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66 April 28 • 2016 A mong the rewards that come with reaching its fifth year in the res- taurant business, according to my criteria for complete success by new such operations, is a special one that might be attained soon by Mark Zarkin's upscale eatery, Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green. As it approaches its sixth birthday the latter part of this year, Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green may be in line to be the flagship restaurant of a proposed new fine dining eatery conglomerate being formed in this region. My five-year restaurant existence magic number having already been reached and now going on to number six, Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green, 12 Mile Road, between Halsted and Haggerty, Farmington Hills, finds itself enjoying the sweet smell of success. Its initial step occurred on the first day that Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green opened to the public, suddenly taking off with flying colors … until one realized that this could have been like those of so many other dining establishments that start off with a bang and wither before the charmed "five" is achieved. However, Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green jumped the hurdles with consistent lofty ease as each year seemed to bring an even more constant look of flourishing endeavor … Like almost all new restau- rants, it, too, may have encountered vari- ous types of trials and tribulations … But as fast as they might have come, each sign of troubled waters seemed to have been given an extra paddle to glide through with Samson-like strength. Instead of faltering, Steven Lelli's On the Green became stronger as the blood line of repeatedly increasing dining patronage continued to bring signs of a long-lasting venture. The first year was considered by many to perhaps be a fluke … Like so many others … People said that time will even- tually tell … And it did … with increasing activity of more and more returning customers bringing even greater impetus. … Each of the five years brought presentations of something different to extract oohs and ahhs from many, Yearly dining achievements in one way or another pro- duced more and more things … with promises of many fur- ther good entities to come. Emulating a previous successful name in itself might have been difficult to overcome … It always is … Customers expect so much exactness … But used with proper discretion and pride by Zarkin and his Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green staff, it may have become an even greater reality. Talk of Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green becoming the flagship restaurant of a pos- sible group of upscale culinary establish- ments may be further proof of its success- ful attainment in dining satisfaction. This is a fact and not one of those run-of- the mill, ill-founded rumors that sometimes go around … When further info is received be assured that I will pass it on to you. QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. … "Is there really a Sy Ginsberg? And was he ever in the restaurant business? Whoever it is, they sure make terrific corned beef. My wife, Sylvia, and I are originally from St. Louis and never tasted it so good. Can our friends back home get it?" … Sam Gruder (You probably mean the Sy Ginsberg of both Sy Ginsberg Corned Beef and United Meat & Deli. There sure is. Sy started out in the deli game here as a counterman at the Mister Deli that was on Seven Mile Road in Detroit and was partner with Al Winkler at their Pickle Barrel Deli on 12 Mile Road in Southfield. I don't know about St. Louis, but Sy's corned beef is also well known and enjoyed greatly in many parts outside of this region.) MAIL DEPT. … "On the recommen- dation of a friend, after work I went to Crispelli's on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield to try out its new way of ordering to see if it was anything different from before. I liked not having to wait in line anymore to give my order and then waiting for someone to bring it to me. I stopped going there until my friend told me about the change. Having it brought to me was just like my friend said it would be, and I will go back again. I'm glad because I enjoy the food and don't work far from there." … Shirley Silverman MAKING ROUNDS … To J. Baldwin's, 18 Mile, Clinton Township, for fire- roasted Australian lamb chops … To Sweet Lorraine's, Greenfield, Southfield, for maple-cured salmon … To Hudson Cafe, Woodward, Detroit, for brunch … To Bigalora, Franklin Road, Southfield, for Italian breakfast … To La Dulce, Main Street, Royal Oak, for Spanish tapas … To Antonio's, 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, for homemade gnocchi … To Bistro 12, Royal Oak, for Scottish salmon. WINNING TEAMS at the recent 10th Annual JCC Michigan-Florida Reunion Dinner, Golf Classic and Games, were (Men's) Mike Kalt, Jeff Leib, Joel Halpern and Dennis Silber … (Women's) Beth Gursky, Brenda Kovinsky, Gay Lane and Ellen Minkin. More than 200 attended the happenings that brought in over $70,000 benefiting the Jewish Community Center Day Camps … This year's special honorees were Renee and Earl Ishbia of the event originally conceived and brought to realization by former local JCC Executive Director Mort Plotnick, Geta Richman and their commit- tee of 12. OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. … The place is somewhere in the 1930s when the phone rings at the secret police headquarters. "Hello, is this the secret police head- quarters? "Yes, what do you want? "I'm calling to report my neighbor Joseph Rabinowitz as an enemy of the state. He is hiding undeclared diamonds in his firewood." Next day, the secret police goons come over to Rabinowitz's house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept, break every piece of wood, find no diamonds, swear at Joseph Rabinowitz and leave. The phone rings at Rabinowitz's house. "Hello, Joe. Did the secret police come?" "Yes" "Did they chop your firewood?" "Yes, they did." "OK, now it's your turn to call. I need my vegetable patch plowed." CONGRATS … To Jimmy Gottfurcht on his birthday … To Dharlene Norris on her birthday … To Thelma Ingber on her birthday. * Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. Fine Dining Even Finer Near future prospects brighter for Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green. Danny Raskin Senior Columnist arts & life t h e b e s t o f e v e r y t h i n g Mark Zarkin 1300610 6 5 4 5 O R C H A R D L A K E R D . W E S T B L O O M F I E L D , M I 4 8 3 2 2 W W W . P R I M E 2 9 S T E A K H O U S E . C O M W E D N E S D AY S WINE DOWN 1 / 2 O F F S E L E C T B O T T L E S D I S C O V E R Y O U R N E W FAV O R I T E W I N E