in the dining room is 150, 16 on an outdoor
Jewish-style dishes drew much note when he toiled with
patio, six in the lounge and 23 stools at the bar, plus 22 more
the late Paul Kohn and his Quality Kosher Catering at
seats ... Downstairs seats nearly 75.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
When and where will Joe Vicari stop? ... One never
This dream-come-true will have its realization at 4 p.m.
knows ... A legend is always thinking ... And Joe is certain-

ly one of these dining and entertainment marvels.
IF YOU ASKED those folks standing outside in the warm
or cold weather to get in, particularly on Saturday and
Sunday mornings, why they're waiting, the answer might be,
"I don't really know" or maybe "because the open kitchen
people wear gloves" or perhaps because "we bump into
people we know:'
No one talks about the food being good or different
because other places might have the same ... Same eggs,
same batters and whatever, but why does Early Bird Cafe,
Orchard Lake Road, Keego Harbor hold such popularity?
Is it because of the cleanliness? ... This is a huge factor
regarding any restaurant ... Or things on the menu, except
that those too can be gotten elsewhere? ... Maybe ifs the
service, which is among the best anywhere.
A lot of head scratching but the little Early Bird Cafe of
only 48 inside and 24 on an outside patio, has the reputation
of having what many people may want but don't know why.
ERRATA, TYPO, ETC. DEPT. ... Richard Meltzer, owner
of Harry's Deli on Mack, St. Clair Shores, is the son of the
late "Bathhouse Harry" Meltzer, not his nephew.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... Another version of the one you
may have seen here before ...
While out shopping, the girl noticed an elderly lady sitting
on a bench sobbing her eyes out. The girl stopped and asked
why she was crying.
The lady said, "I have a 22-year-old husband at home.
He makes love to me every morning and then gets up and
makes me pancakes, sausages and freshly ground coffee:'
"That sounds terrific:' says the girl. "So why are you
crying"
The older woman continued, "He makes me homemade
soup for lunch and my favorite cake:'
"For that you are crying?" asks the girl.
The aged woman says, "For dinner, he makes me a gour-
met meal with wine and my favorite dessert and then makes
love to me until 2 o'clock in the mornine
The girl asks again, "So why in the world are you crying?"
The elderly lady sobbed again and says, "I can't remember
where I live!"
CONGRATS ... To Hazel Bender on her birthday ... To
Melissa Litvin on her birthday ... To Kathy Kwiecinsky on
her birthday. *

Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.

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