January 17 • 2019 41
jn

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

Immigrant Success Story
T

here is a special place in the hearts
of many in reading “
Coming-to-
America” success stories … So many
who have warm sentimental feelings for
the people who arrive and achieve coveted
success.
Sunny Palaj was only 15 years old when
coming here from Montinegro, near Italy
… and working as a busboy in New York
… and on to stints as a waiter and manager
… always dreaming … never losing sight of
someday owning his own eatery.
This past Oct. 3, the fine Alfoccino Italian
restaurant of today on North Opdyke Road,
corner of Opdyke and Walton, celebrated
its 15th anniversary … purchased by Sunny
in 2003 from his previous partners, Frank
and Tony Shustari, who have closed their
former Alfoccino in Farmington Hills … He
had worked for them as a busboy in 1992 …
After 10 years, Sunny was able to purchase
25 percent of the restaurant.
Alfoccino in Auburn Hills is a beautiful
restaurant … with a culinary reputation
that also includes a family togetherness …
Sunny’
s wife, Sue, is the many times happy
face customers see as a banquet personage,
hostess, waitress, etc. … A nephew, Mondi
Bejotic, is a server … a cousin, Sam Eneli,
is a bartender and server… Among the fine
waitpersons is one known by many, head
waitress Sandy Golich, 10 years at the now-
closed Farmington Hills Alfoccino and a
dining stalwart for more than 34 years.
Also, Sunny has added heavily wanted
dining assortments to the menu like a
Seafood Portobello for two, Shrimp Scampi,
Mussels Diablo, Calamari Fritti, Polo di

Milanese, Florentine, Polo di Gamberi
… to go with many more selections that
have made Alfoccino a big standout …
These selections, plus bestsellers Chicken
Piccata, Polo Tortolini, Chicken Marsala
and the Italian Platter of Lasagna, Chicken
Parmesan and Fettucini Alfredo, have
brought many smiles of contentment.
A fresh lettuce wedge smothered with
oodles of crumpled Roquefort cheese was an
impressive treat … along with a fresh deli-
cately broiled white fish … The freshness of
both was most apparent.
Alfoccino does its own baking of bread
and garlic rolls, etc., along with homemade
sauces … And its homemade tiramisu and
cannoli are choice dessert selections.
Seating is for 200, including 16 stools
at a well-stocked bar … with seven-day
hours, Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.,
Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday, 3-11 p.m.,
Sunday, 4-9 p.m.
Sunny Palaj’
s dream of having his
own Italian restaurant has resulted in an
Alfoccino of contented dining happiness.
MAIL DEPT. … From Max “The
Handyman” Reichstein … “I was eating
one of those big mile-high corned beef
sandwiches and delicious homemade pota-
to salad at Stage Deli and have not found
them as good anywhere. No scrapings like
you hate. Solid meat. I get the Jewish News
every week and will never forget your giving
me the slogan of “You Name It – I’
ll Do
It,
” which I have used in my ad every week
in the Jewish News for over 35 years. The
corned beef sandwich I had was great. The
potato salad, too.
”

DANDY DINING DEAL … Lake
Superior white fish, 10-12 oz. … Includes
soup or salad, potatoes and vegetable …
Good seven days, Thursday, Jan. 17, to
Wednesday, Jan. 23 … $8.50 … Village
Palace. Orchard Lake Road, near Pontiac
Trail, Orchard Village.
WISH I KNEW TOO DEPT. … Sylvia
Samson joins the many who ask if Dave
Goldfine ever gave his secret recipe for the
wonderful peanut butter dressing atop the
lobster at his one-time Clam Shop on East
Grand Boulevard.
WHAT READERS TALK ABOUT
… Large tender veal chops at Sposita’
s
Ristorante, West Bloomfield … Stuffed
flounder at Joe Muer Seafood, Bloomfield
Hills … Truly homemade gnocchi at Café
Cortina, Farmington Hills … The Sunday
Brunch at Station Square, Troy … A bona
fide heart doctor heading the health-only
style of dining at GreenSpace Café, Ferndale.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE QUICKIES
… “Nobody goes to that restaurant. It’
s
too crowded!” (Yogi Berra) … “My wife
covered her face with mud before going to
sleep.
” “How did she look in the morning?
“
Great! The mud didn’
t come off!” (Henny
Youngman)
CONGRATS … To Maurice Davidson
on his 90th birthday … To Jerry Light on
his 90th birthday. To Dr. Udi Kapen on his
50th birthday. ■

Danny’
s email address is

dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Sunny Palaj’
s
dream came true
with Alfoccino.

Sunny Palaj

raskin
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