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
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