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December 14 • 2017 57 jn Pakistani restaurant quietly celebrates fi ve years in business. Moiz Habib Many ethnic restaurants consider themselves as serving food in the cultures of particu- lar areas of the world, but have actually coupled more varied styles in accordance with much of today's dining ways of life. Somewhat like Loya Organic on Orchard Lake Road, in the small shopping center, north side of Lone Pine and south of Pontiac Trail … celebrating its fifth anniversary in a quiet sort of way … among numerous cus- tomers who would rather keep it as their own little satisfactory culinary secret. By diversifying its cuisine presentations, a desired pur- pose is attained with tasteful results. Loya Organic is noted as a Pakistani restaurant … with authentic offerings from a culture including items that cannot be obtained elsewhere in this region … Such as BBQ Chargha of chicken or steak, garnished with onions, spices and yogurt or one-day notice for Spicy Chicken Karahi and non-spicy Chicken Cream Stew, etc. … to go along with the Pakistani menu favorite of chicken chili kebob … Even the time-honored, ages-old truly authentic Pakistani Flourless Date Pudding dessert made for her son's restaurant by owner Moiz Habib's mother, Zakia Habib … and traditional honey- baked baklava with walnuts or pistachios. Many of the favorite dishes may sound familiar, but most have Pakistani touches … Mediterranean delights like tawook salad, fattoush salad with Himalayan raisins, fat- toush salmon steak, hummus with chicken or lamb, etc. … American lamb chops, Scottish salmon, grass-fed prime-cut 8-ounce steak, etc. … Plus good- ies for the youngsters, grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches, chicken burger with fries and lasagna layered with cheesy tomato sauce. Habib is also his own chef on many of the dishes even though born in Columbus, Ohio, going to Canada and then America to learn finance at business school prior to becoming a successful restaurateur … In Loya Organic, though, he has achieved his hidden true lifelong ambition. Honoring its fifth anniver- sary, dine-in patrons during the month of December will be given Zakia Habib's deli- cious Date Pudding at no extra charge. Loya Organic presently seats only 37 with seven-day hours of Sunday-Thursday 11:30-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30-10 p.m. Restaurants that honestly present diversified cultures in dining for all taste pleasures and necessities are today much in demand … Loya Organic may be small, but so tall in culinary expression … with its own iden- tity. Loya in Pakistani means "glory" … and Loya Organic certainly presents that in varied ethnic dining satisfaction. SINCE 1993 WHEN opening it in Grosse Pointe as Andiamo Trattoria, Joe Vicari and Joe Serventi were the locale's part- ners only at this location with Servanti operating the site for them …. Now that his children have come of age to help dad in the restaurant, JS asked Vicari to sell him the eatery … In further cementing of their friendship, Joe Vicari agreed and helped his longtime friend in the transition … The Grosse Pointe location's name is now changed to Trattoria Serventi. FAVORITE RESTAURANT of Yesteryears … From Jerry Naftaly … "Another favorite of mine was Victoria Station on Northwestern Highway. Four real train boxcars and caboose uniquely seating 210 and a bar. It included old locomotive pho- tos and references to London, England. Menu items were limited and included dishes like the boxcar cart salad bar that was included with every din- ner. Another had prime rib of beef in several size cuts, burg- ers and a lone non-beef item. Victoria Shrimp was part of another platform. Mushrooms, baked potatoes, beverages and the station master's desserts filled out the others. I took my Chicago cousin Michelle Geller for dinner in 1976 and we both had the filet. She also loved the ambiance of the train boxcars." THIS COMING MARCH, George Lukaj will be able to say his small group of restaurants got bigger … He will open eat- ery No. 5 at the more than 200- seat former Papa Vino locale on Coolidge, south of Maple, Troy … George's locales are pres- ently Georges, West Bloomfield; 5th Tavern, Bloomfield Hills; Village Palace, West Bloomfield; and Grand Tavern, Rochester Hills … The name will be JAG & Co. Kitchen Bar, serving cui- sine somewhat like that of 5th Tavern. OLDIE BUT GOODIE (Another version) … A lady gets on the bus with her baby and as she sits down, a fellow in back of her says, "I've seen a lot of babies in my time, but that's the ugliest one I've ever seen!" She is shocked and angry and starts to cry. A man standing up asks her what was the matter. She said that the fellow insulted her. The man says, "I wouldn't let him get away with it. Give him a piece of your mind. I'll hold your monkey for you." CONGRATS … To Marilyn Frommer on her 79th birthday … To Dr. Glen Gardner on his birthday … To Ernie Solomon on his birthday … To Adria Brown on her birthday. • Danny's email address is dannyraskin2132@gmail.com. raskin t h e b e s t o f e v e r y t h i n g 7 5 th a n n i v e r s a r y Danny Raskin Senior Columnist Glory To Loya Organic CHEERS TO THE PAST TOAST TO THE FUTURE NEW YE ARS E VE DINNER RESERVATIONS AVAIL ABLE . 4:00PM-6:30PM / 8:30PM-11:00PM LIVE ENTERTAINMENT FROM VOCALIST JOANNE ROACH & LIVE PIANO . 9PM-1AM *Executive Chef Howard Barnes will feature a limited dinner menu along with NYE specials complimentar y champagne toast(s) at midnight ORCHARD LAKE RD. WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322 | PRIME29STEAKHOUSE.COM CALL FOR RESERVATIONS | 248. 737. 7463