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
the best of everything

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