Gilded Serpent presents...

The Magic of “The Grapeleaf” 1976-1997

Gabe Michael and Sausan

by Sausan
posted March 28, 2011

Back in the early ‘80s when I was performing at the Bagdad Cabaret on Broadway, a customer strolled into the Northbeach nightclub and told me about a little known restaurant (well, little known to me at that time) located out in the avenue boonies of the outer Richmond District of San Francisco; it was called The Grapeleaf.  Not to let any performance opportunity pass me by, I set my sights on auditioning for the owner, and a week later I drove out to find a single building restaurant adorned with a blue and gold awning.  Little did I know that on that very day, my life would change forever!

The Grapeleaf was owned by Gabriel Michael, a first-generation Lebanese American who was born and brought up in Brooklyn, New York–one of nine children.  A Vietnam war veteran, Gabe, as he was affectionately called, opened his first restaurant, also called The Grapeleaf, in Burlingame in 1973.  After several years of successful operation, he moved his restaurant to San Francisco to the location where I had driven, to audition.  After renovating and upgrading the inside of the building, Gabe opened The Grapeleaf at 4031 Balboa Street in December of 1976 with DeAnn of Light Rain Belly dancing non-stop for three days. 

The dining area resembled that of a courtyard setting, reminiscent of a Moorish garden, and diners felt like they were dining outdoors.  The banquettes were made of tuck-and-roll maroon vinyl and the floor was painted a dark brick color.  A canvas, hand-painted by DeAnn, depicted the Lebanese country side and hung on the east wall while an indoor awning shaded the diners from its make-believe sunlight.  A profile line drawing of a camel named Clyde (the name appropriated from the lyrics of Ray Stevens) gripped a grape leaf in its mouth and oversaw the menu as the restaurant logo.  Gabe offered Lebanese cuisine made from his family’s recipes and hired the best in Belly dance performers.  I was proud to have been hired as one of them on that day of my audition.  That was in 1984.

Gabe and I became man and wife in 1986, and I quit my day job with the U. S. Post Office.  During the time we were joined in matrimony, I embraced all aspects of restaurant life and learned the workings of the restaurant business.  The Grapeleaf served customers from the Egyptian Consul General to the private parties of corporate CEOs and catered parties from the United Arab Emirates to health food promotions.  I started out as Wednesday night dancer and soon graduated to a weekend dancer.  Soon, I became immersed in the business in more ways that I could have ever imagined!

Sausan dances to the music of John and Helen

The Bilezikjians playing at The Grapeleaf; Sausan dancing

The Heyday

The Grapeleaf opened the doors of opportunity for me in many ways.  Gabe and I introduced a prepared packaged food line under the name Culinary Clyde’s to the health food industry.  The line was distributed to over 100 health food and specialty stores across the Bay Area for about ten years with four independent distributors.  Susan Green’s California Cuisine gourmet catalogue, which was distributed nationwide, featured our Limon Wa Zeit salad dressing in it s pages for about five years.  We catered the Desert Dance Festival for over 12 years as well as many other belly dance festivals during that time.  Before the birth of the Internet, I produced and mailed a free quarterly newsletter and called it Dining with Clyde, which included event and class fliers from local and out-of-area dance teachers in its mailings, to the over 2000 belly dancers in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area as well as a free annual magazine called Clyde’s Resource Directory Guide which was supported solely by advertising to over 12,000 belly dancers across the globe.  Every Christmas, we presented “Christmas with Clyde and Friends” and invited celebrated Belly dance guests including Sese, Dunia, Siwa, Jordan Dancer, Amina and others to perform on that evening.  On several occasions, we featured the diverse musical talents of John Bilezikjian and his wife Helen to packed houses.

