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the best of everything

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Another Winner!

Danny Raskin

Senior Columnist

Steven
Lelli’s Inn on
the Green
marks 7
years.

Mark Zarkin

Seven years in the same res-
taurant business at the same site
may not seem like much, but it is
enough to tell a story of success
… To me, an almost restaurant
triumphal realization may bring
semblances of a one-year attain-
ment, a two-year success, etc.
… but to be considered a total
accomplishment I have always
felt that five years is a personally
measured criteria for complete
and total success in the owning of
a restaurant.
By then, the major “bugs”
should have been removed or rem-
edied … and smooth sailing for
the ownership is assured … Small
glitches might still be around …
They almost always are in the res-
taurant business … But nothing of
much avail.
In many cases, the turbulent
first years are trying and difficult
ones … But at the end of the fifth
year many had cleared the hurdle
and went on to win the race …
Steven Lelli’s Inn on the Green is
one of those that survived … It is
to the credit of owner Mark Zarkin
that rough waters turned into
smooth sailing.
Like almost all new restaurants,
Steven Lelli’s Inn on the Green had
its problems … Most were rightly
never allowed to be noticed by the
satisfied clientele … But when five
years came, all had been erased
and smooth sailing was a happy
assurance.
Also on the menu today are
numerous items for which
Executive Chef John Sommerville
received much note during his
22 years as award-winning head
chef at the now-closed prestigious
and upscale Lark Restaurant …

Notably, his highly acclaimed
award-winning Ghengis Khan
Lamb Chops for which folks came
from near and far … or his highly
touted Curry Duck Salad, among
other great presentations, etc.
Lelli’s owner Mark Zarkin is so
particular with his own luscious
family-food offerings that only he,
not even Chef John, is allowed to
make the minestrone soup or his
noted Bolognese sauce for the
much-ordered Lelli’s spaghetti …
or white wine garlic sauce for the
Lelli’s Chicken or Shrimp Lelli.
Even corporate events, parties
and other events have grown in
popularity … Whereas Steven
Lelli’s would previously do about
two events a month, the populari-
ty of such get-togethers has grown
to two and three a week.
Yes, now into its seventh year,
Steven Lelli’s Inn on the Green,
12 Mile, between Halsted and
Haggerty, Farmington Hills, has
come a long way in this short
time as owner Mark Zarkin and
his entire staff have been able to
ride the waves with smooth sailing
success since year No. 5.
NO WONDER SHE is so tal-
ented ... Lisa Klein, director of a
suicide documentary, will be here
with the showing of The S Word
at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at the
Emagine Theatre and at 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 10, at University of
Michigan’s Robertson Auditorium,
Ann Arbor. Lisa is the daughter
of the late Jackie Klein, one of
my absolutely favorite “Mystery
Muncher” writer folks of yester-
year columns ... Jackie was an ace
scribe at the Southfield Eccentric
and Observer.
Lisa and her husband, Doug

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Blush, also co-director filmmak-
ers of the fine Academy Award-
winning Of Two Minds documen-
tary, live in Los Angeles with their
daughter, Madeleine.
Like Jackie, Lisa also started out
to be a writer and changed her
wants to tell the stories about real
life.
Lisa will be back here again
on Wednesday, Nov. 8, showing
The S Word at the Maple Theater,
Bloomfield Township ... followed
on Thursday, Nov. 9, with the
screening of Kevin’s Song.
REARVIEW MIRROR ... When
President Bill Clinton came to
the home of David and Doreen
Hermelin, surrounded by Secret
Service men and Buddy, the Secret
Service dog, Simone Vitale’s band
played light jazz and President
Clinton bemoaned not having his
beloved tenor saxophone with him
... David singing his parodies on
“Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “You’re
a Grand Old Flag,” “Happy Days
Are Here Again,” etc. ... Paul Kohn
supplying the kosher food ... Steve
Canner’s wife, Adriana, cooper-
ating with her “due date” when
father-to-be hubby Steve told her
“Please, honey, don’t do anything
until after the president leaves”
... And Sasha, the Hermelin dog,
helping Buddy make sure no food
was left on the floor.
MAIL DEPT ... “To celebrate
her 21st birthday like last year,
our grandchild, Kayla Kapen,
wanted to go again to Bigalora in
Southfield, the Italian restaurant
mostly known for its great pizzas.
As we waited for the waitress to
approach our table, we reminisced
about last year when it was a girl
named Kayla and wondered if

N OT T I N G H I L L

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Danny’s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

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our wonderful waitress was still
there. Imagine our happy surprise
when Kayla again came to our
table and remembered us. Our
son, Avi, shocked us when he
remembered that her birthday is
New Year’s Eve. She was amazed!
After enjoying the surprise of hav-
ing Kayla again, we all enjoyed
Bigalora’s special pizzas and the
other Italian delicious food that it
is known for” ... Rachel Kapen.
OLDIE STORYTIME
REMEMBERING ... From
Barrister Bernie Finn in East
Lansing ... about Sam Schwartz
walking along and meeting a
gentleman he had not seen in 40
years. Schwartz stops him and
says, “Saul, Saul Goldberg, how are
you?”
Goldberg says, “Fine, fine, I
am doing well. Lots of naches
(pleasures) from my children and
grandchildren, and my wife of 56
years, Sophie, is doing well also.
Except, I changed my name. I
changed it from Saul Goldberg to
C.V. Dexter.”
“Why would you change your
name from Saul Goldberg to C.V.
Dexter?” Schwartz asks.
“Well, remember my butcher
shop on Dexter? I wanted every-
one should remember me.”
“That explains the Dexter,” says
Schwartz, “but what means the
C.V.?”
“Corner of Webb,” Sam replies.
CONGRATS ... To Jim Newman
on his birthday ... To Phyllis Rader
on her birthday ... To Hannah
Berglund on her birthday ... To
Mort Meisner on his birthday.•

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jn September 14 • 2017 129