July 11 • 2019 45
jn

raskin
the best of everything

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

Impossibly 
Good
T

hroughout the years, restaurants 
have dabbled in ways to make 
various meat dishes without the 
meat with some success … but rarely with 
Mediterranean food.
Among them — and very few are those 
eateries who have both regular and meat-
less menu sectors — a huge favorite is 
here in Birmingham … where the prod-
ucts are cooked with its special spices in 
the plant foods that make for delicious 
and healthy dishes. 
Elie’
s Mediterranean Grill/Bar on Pierce 
Street, west of Old Woodward and south 
of Maple, combines the two selection 
styles by owner/chef Elie Mondalek with 
amazing success.
“Impossible”-named meatless 
Mediterranean foods like fried kibbeh, 
kofta meatballs, samboosik, homemade 
makanik-sausages, grape leaves, Kibbeh Bil 
Saniyeh, Shish Kofta Gourmet “Impossible” 
burger and gourmet “Impossible” Armenian 
Sujuk.
Along with regular Mediterranean, 
American and Middle Eastern favorites 
like lamb chops, baby back ribs, Moroccan 
swordfish, chicken kabob, vegetarian dishes, 
whitefish, salmon, prawns, chicken, perch, 
etc. … and so many more preferences for 
overwhelmingly choice dining.
Elie’
s has been a big choice among din-
ers since 1993 and widely acclaimed for 
its many menu selections … but never as 
much as it is today … Elie’
s does all its own 
baking of pita bread, pies, etc. … and the 
making of desserts like rice pudding, ashta, 
cheesecake, pecan pie, etc.

Elie’
s is open Mondays to Saturdays 11 
a.m.-10 p.m. … and Sundays for private 
parties … with indoor seating for 28 and 28 
outdoors … plus 10 stools at the bar.
It is a favorite for numerous celebrities 
appearing here who say many choice words 
about Elie’
s … Along with localites whose 
praises are many.
Having two separate menus such as those 
at Elie’
s in itself is a dining wonder and much 
appreciated.
A CONEY ISLAND restaurant that is 
now noted for much more than just hot 
dogs, the former site of Eddy’
s Coney 
Island, has been remodeled and opened on 
Haggerty Road between 15 Mile and Pontiac 
Trail in Commerce Township … as BLD 
Coney Island.
The BLD stands for … Breakfast, Lunch 
and Dinner … with a larger selection from 
which to choose … House baking of turkeys, 
corned beef, etc. … in a clean, relaxing fam-
ily setting. 
It now not only has coneys, made with 
regular or kosher hot dogs, but also amazing 
pasta dishes that few other such operations 
can claim … BLD’
s Cajun chicken pasta, as 
example, is a big favorite … along with noted 
lox plates and sandwiches … omelets, regular 
and stuffed …homemade soups and chili … 
salads galore … strip steaks, fish varieties, 
fajitas, shrimp, burgers (regular, Greek, salm-
on, turkey, chicken, vegetarian), pitas, wraps, 
etc., in a bevy of family dining goodness.
It opened in September of last year, 
with seating for 120 persons … Monday-
Thursday, 8 a.m.-midnight, Friday and 
Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 a.m. … BLD Coney 

Island, owned by Maisser Mikhail, is 
already making large waves of much dining 
satisfaction.
I HAVE AGAIN been told that a correct 
Caesar salad as originated by Cesar Cardini 
had anchovies … Whole or mashed in it 
… Chef/owner at his restaurant in Tijuana, 
Mexico, Cardini did not have anchovies … 
One of Cardini’
s ingredients was Worchester 
Sauce, which has a hint of anchovies.
REARVIEW MIROR … Folks used 
to travel over to Cadieux Avenue on the 
east side for its Belgian sports, like feather 
bowling, archery, pigeon racing, bicycling 
and European-style dancing … World trav-
eler George Pierrot used to say, “The next 
thing to Belgium is a mussels dinner at the 
Cadieux Café.
”
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … The Russian 
commissar lay in an oxygen tent and was 
going fast. Very weak, the commissar said to 
his chief assistant in a faint whisper, “Ivan, I 
only have a few minutes left. I want you to 
know I’
m leaving you everything. My house, 
my electric heater, my farm. Ivan, everything 
goes to you. All I ask from you in return is 
one last favor.
” 
The assistant exclaimed eagerly, “Yes, yes, 
commissar. Anything, anything at all. What 
is it?” Feebly, the dying man murmured, 
“Please take your foot off the oxygen tube!”
CONGRATS … To Sylvia Solomon on 
her birthday… To Simone Vitale on his 
birthday …To Howard and Susan Levin on 
their 55th anniversary. ■

Danny’
s email address is 

dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Meatless 
Mediterranean 
dishes can be 
found at Elie’
s.

Owner/Chef Elie Mondalek

COURTESY OF ELIE’
S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL/BAR

 

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!

CANDY & NUT TRAY
MARTY'S COOKIES

Delivery Available

Shiva Trays, Deli Nosh Dairy and Deli Trays, Marty’
s Cookie Trays, Johnny’
s Signature Fruit & Veggie Trays

CALL JOHNNY’S FOR TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL SHIVA TRAYS. 

AdvancedDerm.com

26400 West 12 Mile Rd., Suite 150
Southfield, MI 48034
 248.353.0818

36700 Woodward Ave. Suite 203
 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
 248.647.5750

Same-Day, Next-Day Appointments
New Patients Welcome

 General & Cosmetic Dermatology

 Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer
Nation’s Premier 
Dermatology 
Practice

We’ve joined the