From 1986 to 1996, The Grapeleaf featured live music every Sunday of the month.  During its span of ten years, well known and celebrated musicians including DeAnn and Doug Adams of Light Rain; Mimi Spencer, Devija Kroll, and Vince Delgado of Jazayer; Ellen Cruz and Coralie Russo of Coral Rose; Mary Ellen Donald, Marty Coyne, Nazir Latouf, Jad Elias, George and Hany Dubai, Reda Darwish, Mohamed Ameen, Louai, Imad, Musa Hanhan, Susu Pampanin, Amina and her many students, and many others played on those nights to up-and-coming Belly dancers who took advantage of this wide array of musical talent.

Pillars of the dance community held their grand extravaganzas at The Grapeleaf.  Magaña Baptiste celebrated her after contest events at The Grapeleaf and hosted Bobby Farrah and Dr. Mo Gedewi.  Horacio Cifuentes, now of Germany, was among them as well as Leila Haddad of Paris, France and Tamalyn Dallal of Florida.  Amina and Jacques El Asmar hosted educational events at The Grapeleaf.  I, in partnership with Shamira, sponsored various and sundry dance teachers including Rebaba, Alexandra King, DeAnne, Shareen El Safy, Tonya and Atlantis, Amaya, Bert Balladine, Rhea, and Giselle.  All of them performed their knowledge and experience atop The Grapeleaf dance floor to awe-struck viewers and packed houses. 

The Grapeleaf also saw the AIDs epidemic strike home during the late 1980s when the partner one of its waiters fell victim to the deadly disease.  The plight of Kamaal and Vince sent shock waves through our dance community.  In an effort to raise money, Sharifa, Jaleh, and I banded together, convinced the president of the San Francisco’s Lyons Club to donate their stage, and we held one of the biggest aids benefits in the history of Belly dance in its lodge.  While well-known San Francisco Bay Area dancers donated their talents in support of the benefit including Suhaila Salimpour, Devi Ananda Baptiste, Amina, Sharifa, Hoda, Dunia, Leea Aziz, Karri Duke, Horacio Cifuentes, Asia, Baraka, Jawahare, Sabiba, Shamira, Hassan Deeb, Rashid, Jordan Dancer, Neyehma, Lynette, Jaleh, and myself, Gabe gave of his Middle Eastern cooking expertise and donated all the catered cuisine to the effort as everyone paid for food as well as their entrance tickets.  Again, we saw a packed auditorium who came to give their support to Kamaal and Vince.  It was another testament, under The Grapeleaf umbrella, to what could be done when the community of Belly dancing like-minds banded together in support of each other.

Mimi, Devi, Vince play for Sausan
Mimi Spencer, Devi Delgado, Sausan.  (Vince Delgado on drums behind Sausan)

On numerous occasions, guest dancers would arrive in San Francisco from out of town and call The Grapeleaf to perform as a guest.  One of these lovely dancers was Ameera Phaedra.  Shahira also graced the dance floor with her performance as did Fahtiem and numerous others..  And occasionally, local teachers would bring in their students in for a student recital.  Leea Aziz, Asia, and Jordan Dancer were among the many.  Moataz, a former cook, and Kamaal, a former waiter, both danced at The Grapeleaf.

But The Grapeleaf was not without its own dance talent and beauty.  Dancers including Stasha, Asia, Jaleh, Rashid, Zulya, Yvonne, Dhyanis, Claudia, Shamira, Connie, Neyehma, Baraka, Karen, and DeAnne; and, of course, myself, were among the many regulars that passed through its dance floor.  In fact, GS’s own Lynette Harris had her start there.  And each year, the five current belly dancers of The Grapeleaf met at the restaurant for photos with Gabe as the Pasha, and a calendar was printed for its patrons.

The Rebirth

Sadly, in December of 1996, Gabe and I parted ways.  It was the beginning of the end, and suddenly, I felt lost.  In 1997, I found myself alone, trying desperately to run a restaurant as well as make and distribute a food packaging line by myself with little to no help.  I felt a kind of despair that comes with the loss of a partnership.  The energy that I tried to put into continuing the events at The Grapeleaf was robbed by the depression that took over, feeding into the emptiness that I experienced when Gabe left.  Consequently, I closed Culinary Clyde’s, stopped publishing my newsletter and magazine, and began to withdraw from the Belly dance community.  In 1998, I met Dr. Hatem El-Sayed, an Egyptian-born artist who offered his help and support in moving forward; and in December of 1999, after a year of renovation, Al-Masri, an Egyptian restaurant, opened in its location.

