arts & entertainment >> the best of everything
Blue Danube
An authentic taste of Hungary right across the river.
E
thnic dining holds a special niche
in the hearts of those persons who
are of that culture ... But many
such restaurants, whose authenticity is
without question, also entertain many
people not of that country who thoroughly
enjoy its beautiful tasty food, service and
ambience.
Hungarian restaurant Blue Danube on
Ottawa Street in Windsor, Ontario, cel-
ebrating its 39th anniversary, is among
those ethnic restaurants with that recogni-
tion ... Owned by Sam and Zora Popadic,
it has made an indelible impression on
people discovering this authenticity in
their search for Hungarian goodness.
Only a short distance from the Detroit-
Windsor Tunnel, Blue Danube is eas-
ily within reach for its Hungarian and
Continental specialties that have few
equals.
Those seated in the 150-capacity restau-
rant are treated to true-style Hungarian
dishes so many hunt for ... Like best-
sellers Hungarian goulash, weiner shnit-
zel (breaded veal cutlet), chicken royale
(marinated chicken breast in white wine
and spices topped with mushroom, bell
pepper sauce and mozzarella and cheddar
cheeses), premises-made cabbage rolls and
perogies, etc. ... Customers also love Blue
Danube's Transylvania wooden platter and
Budapest combination among its variety of
menu favorites.
Vegetarians and fish lovers aren't for-
gotten with tasty selections ... Including
salmon, pickerel and garlic shrimp, along
with numerous Hungarian favorites.
Blue Danube is a family-owned and
operated restaurant, with son Steve
Popadic its general manager and all-
around Mr. Everything.
Many Hungarian restaurants are so in
style only ... Authenticity comes with
things like serving goulash from a kettle
or sausage with sauteed onions and red
peppers, etc. ... One of the items at Blue
Danube, not on the menu but
available when requested, is
very tasty broiled veal seasoned
with garlic and paprika and
topped with a mild cheddar
cheese.
Blue Danube in Windsor
is a six-day operation, closed
Mondays and open Tuesday-
Sunday 11-10.
Folks seeking authentic
Hungarian presentations need
look no further than Windsor's
Blue Danube, whose 39 years as a large
Hungarian favorite has made many cus-
tomers happy ... There are numerous rea-
sons why countless folks come from near
and far and consider it among their favor-
ite neighborhood mom-and-pop authentic
Hungarian restaurants.
READER MINI REVIEW ... by
Armen Darakjian "Birmingham's
newest eatery, Bistro Joe's, on Woodward,
has created many delicious items that are
served with much professional flair ...
Although located in the Papa Joe's Market,
both are independent of each other. It has
its own entity in the upstairs location with
seating at about 10 tables across from the
full bar and a patio with perhaps another
10 tables.
"My friend, Jim Findlay, and I started
with spicy tuna tacushi with cilantro salad,
served in a crispy shell. Next was Pide, a
perfect combination of Armenian soujouk
(spicy sausage), herbs and Kasar cheese. A
twist on the usual pizza starter was served
to us on a long pizza spatula. Our French
onion soup, smothered with Gruyere
cheese, herbs and croutons, was delicious.
"Our main course was hanger steak with
chimichurra sauce (one of four sauces
offered), served on a butcher block with
three side accompaniments. Our dessert
was unique: three donut holes served with
three small squeeze bottles filled with the
desired chocolate, caramel or cream filling
that you squeeze in yourself:"
MAIL DEPT....
"Magdeleno's restaurant,
which reader Jim Lemire and
others have written to you
about, has closed its Lincoln
Park restaurant. Chef/owner
Ernesto Guzman moved it to
a more spacious and attrac-
tive location in Wyandotte.
It's at 152 Elm St. in the
space previously occupied by
Michelangelo's Italian Bistro.
"We have had wonderful meals at
Magdeleno's and look forward to going to
the new location. With Chef Ernesto in
the kitchen, it should be great" ... Arnold
and Susan Hirsch.
AT THE RECENT 25th anniversary
shindig by Rattlesnake Club, Detroit, bar-
tender Farouk Elhaje, formerly of the orig-
inal London Chop House, said that when
Chop founder and co-owner Les Gruber
saw Barbra Streisand on
the Jack Paar TV show
through his efforts he
got mad ... According
to Farouk, Barbra said
on the show that she
was appearing at the
Caucus Club in Detroit,
and Gruber got so put
Barbra
out that she did not
Streisand
mention the London
Chop House (its sister
restaurant) that he "fired her"
This is news to me and to Bernie Moray,
head of Gorman Furniture, who also
helped her so much and today is still close
friends with the wonderful songstress and
actress.
SAVE THE DATE DEPT. ... It's
been set for the always-awaited fun-and-
eat galore Annual Grub Crawl by West
Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce and
Rotary Club.
Ninth annual event will be Saturday,
SAVE THE DATE
Join Andiamo Bloomfield as we welcome Master Sommelier, Madeline Triffon,
Tuesday, Oct 15th 7:00 p.m.
for a grand evening of food, wine and friendship. Chef Travis Waynick has
created a savory three course small plates menu while pairing up some
favorite wine selections. Each dish will have their own unique personality.
Madeline will reveal her selections and pairing "secrets" at the end of every course.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling (248) 865-9300.
Price is $
60
September 12 • 2013
913
per person
all inclusive
Oct. 5, 6-9 p.m. ... Folks will walk or drive
to the many participating restaurants and
sample specialties of the restaurants par-
ticipating along Orchard Lake Road.
Teri Weingarden is chair and Lee Jaffke
co-chair.
Tickets are $40 per person ... which
includes a T-shirt as the ticket for folks
to wear to all the restaurants ... For
more info or to contact the Greater West
Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, call
(248) 626-3636.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT....
The very religious gent was an extremely
avid golfer. Every chance he could get, he
would be found on the golf course swing-
ing away.
It was a picture-perfect day for golfing.
The sun was out, no clouds in the sky and
the temperature was just right.
He was in a quandary as to what to do,
and shortly, the urge to play golf overcame
him. The fellow called a friend to tell him
that he was sick and could not go to Yom
Kippur services that day, drove three hours
to a golf course where no one would rec-
ognize him. Happily, he began to play the
course.
An angel up above was watching and
became quite perturbed. He went to God
and said, "Look at Morris. He should be
punished for what he is doing"
God nodded in agreement. The very
religious gent teed up on the first hole,
swung at the ball and watched it sail 350
yards through the air and land in the cup
for a picture perfect hole in one.
The angel was shocked. He turned to
God and said, "I thought you were going
to punish him?"
God smiled and said, "Who can he tell?"
CONGRATS ... To Shifra Zeiler on
her birthday ... To Dr. Fred and Sandra
Bernstein on their 59th anniversary.
❑
Danny's email address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobalmet.