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Romantic Italian Dining

The finest food and atmosphere have been a Cafe Cortina tradition for 40 years.

T

he location is no place for a restaurant,

first) was his vegetable and herb garden in
said the banker in turning down their
back of the restaurant ... He also planted
request to open one at the site ... But
grape vines, which Rina and her staff con-
their stubbornness and adamant insistence final-
tinue growing today surrounding the patio
ly won out after continuous attempts to borrow
courtyard.
for a mortgage ... They eventually received the
In the early years, Cafe Cortina would close
financial assistance of a good friend and backer
for the Tonons' trip to Italy from where they
... and almost immediately made plans to build
would return with new recipes to share with
the restaurant that would house their burning
customers.
Danny Raskin
vision.
Their son Adrian, now also an appointee of
Senior Columnist
A year after the opening, Adriano and Rina
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's administration,
Tonon were greeting customers standing in a
serves as director of customer service for the
line at the door of their new Cafe Cortina on 10 Mile, just
city but still is very much involved in Cafe Cortina's fine
east of Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills ... It is never
workings ... and is usually at the restaurant evenings and
easy opening a new restaurant ... And Cafe Cortina would
on weekends ... He is no slouch himself at dining satisfac-
be no exception ... But word of the superb Italian food
tion ... Like his mother, Rina, Adrian loves people ... and
being served began to spread ... and they were en route to
is also quite knowledgeable about food.
what was to become a great 40-year culinary journey.
Cafe Cortina and the Tonon family have created lifelong
They had been helping her parents,
happy moments for many thousands
Santina and Gaetano Merolla, at their
of clients over the four decades ... It
Rings of Detroit restaurant on Schaefer
is still an excellent neighborhood res-
and Fenkell, to aid in someday fulfill-
taurant, but also a world-class eatery,
ing a dream ... That of having their
which people visit to enjoy authentic
own restaurant with a kitchen cooking
Italian dining in a fine widespread
dishes from all parts of Italy.
reputation ... Its serving of quality
Both were only in their late 20s
food with elegant hospitality puts it
when told by her uncle about a farm
among the most romantic destination
on 10 Mile Road in Farmington Hills
restaurants.
that might be for sale ... They took the
The story of Cafe Cortina is like a
tedious drive to see the property and
fairy tale come true ... What dreams
found what looked more like an apple
are made of ... but dreams, in many
orchard in what seemed to them as
cases, easily evaporate ... Cafe
the middle of nowhere ... Funds were
Cortina's continuance is the delicious
scarce, and it was all they would be
nectar that a wonderful family like the
Rina Tonon and son, Adrian Tonon
able to afford.
Tonons certainly deserve to enjoy.
Only two years after opening, Cafe
READER MINI REVIEW ... from
Cortina added a private Fireside Room for small occasions
Susan Sherbow ... "While in San Francisco, my husband,
... Then, customers asked for a place to have larger events
Mark, along with Alex Fergeson, our daughter's boyfriend,
... So, in 1989, a very European brick-enclosed Garden
and I, went to the Asian American-Thai fusion Blackwood
Room was added for 90 more people ... plus French doors
Restaurant on Chestnut Street.
that lead into a lovely courtyard patio for 20 more.
"We started our meals with Ahi Scoop, large utensils
Cafe Cortina was receiving much note for being pure
filled with slightly-seared tuna crusted in black sesame
Italian ... "Northern Italian with a southern accent:' said
seeds and topped with ginger and Wasabi cream over two
Rina.
thinly-sliced cucumbers that were part of a spicy cucumber
The late Adriano's second love (Rina, of course, came
seaweed salad.

Two Fun-Filled New Year's Packages to Choose From at Big Tommy's

DINNER AND LIVE COMEDY SHOW

Headliner: Chili Challis!

TRADITIONAL NEW
YEAR'S CELEBRATION

47 Vegetable! + Dessert!
•

featuring
Belly Dancer and
Breaking of Plates-Greek Style,
Dinner and Greek Dancing!
LIVE MUSIC!

$60 per person

per person
Call for reservations!

Dinner Buffet - Lamb

• chops, Chicken Coconut

'Shrimp, Salad, Potato, and

1 14

As a main course, we all split a mango chicken pot and
banhmi sandwich. The pot came to our table in an iron
skillet on a hot plate. The dish was topped with a fried egg
and combined tableside. The skillet was loaded with rice,
tomatoes, asparagus, mushrooms and spinach, and mixed
with crispy mango ground chicken. It was served with a
Sriracha sauce for those who want more spice.
"The banhmi sandwich came with a side of browned
potato crunchy wedges, mixed green salad and aioli
Sriracha sauce for dipping the potatoes. The strips of
chicken were marinated in mango and topped with a Thai
slaw made of slivered carrots, thinly-sliced cucumbers,
alfalfa sprouts, jalapeno and cilantro, mixed with the aioli
Sriracha."
MAIL DEPT. ... "If there was a Waitperson of the Year
contest, my vote sure would be for Gina Ahrens, one of the
great wait staff members at Pepino's. She always makes us
feel at home and stands out with her personal attention and
competent ways:" ... Dr. Michael Salter.
(Pepino's re-opens New Year's Eve temporarily for one
night only at its new location on Orchard Lake Road,
Sylvan Lake.)
HUGE NUMBERS AGAIN with free complete
Thanksgiving dinners served by Moe Leon at Moe's On
Ten, 10 Mile, Novi, and brother Sam at Leon's, Michigan
Avenue, Detroit ... About 1,500 by Moe and almost 4,000
by Sam ... Over capacity for both ... It's their yearly biggie
"thank you" since coming to America more than 25 years
ago.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... A drunken fellow walks into a
bar and orders a drink. "Sorry" the bartender says, "you've
already had too much to drink:'
Fuming mad, the drunk walks out the front door and
goes in the side door. "Can I have a drink, please?"
"Sorry," says the bartender, "but you can't have a drink
here
The drunk walks out and goes in through the back door.
"Can I please have a drink?"
"Enough!" the bartender screams. "I told you no drinks!"
The drunk looks closely at the bartender and exclaims,
"Damn! How many bars do you work at?"
CONGRATS ... To Eunice Ring on her birthday ... To
Judi Markowitz on her birthday. *

Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.

(o11 1- 2_,Am

■

MEP"
10% Discount
Total Food Bill

Join us for
Happy Hour

316 TOMMY'S

Monday through Friday

COMEDY
CLUB 111,,

4PM-7PM

Dine-in only, with coupon.
Not valid with any special pricing
or other offers. Expires 1/7/16.

I

I.

31260 Wakefield, Novi, Ml

40380 Grand River • Novi • 248-615-2102 • Open 7 days a week

Between Haggerty & Meadowbrook on the north side

42

WINE BAR

r

$65

bigtommys.com

AMERICAN CUISINE

Hours: Monday-Saturday 4pm-lOpm
Sunday 4pm-9pm

2055100

(South side of 14 Mile Rd between Welch and Novi Rd)

248.519.4444 I www.bottlz-novi.com

2039290

