nosh notes

here was a time
when Detroit, in a
sense, was consid-
ered somewhat of a
gastronomical wilder-
ness.
This, although it boasted
numerous fine dining restaurants
that held their own against many
of the nation's finest.
Restaurants like the London
Chop House, Van Dyke Place,
Berman's Chop House, Wonder
Bar, Pontchartrain Wine Cellar and
so many more.
They all may be gone; but
today's crop, likeTribute, Lark,
Opus One,
Emily's, Cafe
Cortina, Rugby
Grill ... and
oodles more ... is
getting its share
of Midwest and
national note.
There are
many close sec-
ond-level restau-
rants as well
Danny Raskin
today that, at
times, also bor-
der on the upper scale.
Since dining out has vaulted
itself into a lofty standing on the
better-things-to-do charts, chances
are high that people are already
cognizant of the favored places to
enjoy the preferred food of the
time, ethnic or otherwise ... But
sometimes they need to be told or
reminded of other restaurants for
dining pleasure.
This is among the main reasons
for the publication of Nosh, which
attempts to inform ... not neces-

sarily lure ... potential customers
of the various places to dine ...
along with restaurant features and
types of cuisine.
Family dining continues to hold
an important place in so many
hearts ... Children don't care
where they go ... just take them
someplace to eat the food they
want.
However, their parents have a
responsibility ... Feed the young-
sters what they most desire ... but
in a proper environment con-
ducive to health of body and
mind.
So many good usually depend-
able family dining spots ... And
with different levels, too ... Like
the chic family restaurants that,
many times, were hardly notice-
able in yesteryears.
Price is important ... What is in
one man's pocket may not be in
that of another ... Nosh takes this
into consideration, too ...There
are occasions when you don't
want to clean out your bank
account just for the sake of a meal
... Happily, metropolitan Detroit
has retained its eating places
where you can feast on steaks,
chops, fish favorites and wonder-
ful ethnic specialties and part with
low dollar amounts in the
process.
Dining spots have also come a
long way in their welcomed
acceptance of single diners.
Those restaurants whose own-
ers still shudder at the sight of a
lone diner are today, thankfully, in
the very small minority ... If
they're smart, these restaurateurs
will run fast toward the modern

way of thinking ... They'll face up
to the fact that single dining is
here to stay and no longer some-
thing to be treated as a Dark Ages
chill.
A lot of waitpersons also had
better start a new way of thinking
... that without customers of any
type, they're out of good jobs ...
It's as simple as that ... Single din-
ing is just as much a part of
today's life as the territory of dou-
bles, foursomes, etc. ... If waitper-
sons can't accept it, here's the
biggest tip they can get ... start
looking for other employment in
another field.
It is a pity that often cities like
NewYork and Chicago, and not
Detroit, bring to mind the influx of
the many national groups that
comprise the Jewish population
and its mixture in the American
melting pot.
Yet, if you look around Detroit
and suburbs, much of the action
was already here ... and is still
forcefully represented by the food
of much of the world ... Samples
of the traditions and ways of life
of these groups are here for the
taking.
Fortunately, metropolitan
Detroiters are rapidly becoming
more aware of the fine dining
available in our ethnic and
American restaurants ... Most of
these restaurants are booming
with the influx of happy new cus-
tomers ... Most of them represent
a world of good value and
extraordinary taste sensations.
Dining out is a treasure of taste
... Eat hearty ... and enjoy your
next experience.

— Danny Raskin

nosh

10/22

2004

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