Metro Detroit’s Café Cortina marks 50th anniversary with special events - Detroit Metro Times

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Café Cortina Celebrates Half a Century with Vibrant Events and Tributes

In a nod to its Italian heritage, Café Cortina, a beloved institution in Metro Detroit, is marking an incredible milestone – its 50th anniversary. The family-owned restaurant, founded by Rina and Adriano Tonon in 1976, has been a staple in the community for five decades, and its commitment to quality food, warm hospitality, and rich traditions is still evident today.

To commemorate this momentous occasion, Café Cortina is hosting an array of special events that will take guests on a culinary journey through time. The "Founders Dinner Series" kicks off on March 16 with "La Notte Di Famiglia," a multi-course dinner inspired by the restaurant's original 1976 menu, paired with Vittorio Veneto wines from the Tonon family's ancestral home in Italy.

The evening will also feature "family storytelling from founder Rina Tonon and special guests," including the premiere of a documentary titled "The Garden That Fed Detroit." This intimate event promises to delve into the history and legacy of Café Cortina, offering a unique glimpse into the restaurant's enduring spirit.

More events are planned for later this year, including collaborations with guest chefs, a black-tie gala, and other tributes to mark the occasion. The series concludes on June 29 and November 2.

Café Cortina will also make an appearance at the Summer Garden Festival in Traverse City on September 17-19, further solidifying its presence as a cherished Detroit institution.

Throughout the year, the restaurant will share stories, memories, and moments from its half-century journey through various events. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering Café Cortina, there's something for everyone at this beloved gathering place.

Join the celebration and come taste the history of Café Cortina!
 
I'm so down for their "Founders Dinner Series" 🍴🎉 it's gonna be sick to see Rina Tonon share her family stories and we get to try that original 1976 menu, fam 💸 I've been meaning to check out this place for ages, but now I gotta make the trip out to Metro Detroit ASAP 🚗📍. Those wine pairings from Italy are gonna be on point! 🍷 And it's awesome they're featuring a doc about their history at Café Cortina, can't wait to see that premiere 👀
 
🤔 So they're doing all these events to celebrate 50 years? Like, that's a huge deal. I wonder if Rina Tonon has any favorite dishes from back in the day... does she still make her own pasta or something? 🍝 And what's with the Vittorio Veneto wines? Is it like a family tradition or somethin'?

I'm defo gonna check out that documentary, sounds really interesting. I love stories about how places come together and become part of the community. It's like... you can taste the history in food, right? 🍴 Maybe they should do some themed menus with dishes from different decades... or even countries! That would be so cool.

And oh man, a black-tie gala sounds fancy! Is that just for special guests or is anyone invited to come dressed up? 😎 I hope they have some fun photoshoots too, 'cause 50 years is definitely a big milestone.
 
I'm so confused about these old restaurants I mean café's 🤔. Why do they still celebrate their 50th anniversary like it's a big deal? Don't get me wrong, I've heard good things about this one but how much food can you really serve in one year? And what's with all the fancy wine and dinner events? My grandma used to have these kinds of gatherings too 🍰. Are they still popular or just for old people?
 
I'm not sure why they need to make such a big deal about it 🤔. 50 years is a decent run, I guess... but it's not like they're curing cancer or anything. And honestly, who needs all these fancy events and tributes? It's just a restaurant, right? 🍴 Can't they just have a nice dinner party like normal people do?

And what's with the "family storytelling" stuff? It sounds like some cheesy marketing gimmick to me 😒. I mean, sure, it's nice that Rina Tonon is sharing her stories and memories... but can't we just listen to them through YouTube or something? Do we really need a fancy documentary for this? 🤷‍♂️

And what's the point of all these collaborations with guest chefs and black-tie galas? It's just going to cost more money, I'm sure. Can't they just stick to serving good food like normal restaurants do? 🤑
 
OMG u guys, i cant even imagine detroit w/o café cortina! its been around 4eva lol theyre really goin all out w/ these events, gotta check it out if u can 🤩🍝🎉. rina and adriano tonon are literally legends in the food scene. their commitment to tradition is so heartwarming ❤️. cant wait to hear those family stories & see that documentary! its gonna be a wild ride celebrating 50 yrs of deliciousness 👯‍♀️
 
Ugh, how much more do they need to clutter up their website with these "special events" 🤯? Can't they just give us a simple menu update instead of shoving in a bunch of marketing fluff? And don't even get me started on the fact that they're making you pay extra for some fancy wine pairing 🍷. I mean, come on, it's just dinner. Let's not make this thing more complicated than it needs to be 😒.
 
[smiling emoticon] I'm so down to celebrate Café Cortina's 50th anniversary! 🎉 Their commitment to quality food and warm hospitality is still evident today. The "Founders Dinner Series" sounds like an amazing opportunity to dive into their history and legacy.

I imagine the events will be super fun, with delicious Italian cuisine and family storytelling from Rina Tonon herself 🤗. The documentary "The Garden That Fed Detroit" must be really interesting - I'd love to watch it! 📺

Can you imagine walking through a black-tie gala or attending a special dinner event at Café Cortina? 💃🕺 It's going to be a blast! Here's a little ASCII art representation of the restaurant's 50 years:

```
_______________________
/ \
| 1976 |
_______/ \________
| | |
| Café Cortina | Italian |
|_____________| heritage|
| |
| Family-owned |
| commitment to quality|
|____________________|
```
[smiling] It's going to be a wonderful year for Café Cortina!
 
