arts & life the best of everything Zuccess Story! Zoup! has warmed our hearts and tummies for 17 years. W hen it opened back in 1998, Folks love the soups, sandwiches and sal- many people probably thought, ads that it now offers ... Sandwiches today "Here we go again, another new include tuna with lemon and capers, chicken concept in eating. This one won't last too Greek, turkey club, chicken Toscana, tomato long, either!" basil, veggie wrap, etc. ... and eight salads. Well, here it is, more than 17 years later, Seating on Northwestern Highway was orig- and the idea originally conceived locally by inally just for 40, but next-door space became good friends and partners Eric Ersher and vacant and was rented to provide additional David Elias is today bigger than ever. seats that now number about 74 ... And new Danny Raskin Only soup was served at that time ... technology systems include a point-of-sale Senior Columnist along with a hunk of sourdough or multi- system and digital menu boards, which help grain bread. customer flow and accommodate the ever- I think there were about 12 soups that alternated revolving soup menu. among the hundreds made by Zoup! when it first Biggest customer picks include creamy chicken soup opened on Northwestern Highway, north of 12 Mile with mixed vegetables and garnished with crumbled pie Road in the Franklin Plaza, Southfield ... The locale is crust, lobster bisque, crawfish and a hint of sherry, gumbo, still there. and vegetarian split pea with green split peas, parsley, Twelve revolving soups continue to be offered among carrots, celery, onions and garlic ... In fact, almost all hundreds and many more award-winning daily varieties, the soups at Zoup! have become the favorites of many. including low-fat, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free and It even has seasonal favorites including an MTB spicy options ... Each order is still served with a hunk sandwich (mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and basil), vari- of freshly baked bread ... but ous tasty hot soups that truly warm now also, upon request, salads a person's innards in the drastic cold and sandwiches. weather, etc. Zoup!'s kitchen at the Now owned by Eric Ersher and beginning was then in the Richard Simtob, Zoup!'s vast reper- Eastern Market in Detroit and toire of soups includes Loco Burrito, the soup fixins were prepared grilled chicken, chicken Caesar, in another rented space ... tomato spinach or whatever is on that Eric and Dave had been told day's menu ... even a creamy ground that soup was consumed beef soup loaded with American and in the billions of portions, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, onions, dill and good soup wasn't that pickle relish, etc. ... plus the sand- Richard Simtob and Eric Ersher easy to find ... So with two wiches and salads ... that can all be other partners, their dads, Ed consumed at Zoup! or carried out. Ersher and Hanley Elias, Eric and Dave set out to feed This is truly another wonderful success story ... the world their soup. backed by a lot of determination and ingenuity that The more than 17 years have seen that little sprout today adds up to a fantastic idea turned into a favored grow into an even greater, beautiful tall tree as Zoup! venture that can only get bigger. continues to become bigger and better than ever ... As THE LEASE HAS BEEN SIGNED and one of well as the original site in Southfield, people today can Michigan's most popular restaurants will soon rise again also enjoy Zoup! at more than 75 locations in the north- ... The new location of Pepino's, following its recent ern half of the U.S. and Canada ... and locally, too, in devastating fire in Walled Lake, will be the former site Troy, Novi, Northville, Plymouth, Pontiac, Detroit and of Mike Larco's A La Carte on Orchard Lake Road, in Ann Arbor. Sylvan Lake, which is next to Keego Harbor. CANTOR SAMUEL GREENBAUM Thinking as usual of the best for their customers, the big rush for a new locale by Pepino's owners Kathy Kwiecinski, Carol Carson and Dr. Chris Hutchinson is also because of their placing major priority on the return of their wonderful staff of employees ... Transfer of liquor licenses takes about two to four weeks and hope is for opening by New Year's Eve ... If it is not back in time, perhaps a special events license may be obtained, says Kathy. GIVING A FREE AND complete turkey dinner to everyone, all ages, old or young, for 25 years is unheard of ... First year by Moe's on Ten, 10 Mile, west of Haggerty, Novi, there were 1,000, and by Leon's on Michigan, Dearborn, around 2,000 ... This year, it'll again be the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 3-8 p.m. ... Turkey, chicken soup, mashed potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie and soft drink. Quite a way to thank America by Moe Leon and brother Sam Leon ... Not even tipping ... or promotions or tricks ... Just an unbelievable gesture! DANDY DINING DEAL ... 8-10 ounce fresh white- fish ... $6.95 ... 10 days only ... Includes potato latke or mashed potatoes, soup or salad, vegetable and bread basket ... Thursday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Dec. 6 ... Open Thanksgiving Day until 3 p.m. (regular hours the other nine days) ... No coupons ... Siegel's Deli, 15 Mile just west of Haggerty, Commerce Township. MAKING ROUNDS ... To Fiddler, Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, for Cornish hen ... To Elie's, Pierce, Birmingham, for chicken shwarma. OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... Three grandmothers are sit- ting on a park bench. The first lets out a heartfelt "Oy!" A few minutes later the second grandmother sighs deeply and says, "Oy vey!" A few minutes after that, the third lady brushes away a tear and moans, "Oy veyizmir!" to which the first grandma replies, "I thought we agreed that we weren't going to talk about our grandchildren!" CONGRATS ... To Michele Nagel on her birthday ... To Joe Sposita on his birthday ... To William Nosanchuk on his birthday ... To Dennis and Sharon Green on their 14th anniversary ... To David and Melanee Radner on their 10th anniversary. * Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . (o ft lz> AMERICAN CUISINE Hours: Monday-Saturday 4pm-10pm Sunday 4pm-9pm Certified Mohel — Answering all of your anesthetic & aftercare needs. Join us for Happy Hour Skill, Sensitivity and Tradition come together to create your special Bris. Monday through Friday 4PM-7PM Cell: (248) 417-5632 (248) 855-A BOY (2269) Office: (248) 547-7970 855ABoy@gmail.corn 64 November 26 2015 31260 Wakefield, Novi, MI WINE BAR 111.11.11.I 1111 10% Discount Total Food Bill Dine-in only, with coupon. I Not valid with any special pricing or other offers. Expires 1/7/16. (South side of 14 Mile Rd between Welch and Novi Rd) 248.519.4444 I www.bottlz-novi.com 2039290