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the best of everything

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A Gallery Of Goodness

Danny Raskin

Senior Columnist

The Gallery

restaurant

celebrates

44 years.

Stefan Becharas

One of the longest-running
good neighborhood restaurants
in this region that numerous
folks who once lived nearby
may fondly remember, cel-
ebrates another major anniver-
sary, No. 44.
When it originally opened in
September of 1973 on 10 Mile,
east of Greenfield, the Gallery
Restaurant was soon lauded by
many for its utter cleanliness
and favorite stylings of break-
fast, lunch and dinner favorites.
And that popular reputa-
tion continued when it moved
10 years later in June of 1983
to its present location in the
Bloomfield Shopping Plaza on
Telegraph, just south of 15 Mile,
Bloomfield Hills … Not only
retaining its fine reputation …
but adding even more dining
selections to enjoy.
Like new menu choices
prepared by Chef Alex
Stamboulelis and owner Stefan
Becharas’ son Bill Becharas
… Breakfasts that now also
include fresh fruit crepes, cin-
namon raisin French toast,
homemade potato pancakes,
avocado omelet and Belgian
waffles … Lunch and dinner
specials like stuffed cabbage,
lasagna, spaghetti with meat-
balls, Mediterranean chicken
burger, etc.
And Chef Alex’ latest endeav-
ors, two very much requested
chicken cacciatore and piero-
gies yummies … These are
together with the many Gallery
signature dishes that still

include home-made soups,
varied tuna selections, Reuben
sandwiches, Greek salads and
much more.
According to Stefan, the life
of his main kitchen stalwart,
Chef Alex, has been centered
on a rare ability to make almost
whatever may be requested by
customers.
Along with these delicious
features, the Gallery now
serves beer and wine … with its
Mimosas a big favorite thirst-
quencher by numerous folks on
Sunday mornings.
Since its initial opening
in Southfield, the Gallery’s
popularity continues to include
numerous more families along
with the usual stalwarts …
Ilitch, Forbes, Applebaum,
Hermelin, etc., in a long list that
could almost fill this column.
Restaurant cleanliness has
always been like a sacred reli-
gion to Stefan … It was noticed
in a big way on 10 Mile when
his head waitress today, Aggie
Kim, and the Gallery staff
would clean the mirrors, floors,
walls, etc., with fanatic-like
regularity … So much so that
the Gallery has always received
very high marks from health
departments … The numerous
framed art gallery-like paint-
ings on the walls are dusted
regularly … as are the many
inches and feet of the entire
restaurant.
Stefan is originally from
Tripoli, but because he was
in a Jewish neighborhood, he

Beth Abraham Cemetery Association

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETING

Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 10:00 AM
At Beth Ahm
5075 West Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322

wanted to greet his customers
in their own language … Only
trouble was he just learned zie
gezundt (go in health) from Hy
Shenkman until others taught
him shalom aleichem, zol zein
mit glick (live with luck) and
many more appropriate greet-
ings.
The Gallery’s excellent repu-
tation is a most revered one.
IT’S ALWAYS A GREAT
treat to see and hear him …
Folks were thrilled to learn that
former localite David Syme,
now an internationally known
pianist, will appear here …
7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, for
Friends of Jewish Senior Life at
the Berman for the Performing
Arts, West Bloomfield Jewish
Community Center.
Son of the late Rabbi M.
Robert Syme and brother of
Rabbi Daniel Syme, David, now
living in County Cork, Ireland,
with wife, Suzanne, puts his
flying fingers over the ivories
in the best of his great reper-
toires … Gershwin’s “Rhapsody
In Blue,” Lizst, Chopin, Jewish
melodies and standard pops
like his fine rendition of Billy
Joel’s “Root Beer Rag” … Usual
supply of tickets for David’s
concerts goes fast, so call Leslie
Katz, director of Friends of
Jewish Life, (248) 592-5062 or
the Berman Box Office by Nov.
9.
REARVIEW MIRROR …
Club Alamo on Livernois was
a popular nitery owned by
Max Spiegelman and Stewart

Alleviate Fatigue
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at

Fashion for your style…
Comfort for you life

“Stewie” Siegel … Max was the
conversation of many by work-
ing the cash register … and
blind … plus having a beauti-
ful blond wife he many times
wished he could see … “Stewie”
went on to own the “Hello
Dolly” night spot here and
became a Las Vegas dealer and
pit boss.
OLDIE QUICKIES … The
restaurant owner sampling a
newly hired cook’s first pot of
soup, remarked, “You say you
served overseas?”
“Yes, I was officer’s cook for
two years and wounded three
times.” “You’re a lucky man,”
said the owner. “It’s a miracle
they didn’t kill you!”
“I’ll have the chef ’s special.”
“Sorry,” said the waiter coming
back, “the chef ate it all.”
The restaurant air condition-
ing was blowing on the back of
a scantily dressed young lady,
so she quietly draped a napkin
over her bare back. A lad at the
next table watched her with
great interest and said, “Look
Dad, she’s going to eat back-
wards!”
CONGRATS … To Kathy
Morley on her birthday … To
Hazel Bender on her birthday
… To Melissa Litvin on her
birthday … To Scott Raskin on
his birthday … To Dr. Norbert
Ketai on his 99th birthday … To
Herb and Audrey Saperstein on
their 61st anniversary. •

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

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Membership is limited to the owner of a plot or burial right in Beth Abraham Cemetery.

jn

October 26 • 2017

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