On The Spicy Ede

B

ecause TasteFest is about food, we thought it
would really be the right opportunity to
debut our new products," says Randall Fogelman,
27, Detroit Spice Co. president and CEO, who
came up with the idea for five exotic edibles —
Detroit Super Premium Hot Sauce 92 Octane
(cayenne), Detroit Super Premium Hot Sauce 97
Octane (jalapeno), Detroit Steak Seasoning,
Detroit Jerk Seasoning and Peacock Curry.
"The ever growing popularity of hot sauces and
seasoning blends, my longtime love of cooking and
the renewed interest in all things 'Detroit' went into
the planning. The steak and jerk sauces are my own
recipes, while the spices are based on customer prefer-
ences at the Rafal Spice Co. at the Eastern Market."
The Detroit Spice Co. will have a TasteFest spot
at the Second Avenue Street Market, where sauce
samples will be served on corn chips.
Fogelman, an urban- planner for Midtown
Development, has worked weekends for the Rafal
Spice Co., owned by family friends, for the past six
years. Starting while a student at Wayne State
University, he helps with marketing and advertising.
"Although these products are not kosher because
of the way they are put together, they have no ani-
mal or dairy products," says Fogelman, who also
assists chefs during cooking classes at Kitchen
Glamour in West Bloomfield.
The hot sauces are being made in Louisiana for
the Detroit Spice Co., while the spice blends will

be mixed and packaged in the Motor City. The
curry recipe is produced in partnership with
Dearborn's Peacock Restaurant.
All the new products will be packaged with auto
industry designs. Initially, they will be available at
the Rafal Spice Co. and Pure Detroit in the David
Whitney Building.
Randall Fogelman, a member of the Detroit
Jewish Initiative to re-establish a Jewish activist pres-
ence in the city, is responsible for the daily opera-
tions, marketing and new-product development for
the Detroit Spice Co.
Donald Rafal, 48, vice president of the new corn-
pany and owner of the Rafal Spice Co. founded 40
years ago by his father, Martin, will assist in product
development and all aspects of the business.
Ryan Fogelman, 25, Randall's brother, also is a
company vice president. Currently working toward a
master's degree in business adminis-
tration and law degree at
Cleveland's Case Western Reserve,
he is responsible for business func-
tions and the company Web site.
"I haven't really been pursuing
retail sales yet because I've been con-
centrating on TasteFest," Randall
Fogelman explains. "We'll see what
kind of interest we have and then
sell to additional stores." El

different type of selling is the object of
Gangster Fun, the ska band performing selec-
tions from its latest recording — Graphospasm! —
which also will be offered at TasteFest. The 14-year-
old band, which combines ska with rock, performs
8 p.m. Friday, June 30, on the Prince Pasta Stage.
The CD, featuring a diversity of subjects from
"vengeful kids with guns" to "dudes who just can't
wait for the weekend," pulls up a lot of reggae
roots turned into ska with faster beats.
"Gangster Fun is jumping around, happy
music," says trumpeter Kenny Robinson, 32, the
newest member of the group. "We do just about
all original songs. When we do some remakes of
covers, we change them, and we can take a rap
song and do it in reggae."
Gangster Fun, recently on the Mitch Albom
radio show and taped for Backstage Pass to be
broadcast on public television, performs songs
written by vocalist-guitarist David Minnick, whose
regular work includes teaching guitar and piano.
While the group's first recording, Come See,
Come Ska, is only available in Britain, all the other
releases are available in the United States. Besides
adding their style to six ska compilations, they

Donald Rafal, Randall Fogelman and Ryan
Fogelman show off some of their products for
the newly created Detroit Spice Co.

TasteFest: More than 250,000 visitors are expected
to fan out for taste-sized morsels being sold by 35
Michigan restaurants, 75 free stage performances,
kids activities and a large assortment of interesting
artifacts and collectibles shown by area vendors.

Gangster Fun: Top row, left to right, are Josh
Silverstein, Kenny Robinson and David Minnick;
bottom row, left to right, are Gary Robertson,
Brian Bowie and Ed Howlett.

Party In Pontiac

Inaugural "Cool Nights"
event takes over the Phoenix Center.

Come See Some Ska

A

Opposite page, top to bottom:

The city of Pontiac and General Motors are partnering up for
Pontiac Cool Nights, a new three-day BBQ, music and fire-
works festival to be held 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday, June
30-July 2 at the Phoenix Center.
National acts the Spinners and Chico DeBarge will perform,
as well as nine local bands including the Sun Messengers, Teen
Angels and Motor City Sheiks.
Ten metro area restaurants will sell food and beverages; pro-
ceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of North Oakland.
For additional information, go to the Web site at www.pon-
tiaccoolnights.com

have other CDs of their own,
including Pure Sound, Pure
Hogwash, Pure Amphetamines and
Time Flies When You're Gangster
Fun.
"I think the lyrics are very
funny," says Robinson, who was
asked to sit in with the group and
play in one show before becoming a regular member
in 1997. Although he has worked as a freelance
musician and played with the Livonia Symphony,
Orchestra Tradition Latina and touring musical the-
ater companies, Robinson's main occupation is
repairing instruments for Royal Music in Royal Oak.
"I'm glad to be performing outdoors at
TasteFest," says Robinson, who has attended ser-
vices at Beth Tephilath Moses in Mt. Clemens. "I
like that there will be all kinds of bands at
TasteFest and live entertainment to see."
While Robinson was schooled in classical music
through private lessons, Josh Silverstein, a percus-
sionist and vocalist for the band, picked up on
playing skills as he worked with various groups as a
recording engineer.
"As a joke when they were getting Gangster Fun

together, I told the others I had congas," recalls
Silverstein, who, wanted to give the impression that
he could play them. "I really had just put demo
tapes together for new groups."
Silverstein, 32, a commercial photographer who
attended United Hebrew Schools, had been friends
with Minnick for many years when the band was
formed. They came up with the band's name after
discussing different combinations of words. Other
members of the group are Ed Howlett on bass, Gary
Robertson on alto sax and Brian Bowie on drums.
As Silverstein anticipates performing the newest
recording, he focuses on its intensity. That's what
he likes best about it. With a busy schedule, he is
glad that Gangster Fun rehearsals are minimal.
"I'm glad to be part of TasteFest because we'll
be playing for people who normally wouldn't see
us," he says. El

6/30
2000

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