Culinary Clyde’s prepared packaged food line

I hold dear the days of The Grapeleaf.  While, at the time, it didn’t seem to me that what I was doing was important (certainly, those who were a big part of it may have felt betrayed when it closed) I am forever grateful to those who believed in The Grapeleaf and who helped to make the restaurant a place and a time to remember.  The Grapeleaf was a significant place for those who ventured in an out of it during those years, much like the Bagdad and the Casbah were on Broadway.  It was a place with rich offerings which helped to promote and support dancers and musicians alike, who have since gone on to play or dance at bigger venues or to teach other up-and-coming dancers and musicians of today.

Al-MasriThe Grapeleaf still lives in the space of Al-Masri.  It’s spirit still dances on its floor and brightens the courtyard setting with remembrances of yesteryear, and I’m happy to see past participants begin to venture back into its dining room.  While Hatem no longer walks the floor of its dining area expounding on his beloved Egyptian homeland, and Gabe no longer dictates the dishes of its Lebanese menu as they were taught to him by his mother, I have gained a sense of pride and responsibility for the importance for such a place and of great respect for its former and present diners and participants.  Now a restaurant owner and celebrated chef in my own right, as well as Belly dance performer and teacher, my vision has become clear.  The thirteen years I worked at The Grapeleaf in entertainment and food production, coupled with the twelve years I have worked off and on at Al-Masri as chef and owner of the restaurant, have taught me that without the contributions of everyone who participated in any way — small or big — that The Grapeleaf may not have been the hub it was in its heyday.  For these are the very people, with their very participation, support, and contribution, who make a place like The Grapeleaf, albeit Al-Masri, come alive.

While Al-Masri may have replaced The Grapeleaf, it replaced it only with a business name and regional cuisine.  It is still one and the same, run and now owned and fully operated by the same person; namely, yours truly, Sausan.  From my first audition at The Grapeleaf in 1984, until it closed in 1996, and the end of the second partnership under the Al-Masri name in 2008, my own personal management style brought about by experience of the past 26 years makes the restaurant space unique and safe for the Belly dance community.   You can experience it once again–or for the first time–the magic of The Grapeleaf inside the doors of Al-Masri, for it truly was, and still is, a magical place!

 

Dancers and Gabe poses outside of the restaurant
Outside The Grapeleaf with Claudia, Neyehma, Gabe Michael, Yvonne, Shamira, Sausan

 


Cover of 1996 Clyde’s Resource Directory Guide

L-R Lou Sheleby once owner of The Fez, Los Angeles; Sausan; Eddie Kojak singer on LPs, Harry Saroyan of Saroyan Mastercrafts.

Photo images in Susan Green’s California Cuisine catalog featuring Limon Wa Zeit Culinary Clyde’s packaged salad dressing

  The Grapelaf yearly calendars
1989 – Asia, Jaleh, Sausan, Shamira, Lynette, Gabe Michael

First volume of Dine with Clyde

Gabe Michael and Sausan Christmas with Clyde 1992 flier.

The Grapelaf yearly calendars
   1991 – Yvonne, Claudia, Sausan, Shamira, Lynette, Gabe Michael

1995 Desert Dance Festival program cover photo

 

