46 December 22 2016 EXQUISITE FOOD & EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE EpicKosher.com Catering@EpicKosher.com Supervised by the Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit CHOLOV YISROEL KOSHER CUISINE GLATT KOSHER CUISINE 2046060 Food & Spirits Brass Pointe The 10% OFF TOTAL BILL Excludes tax, tip and beverages. With this ad. Banquet Services not included. Dine in or Carry out. Expires 1/5/17 2062430 P OTPOURRI MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE who attended the recent A Night at the Golden Mushroom at Steven Lelli s Inn On the Green, 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, are proof positive it was something many had wanted for a long time They enjoyed the dining at the simulated Mushroom with preparations by Certified Master Chef Milos Cihelka, the executive chef at the former Southfield landmark for 17 years. It was such a hit that Steven Lelli s owner Mark Zarkin is already thinking about doing the same for other cherished former res- taurants Places like the original London Chop House with, perhaps, Mel Ball and his group for dancing like they did at the Chop Or Excalibur, with Marty Wilk, former Excalibur chef and owner, now sales manager at Fairway Packing, and maybe someone wearing a Frank Sinatra mask eat- ing ribs at the bar or in the back. Or the Raleigh House s House of Lords with someone looking like chubby Sammy Lieberman walking around with the unlit cigar in his mouth Or Darbys, perhaps, with turkey and chicken poulette or Berman s Chop House with its famous cottage fried potatoes and steaks etc., etc., etc. SHE HAD A CHOICE Going into the restaurant business with her husband or doing her own thing After they came here from Russia, Maya Kuchersky chose the latter and husband Mike Kuchersky went on to open a string of Sunrise Cafe restaurants and the Fiddler eatery. Maya had worked in beauty care in Russia and he had been head of one of Moscow s leading dining spots Instead of going into business with her husband, she attended school to obtain an American cosmetology license. But Maya did come up with the Sunrise name and helped later in the Fiddler kitchen, showing his kitchen help how to make gefilte fish, etc. plus Maya danced in the once-a- month shows put on then at the Fiddler. Mike has passed on, and Maya Kuchersky is owner of her own Maya s Skin Care Center on Orchard Lake Road, in the West Bloomfield Plaza between 14 and 15 Mile roads doing facials, manicures, pedicures, waxings, etc., and considered among the finest beauty care operations in Michigan. READER MINI REVIEW from Dennis Silber Here we are at the start of another new season with snowbirds arriving again. Debbi and I recently tried a former old-and-proven res- taurant, the former Renzo s now under new ownership. It is called Novello on 5999 Federal Highway in Boca Raton, Fla. We wanted to find out why its traditionally full parking lot was not filling up as when it was Renzo s. We walked into an almost empty, but warmly appoint- ed and welcoming, restau- rant. On arrival, we were the only customers, and we reviewed its impressive menu (still with most of the previous great Renzo favor- ites) as we continued doubting the expectation of being served the same fine food that we had there for 20 years. Debbie and I shared an order of a few dishes to get a taste of the various offerings. Bruschetta on crostini, chunky garlic toast coupled with the most delec- table eggplant rollatini in a cas- serole. Then the main entree of chicken parmesan. Although we were stuffed, we were persuaded to try the ricotta cheesecake. By this time, there were several other tables filling up. We will be back and, hope- fully, the parking lot will also begin to fill up with snowbirds now discovering this won- derful renamed dining place. MAIL DEPT. from Dennis Denny Green Wife, Sharon, and I recently cel- ebrated our 18th wedding anniversary at the Cheesecake Factory at Twelve Oaks in Novi. We love the food there: its house-made loaf of warm bread, Sharon s fried shrimp platter with fries and coleslaw. I had the delicious lightly crusted salmon and fried shrimp combo. Hers and my shrimp were Paris bistro-style, sauteed with whole cloves of garlic, white wine, fresh basil and tomato. As lovers do, we shared the wonderful yum yum strawberry cheesecake. It was a fun afternoon shopping at the mall and people-watching on our 18th anniver- sary. MANY FOLKS HAVE asked where they can get tableside dining here like in numerous other parts of the country True tableside dining is somewhat of a lost art Restaurants that have it are not in the majority Too bad, because it is such a magnificent style of dining and has achieved much popularity. There are few people today who can do tableside dining with any style or dexterity One of those who has can and has a won- derful and knowledgeable waitstaff is Moro s Dining on Allen Road, west of Southfield, Allen Park It serves tableside specialties like Veal Olympic and Shrimp Bordelaise flamed with brandy and madeira wine, Beef Maison tenderloin and Chateaubriand for two or more Moro s also has three flam- ing desserts for two or more. The tableside-prepared Dover Sole, Caesar Salad, etc., at Rugby Grille in Birmingham s Townsend Hotel is also by stand-out servers If you hear of a place where someone like Robert Kimoto does tableside preparation, or if you also enjoy a show with flames roll- ing down hanging lemon peel plus other fun tricks of the trade by all means find out about going there. OLDIE BUT GOODIE Rebecca went into the bedroom to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready to go to the synagogue. I m not going, he said in a dull voice. Why not? demanded his mother. I ll give you two reasons, Mother, he said. One, they don t like me, and two, I don t like them. Rebecca replied in an exasperated voice, I ll give you two good reasons why you must go to shul. One, you re 54 years old and, two, you re the new rabbi. CONGRATS To William Bill Nosanchuk on his 92nd birthday To Edith Edie Resnick on her 90th birthday To Allan Grundy on his 86th birthday To Elissa Miller on her birthday To Marvin and Beverly Gantz on their 54th anniversary To Chuck and Shelley Bassin on their 45th anniversary To Bruce and Debby Podolsky on their 45th anniversary. * Danny s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. A Blast From The Past Nostalgic night at Lelli s could mushroom into bigger things. Danny Raskin Senior Columnist arts & life the best of everything Maya Kuchersky