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Real Mex

Camelia’s Mexican Grill features authentic family recipes.

A

mong the legacies the late Jesus
think they know more about
seasonal selections are also
and Dominga Garcia left is in what Mexican food than those like us
featured.
their daughter and son-in-law
who were raised on those won-
Traditional Mexican music
achieved in America.
derful recipes from Mexico.”
at Camelia’s Mexican Grill,
Murals of Jesus Garcia are on the restau-
Camelia’s Mexican Grill cooks
Farmington Hills, by the mari-
rant walls in full regale with him gaining
its food fresh daily … Nothing
achi duet Los Primos is every
note as a matador trained in Spain and
comes from a can or is pro-
Saturday evening, 6-9 p.m. …
fighting bulls in Mexico City … Also known cessed … There are probably
A second Camelia’s location
for his Mexican culinary ability, which he
the same basic spices and chiles
opened three years ago on E.
passed on to his wife, Dominga, as well as
that most Mexican restaurants
11 Mile, Royal Oak.
Danny Raskin
those skills she received from her mother.
begin with, but Camelia’s may
Jesus and Dominga Garcia
Senior Columnist
The many authentic traditional Mexican
use something else that makes
would be so proud.
dining teachings to Dominga rubbed off
it much different from others
ANOTHER LOCAL
on their daughter, Camelia, and when
… And, also, the cooking of Mexico is dis-
EATERY celebrates its birthday with a
Camelia’s husband, Tony, worked at General similar from region to region with so many gift from and to itself … Owner Patrick
Motors, he would sometimes share the
chefs bringing their style from particular
Coleman has always wanted a food truck,
lunches she’d pack for him with other
regions.
so his Beans & Cornbread, Northwestern
employees … Word got around about the
The kitchen staff employees at Camelia’s
Highway, Southfield, now features one on
food’s goodness and Tony would have to
Mexican Grill are all of Hispanic origin …
its 19th year … Food trucks are great for
bring more for those who offered to pay
and well-versed by Camelia in the authentic corporate events, tailgate parties and cater-
and eat there or take home to their families. recipes handed down from her mother.
ing.
In 1998, the dream of Tony and Camelia
Camelia’s Mexican Grill is open Monday-
WHETHER IT IS THE restaurant and
Flores owning a small Mexican carryout
Thursday, 11-9; Friday and Saturday, 11-10; catering business or whatever, there’s never
came true in Pontiac, called Camelia’s Taco
Sunday 12-9 … Seating in the main dining
much stopping for Norm and Bonnie LePage
Loco … Today it is the highly touted truly
room is 90 plus 12 bar stools and 60 in the
and partners Ray and Mary Nicholson
authentic Mexican restaurant Camelia’s
Fiesta party room.
… Plus their highly successful Big Rock
Mexican Grill on Orchard Lake Road,
There are some American dishes as well,
Restaurant on Eton Street, Birmingham, they
just south of 13 Mile, Farmington Hills
but in the main mostly authentic Mexican
are breaking ground for a second brewery
… celebrating its 18th anniversary after
cuisine … Steaks and chicken are among
in Rochester Hills … Busy as the dickens,
moving following a 10-year stay formerly
best sellers along with fajitas, enchilada
but loving it … This plus soon finishing the
on 12 Mile, east of Northwestern Highway
poblanas, enchilada a la Mexicana, mole
new apartment building next door to their
… The present location was
poblano, pipian, etc. … Also Reserve Banquet Center.
previously the site of Kerby’s
the hearty Mexican comfort
DOCTOR’S ORDERS … At Cardiac Dr.
Coney Island, which was com-
dish, Caldo de Albondigas
Joel Kahn’s GreenSpace Cafe. W. Nine Mile,
pletely gutted and redone with
(chile ancho and tomato
Ferndale, the new Saturday and Sunday
Mexican decor.
soup with seasoned beef
brunches, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., include those
Detroit’s Mexicantown of
meatballs, vegetables and
heavily wanted organic blue masa pancakes
yesteryears, with Mexican
topped with cilantro) … But with caramel, blackberries, almond or
restaurants on Bagley, etc. is
no other Mexican restaurant maple syrup … Dermatology Dr. Steven
far from what it used to be …
has their Pozole Verde, a
Shumer will need a new place to get
There and in other locales,
spicy chili poblano soup
Szechuan Chicken now that David Lum has
many now are not so authen-
with pieces of chicken that is closed his Eurasian Grill.
tic … “It is amazing,” says
served with avocado, lettuce
MAIL DEPT. … from Lee “Buzz” Turner,
Camelia, “that so many people Tony and Camelia Flores and tostadas … Numerous
noted injury attorney … “I love the food at

Andiamo on Telegraph and was absolutely
thrilled when you wrote that owner Joe
Vicari will open another Joe Muer Seafood
on Woodward in Bloomfield Hills like his
Joe Muer restaurant in Detroit.”
HEY GOLFERS … Still looking for that
“Big Salami,” your first hole in one? … Dr.
Martin Gordon recently hit his third ace
… Doc used an eight iron on the 120-yard
hole at Knollwood Country Club, West
Bloomfield … Same 17th hole as his second
hole in one.
NEW LOOK AT O’Brien’s Crabhouse,
Opdyke Road between South Boulevard
and Auburn Road, Auburn Hills, has kept
the same nautical look and feel … New
booths, carpeting, light fixtures, etc. … And
now with this being prime Florida Stone
Crab season, owner Dan Dunsky is bringing
in fresh ones via FedEx every Tuesday and
Friday … He is serving those large, jumbo
and colossal ones, served with mustard
sauce and sweet potato fries.
SWEET LORRAINE’S Mac n’ Brewz!
tavern to go with all their other eateries
has been opened by Gary Sussman and
Lorraine Platman on Cooley Lake Road,
Waterford.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. … Two
elderly ladies, Ruth and Naomi, were dis-
cussing their husbands over tea. Ruth said,
“I do wish that my Ernie would stop biting
his nails. He makes me terribly nervous.”
Naomi replied, “My Sol used to do the
same thing, but I broke him of the habit.”
“How?” asked Ruth. “I’ve even asked my
son-in-law, the family doctor, but to no
avail. What did you do?”
Wise Naomi replied, “I hid his teeth!”
CONGRATS … To Kenneth “Ken” Goss
on his birthday … To Joe and Lois Sposita
on their 62nd anniversary.

*

Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

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54 November 17 • 2016

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