July 4 • 2019 45 jn raskin the best of everything Bravissimo! I f you wonder why I am again writ- ing about an Andiamo restaurant, it is because it is celebrating its 22nd anniversary on Maple and Telegraph in Bloomfield Township … a big number in the dining game … and brings back many remembrances. Like the night the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup … and Mike and Marian Ilitch later brought over the cov- eted cup … Or how it looked after taking over the beauty of a Machus Red Fox that some said could never be duplicated inside and outside with its new colors and refreshing glittering at a cost of more than $2 million dollars … With Joe Vicari’ s great corporate executive chef the late Aldo Ottaviani coming there often to check on the sauces and soups … With almost everything being made there from Aldo’ s recipes or revised ver- sions. Even Jimmy Hoffa’ s ghost would never recognize the former Machus Red Fox. Today’ s executive chef at Andiamo West, Bill Hall, is also a wonderful kitchen head … and has come up with new summer items for the menu … among them a Tuscan black kale salad with toasted pine nuts, roasted peppers, golden raisins and 25-year aged balsam- ic … Lasagna Vito Aperto, vegetarian spinach pasta layered with basil ricotta, tomatoes, grilled zucchini and Fontina cheese … Brick-grilled half chicken … Grilled 16-ounce rib veal chop … Risotto Corona … and a grilled salmon with insalatini of caper berries, olives, orega- no and tomatoes. Joe has never forgotten many of his experiences … Meeting Red Wing greats from Steve Yzerman on down, who still come there … Ollie Fretter bringing him five pounds of coffee … Dave Hermelin telling him jokes … Dave’ s wife, Doreen, is still a big fan of Andiamo West … Gene and Marcia Applebaum, Henry Baskin, Michael and Zina Kramer, Harold Freed, Steve Fishman, Mel Saperstein and so many others he says would take him a long time to remember or what food they enjoyed most. With 1,500 customers served weekly … the No. 1 seller is the 8-ounce filet with its Andiamo zip sauce … Second are the daily-made pastas. “Being a young Italian from the east side to the west side was the best move I ever made,” Joe says. “Andiamo West restaurant was a path of growth and suc- cess and has made me so proud of my wonderful customers who I am happy to call my friends.” OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A daughter comes home from her service with the Peace Corps in Uganda and surprises her mother who is in the process of lighting the Friday night candles and serving the matzah ball soup … The mother is so thrilled she can’ t stop hugging and kiss- ing her daughter. Finally, she says, “Sit down, darling. Tell me all about what you were doing” Her daughter says, “Mom, I got mar- ried.” “Oy, mazel tov,” says the mother. “But how could you do that without telling me? What’ s he like? What does he do? Where is he?” The daughter says, “He’ s waiting out- side on the porch while I tell you.” “What are you talking about? Bring him in. I want to meet my new son-in- law.” “But mom, I want to tell …” “Stop talking and bring him in already.” The daughter brings him in and to her consternation the mother sees a huge man standing before her wearing a feath- ered cod piece, an enormous head dress and animal tooth beads. The mother grabs her daughter, slaps her back and forth on both cheeks and screams, “Dummy! Stupid! Idiot! I said a RICH doctor!” CONGRATS … To Joe Smiler on his birthday … To Marilyn Warnick on her birthday …To Alice Kerman on her birthday … To Julianna “Julie” Tschirhart on her birthday … To Martha Stollman on her birthday … To Gertrude Rosenman on her birthday … To Leo Stollmon on his 22nd birthday … To Carolyn Nosanchuk on her 89th birthday … To Bonnie Nosanchuk on her birth- day. ■ Danny’ s email address is dannyraskin2132@gmail.com. Danny Raskin Senior Columnist Andiamo celebrates 22 years in Bloomfi eld Township. Joe Vicari and Executive Chef Bill Hall COURTESY OF ANDIAMO WEST WWW.HOM.ORG CALL 24/7 TOLLFREE: (888) 247-5701 CHOOSE THE EXPERTS Proud to partner with the Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network CARING FOR THE DETROIT JEWISH COMMUNITY SINCE 1980 32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile) (248) 855-0007 Please see our menu at www.johnnypomodoros.com DAIRY TRAY FRUIT TRAY MEAT TRAY Johnny Pomodoro’ s is your ONE STOP SHOP for all of your needs! MEDITERRANEAN TRAY MARTY'S COOKIES Delivery Available Shiva Trays, Deli Nosh Dairy & Deli Trays, Marty’ s Cookie Trays, Johnny’ s Signature Fruit & Veggie Trays CALL JOHNNY’S FOR TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL SHIVA TRAYS.