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  1. Sadira

    Mar 29, 2011 - 09:03:48

    I really enjoyed reading your article on the Grapeleaf and the tremendous work and inspiration you have been there and in the dance world.  The Grapeleaf was always a wonderful place to go, with it’s intimacy, the warmth of you and Gabe and the other dancers/musicians who would be there.  I loved having my student nites there.
    Al Masri, is a gem.  With it ‘s incredible motifs of Ancient Egypt and it’s wonderful food and still wonderful talent.
     Thank you for all you do Sausan, Shukran.
      I would also like to mention that Robaire Nakashian was also a fan and visiting musician at The Grapeleaf.  Whether playing with Paul Ohanesian, Mimi Delgado, or guest drummer with other musicians, he always enjoyed playing there and the comaraderie he enjoyed with Gabe and the staff.  Robaire was a huge factor in bringing George Belzikian to the Bay Area and playing dumbek along side this incredible talent of a man.
      One always shared the best experiences there with your many talents, Sausan

  2. Latifa

    Mar 30, 2011 - 09:03:49

    Great article Sausan.  It’s great to have the community energy back. Dancers of DeNile will also be back to do a night.  What a history!

  3. Sausan

    Mar 30, 2011 - 11:03:09

    Dear All:
    Please forgive me for not including the contributions of some of you.  My records were vandalized and many of my records were destroyed.  My memory also has become a little clouded by the experiences of the last twelve years.  The comments you post will fill in the names and moments I regrettably have omitted. –Sausan

  4. Sausan

    Mar 31, 2011 - 02:03:18

    AND…..I would like to add that without my dance training by Jodette of Sacramento and by Nakish of San Francisco, I might have never known the pleasures and challenges of embracing the dance culture fully in owning and operating an Egyptian restaurant in San Francisco with my own dance graduates now gracing its floors.  –Sausan

  5. Barbara Grant

    Apr 1, 2011 - 12:04:15

    “Akel el Jabaal” (hopefully the spelling is correct) my favorite dish there, the eggplant casserole.
    I also remember a beautiful guest performance by Sahra Saeeda.
    This was a great place to meet people, and the dancers I met there (from all over the Bay Area) were so kind and supportive. Also wonderful were the many musicians who played. And they played for me (a mere “baby dancer”) as well as they did for the top professionals who danced there.
    I very much enjoyed my experiences at Grapeleaf, 1992 – 1997. They will live forever in my memory.
    Blessings,
    Barbara
     

  6. Bob Burns

    Jan 18, 2013 - 04:01:46

    Susan, I happened to drive by the old Grapeleaf on a recent trip the city, which got me to wondering what ever happened to Gabe, whom I and many others considered a good friend. I was a grocery supplier to him (with the old Sexton Co.). I remember when you split up, sadly, which indeed seemed to portend the end of a fun place to eat and drink out by the beach.

    At any rates what a nice piece you have written, with such nice memories. I’d love to hear news of Gabe and how he’s gettiing along. Feel free to email me with any news of my old buddy. 

  7. Mike Miller

    May 8, 2014 - 02:05:38

    Sausan,
    Thanks for sharing your memories of both Gabe and the GrapeLeaf. I have a few of my own, although from an earlier time. I worked at the original GrapeLeaf in Burlingame (circa ’74-’75),and lived with Gabe at the same time. I guess you might say I was his original “souchef.” I remember butchering the fresh lamb each week, soaking the eggplant, making the kefta, hummis, bobaganooge, etc. Alspice, allspice, on everything allspice! I was a normal teenage boy at that time. Oh my… those dancers… oh my. While they danced, Gabe would always snap his fingers in a peculiar way that I could never master. Gabe was always very good to me.

  8. Sausan

    Sep 18, 2017 - 02:09:02

    To all who wrote above:

    Gabe is doing well. He is on Facebook under Gabriel Michael.

    Thanks to all of you. Stop by Al-Masri and say hello.

    Best!
    -Sausan

  9. Richard J Guyette

    May 1, 2022 - 05:05:26

    Gabe was one of my room-mates during our years at Hutchinson Junior College in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was there on a football scholarship at the time. Gabe and I shared a Lebanese background (I about 25%) and he got along with everyone. Five of us shared a two-room apartment at $40. per month ($8.00 each). I recall that he would always break the filter off borrowed cigarettes before he lit up. He was a great guy and I was sorry to learn that he passed in Florida.

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