APRIL 16 • 2020 | 45
Pepino’
s still pleases as it
celebrates 36 years.
the best of everything
Raskin
A Dining
Favorite
A
lthough he was very
highly thought of as the
former executive chef for
Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca,
Joe Bernardi and his wife,
Helma, wanted to have their own
restaurant.
After taking a
small, run-down
location in Walled
Lake, little did
they realize it
would one day be
named on a State
of Michigan best
restaurants list … as Pepino’
s
Restaurant hits birthday No. 36.
It was the beginning of a won-
derful bevy of words for Pepino’
s,
then in Walled Lake … The
place was completely renovated
and enlarged … with people
trying the new restaurant … and
walking away asking each other
if they were sure to make a reser-
vation to come back.
Joe and Helma had taken the
name his mother had given him
when calling Joe their “little
pepino” … thus its title.
Following the passing of
Joe and Helma, their gracious
daughters, Kathy Kwiecinski
(now Morley) and Carol
Carson, plus Judy Bernardi,
married to their son, David
Bernardi, took over running the
wonderful and today’
s famous
Pepino’
s, while grandson Rick
Sinkevics would take time serv-
ing during the off seasons of his
landscape business.
The next impression was the
servers bringing over delicious
marinated white beans and a
basket of garlic toast, brown
soda bread with raisins (a taste
like honey cake) white bread
and sticks.
Seldom has a restaurant made
such an impact into the dining
scene! … Pepino’
s had become
a rightful dollar value sensation
that so many called their own
culinary discovery.
Pepino’
s became a dining
favorite from the day it first
opened its doors … a true
family-operated restaurant …
where one or more family mem-
bers were always on the premises
… and Kathy’
s husband then,
Ray Kwiecinski, was always
behind the bar … assisted on
Saturday evenings by Judy’
s hus-
band, David.
Pepino’
s has never known
many boundaries … The huge
favorite pan-fried rainbow trout,
petite frog legs, lamb chops,
white fish, soft-shelled crabs,
pasta, veal, steaks, chicken pot
pies, excellent baby-back ribs,
swordfish, salmon, char-broiled
chicken breast, butterfly shrimp,
scallops, Angus prime rib, New
York sirloin, pasta, chicken
breast, filets, etc., etc., etc.
Then came the devastating fire
and move to Orchard Lake Road
in Sylvan Lake, next to Keego
Harbor … its present location.
Pepino’
s today is owned by
Kathy Morley, Carol Carson and
Dr. Chris Hutchinson … During
the present terrible crisis, car-
ry-out only is available but limit-
ed to five entrees or family style.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE …
Fellow meets his future son-in-
law and asks what he does for a
living. “I study the Torah,
” the boy
replies.
“But you are going to marry my
daughter. How will you feed and
house her?” asks the father.
“No problem,
” says the son-in-
law-to-be. “I study the Torah and
God will provide.
”
The father goes home, and his
wife asks what their son-in-law-
to-be is like … “He is a lovely boy.
I just met him, and he already
thinks I’
m God.
”
CONGRATS … To Keri Cohen
on her birthday … To Ed Radner
on his birthday … To George
Lucaj on his birthday.
Danny’
s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
FOOD PHOTOS VIA PEPINO’
S FACEBOOK
Carol Carson, Kathy Morley and
Dr. Chris Hutchinson
“Same Location Over 80 Y
ears”
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