OMG, I'm low-key so down for Café Cortina's 50th anniversary celebrations 🎉👏! It's amazing to see how they're keeping their heritage alive with those "Founders Dinner Series" events... sounds like a foodie's dream come true! ❤️ And sharing stories and memories through different events? That's just the best way to connect with the community. I'd love to check out that documentary about "The Garden That Fed Detroit"... gotta support local history, you know? 📚👍
 
man this is so cool 🤩 café cortina has been around for 50 years? that's crazy! i've always loved their pasta dishes and cozy vibe. it's awesome that they're having all these events to celebrate - the founders dinner series sounds especially intriguing, can't wait to hear rina tonon's stories 😊. and a documentary about the garden that fed detroit? that's some next level stuff 📺. i'm definitely gonna try to check out one of their events this year 👍
 
🎉 50 years old is like, whoa! I feel so lucky to have grown up with a place that still got it going on 🙌. The way they're celebrating with all these events and tributes is really cool, you know? It's not just about the food (although, let's be real, the pasta here is TO DIE FOR 😋), but about sharing their story and legacy with the community. I'm down for the "Founders Dinner Series" - sounds like a great way to experience some history and culture 🍝. And, you know, it's awesome that they're keeping the Italian heritage alive in such a vibrant way 🌿. Anyone else going to try to attend one of these events?
 
🎉 I mean, can you believe it's been 50 years?! 🤯 Cafe Cortina has definitely made its mark on Detroit. I love that they're celebrating with all these awesome events - who wouldn't want to try a multi-course dinner inspired by the original menu from 1976? 🍴 It's amazing how family-owned businesses like this one can still feel so warm and welcoming, even after five decades. And the fact that Rina Tonon is sharing her own stories about the restaurant's history is really cool - I'm sure there are some great insights into what makes Cafe Cortina tick. Let's give it up for 50 years of delicious food and memories! 🎂
 
I'm so down to celebrate 50 years of Italian food and family vibes in Detroit 🍝🎉 Can't wait to try out that original 1976 menu at the Founders Dinner Series, sounds like a blast from the past! And I love how they're sharing stories and memories through events - it's not just about the food (although, let's be real, the pasta is gonna be on point 😂). Café Cortina's commitment to community and tradition is what makes this milestone so special.
 
man i wasnt even around 50 yrs ago lol but it sounds like theyre doing some cool things to celebrate 🎉 i love that they're sharing family stories and memories, its always great to learn about where ppl come from. also, vittorio veneto wines sound fancy & delicious 🍷 cant wait to try them out when i get a chance
 
I've been following this story about Café Cortina and I gotta say, 50 years is a big deal 💥. It's amazing how they're still keeping it family-owned and committed to quality food. The events they have planned sound really cool too - who wouldn't want to try a multi-course dinner inspired by the original menu from back in 1976? 🍴 And I love that they're sharing stories and memories through various events, it's like they're inviting us all into their family's history. I'm definitely going to check out some of these events when they happen!
 
🎉 50 years in business is amazing! I love how they're keeping it all family-owned and still serving up that Italian goodness 🍝. My kid loves going there with us on Sundays, and now they'll have a whole series of events to make it even more special for them 📚. Can't wait to see the documentary about Rina's stories - sounds like some really interesting history 💭. Also, who knew Vittorio Veneto wines were part of the original menu? Giving me all sorts of nostalgic feels 😊. They should totally do a social media giveaway or something to get everyone excited for these events 🤩.
 
im not sure i get the hype about this whole 50th anniversary thing...i mean, it's cool that they're celebrating and all, but is it really worth the drama and attention? its just a café after all. 🤔 cafe cortina has been around for ages, and im pretty sure people have been going there without the need for all these special events and tributes. plus, 50 years of food alone should be enough to make people happy...no need for fancy dinners and documentaries 🍴📚
 
omg i cant even believe they are having a 50th anniversay!!! 🤩 it sounds like such a fun event with all the different dinners and storytelling sessions - rina tonon sounds like such an amazing woman and her legacy is truly inspiring 😊 i'm definitely gonna check out their events this year and try that multi-course dinner lol can't wait to see what other surprises they have in store 🎉
 
🎉 I think it's so cool that Café Cortina is celebrating 50 years in Detroit! They must be super proud of what they've accomplished. 🙌 The idea of a "Founders Dinner Series" sounds amazing, where you get to try the original menu from back in 1976 and learn about the Tonon family's history. And I love that there's going to be a documentary premiere - it'll be so interesting to see how Café Cortina has evolved over the years.

I also appreciate that they're not just stopping at events, but are also sharing stories and memories through social media and other channels. That way, everyone can participate in the celebration even if they can't make it to an event. It's a great way for them to engage with their community and make this milestone anniversary feel more inclusive.

I'm curious, though - have you ever been to Café Cortina? I've heard great things about their Italian food, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. Definitely adding "Café Cortina" to my bucket list now! 📚
 
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