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Lox ’n’ Laughs

Sunday morning staple stirs memories of Borscht Belt jesters.

P

OTPOURRI:
Recent notice of a Lox & Bagels
Festival held in Butte, Mont.,
touched a nostalgic spot … This wonderful
specialty at Jewish delicatessens that often
consists of a small lox plate, toasted or plain
assorted bagels, creamed cheese, hard-boiled
eggs, maybe scrambled eggs with sauteed
onions or whatever, is considered by many
as the crown jewel of Sunday breakfast.
It has been a favorite for many years, any
size … and, in the past, made even more
famous by places like the wonderful Borscht
Belt hotels aka the Catskill Mountains or
the “Jewish Alps” … Remembrances of
lox platters being devoured among laughs
by Jewish comics like Milton Berle, Buddy
Hackett, Herschel Bernardi, Joey Bishop,
Jack Benny, Myron Cohen, Billy Crystal,
Rodney Dangerfield, Shecky Greene, Henny
Youngman, Don Rickles, etc., in a long list
of guffaw-getters … and untold amounts of
actors and actresses like Barbra Streisand,
Sammy Davis Jr., Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker
and many more Hollywood stars to world
travelers.
They all loved their lox and bagels platters
and sandwiches at Grossinger’s, Concord,
Nevele, Laurels, etc. … Sometimes with their

own innovative shticks, too …
other restaurants of yesteryears.
Jimmy Durante liked his with
So many former eateries are
plenty of pickles and cucumbers,
still held in much reverence
Milton Berle enjoyed whitefish
… But few had a Master Chef
also on the small platter … Sam
Milos Cihelka, who will join
Levinson added potato pan-
in the cooking at the Golden
cakes … Phil Silvers had it with
Mushroom Night … Memories
chopped liver … Eddie Cantor
have him taking the place of
would always take more than a
Pancho Valez at the London
few bagel, lox, sliced tomato and
Chop House, opening Sammy
Danny Raskin
onion sandwiches back to his
Lieberman’s House of Lords at
room … Today some folks enjoy Senior Columnist
the Raleigh House and delight-
a small lox and bagel plate with
ing diners for 17 years at the
vegetarian chopped liver, sable, etc. …
Golden Mushroom.
There is something about Jewish delica-
The $190 per person event also includes
tessen lox and bagel platters, any size, that
a free copy of Chef Milos’ fine book for each
are so often considered as devoted delish
couple.
food of kings, queens, presidents and any-
GOOD NEWS that wonderful local song-
body in many walks of life to whom this
stress/actress Karen Newman will be appear-
favorite dining marvel is like manna from
ing Thursday, Dec. 15, at Andiamo Celebrity
the heavens.
Showroom, next door to its restaurant on
From new to old generations, so much
14 Mile, Warren … Karen is a big favorite of
has always been written about small lox and many.
bagel platters … But never enough.
MORE ACCOLADES for Buddy’s Pizza
A WONDERFUL GESTURE, indeed,
… Recent Food Paradise program of the
by the grandson of Morrie Fenkell, Aaron
Travel Channel calls it one of the top five
Belen, deservedly naming his restaurant The pizzas in America.
Morrie, South Main, Royal Oak, in honor
MAIL DEPT. … “I am shocked! I never
of his late grandfather … Morrie was a
believed that so many people would write to
great guy with brothers Irv and Al
me of their memories about parents taking
Fenkell in Fenkell Packing, Detroit,
them to Northland to shop. Linda Solomon,
and then chairman of Liberty State
the professional photog who had memories
Bank in Hamtramck before retiring. of her dad buying her a camera from Dunn’s
Hopefully, Dan Gilbert will open
Camera when she was little. Lee and Todd
an eatery named after his fine
Weinstein thrilled that I included Mummp,
dad, the late Sam Gilbert, owner
owned by their dad Hy Weinstein and
of Saksey’s Lounge on Woodward,
partner Bernard Adelson, and many emails
Detroit, with Irving Sacks.
and cards thanking me for preserving their
THE LARGE AMOUNT OF res- memories” … Jerry Naftaly, author of Images
ervations requests for Steven Lelli’s
of Modern America: Northland Mall.
Inn on the Green’s “Evening at the
MORE MAIL ON Joe Vicari’s second Joe
Golden Mushroom,” Monday, Dec.
Muer Seafood restaurant coming soon to
5, 12 Mile between Halsted and
Bloomfield Hills … “If the amazing food at
Haggerty, Farmington Hills, may
another Joe Muer opening is as good as his
also signify the desire for more of
Andiamo restaurants, especially Telegraph

Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere

and 15 Mile, it can’t miss. Everyone is awe-
some there at preparing Mark’s and my food
just the way we like it.” … Ida Nemzin
INTERESTING RESTAURANTS that
give people a choice of varied cultures seem
to go over big in today’s dining world … But
years back, there was one that would have
made it big in the present day.
Timing was poor then with money too
tight for customers to try out places.
It had separate rooms for each nation …
Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai … with
waitpersons in the garb of each country
decor … I believe that there was still another
room for what today is known as fusion …
combinations or selections that could be
made of all or some of the Asian cuisines it
presented.
Any restaurant opening is a gamble …
But, in this case, which lasted only a short
while, the timing just wasn’t right.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A boy decided
that he wanted to become a rabbi when he
grew up, so his father suggested he go to
their shul to find out what the job entailed.
“Ask me any question about the rabbinate,
and I’ll give you the answer,” said the rabbi.
“Well, besides giving a sermon for about
15 minutes on a Shabbat morning, what else
do you do all week?” the boy asked.
“You don’t want to become a rabbi,” thun-
dered the rabbi. “With questions like that,
you want to become the shul president!”
CONGRATS … To Audrey Saperstein on
her birthday … To Michael Ephraim on his
birthday … To Russi Arden on her birth-
day … To David Barr on his birthday …
To Ruth Soper on her 75th birthday … To
Dr. Fred Bernstein on his 88th birthday …
To Michael and Sandy Hermanoff on their
41st anniversary … To Dennis “Denny” and
Sharon Green on their 18th anniversary.

*

Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

“For 40 years, Gallery Restaurant has served up masterpieces”

SPOSITA’S

~ Danny Raskin

THE GALLERY RESTAURANT

RISTORANTE

Daily Special to choose from for lunch & dinner…

OUR PETITE FILET DINNER
IS HAPPENING AGAIN!

Dinner specials come with complimentary rice or chocolate pudding or jello

Sunday, December 4 through
Thursday, December 8

$ 22.95

OPEN 7 DAYS:

15%
Off

food bill

Offer Good Monday-
Thursday, dine-in only
and entrees only. Not
valid with any other
offer. With coupon only.
Not valid on holidays.

52 December 1 • 2016

10%
Off

food bill

Offer Good Friday-
Sunday, dine-in only
and entrees only. Not
valid with any other
offer. With coupon only.
Not valid on holidays.

Now Serving
Beer & Wine

(248) 538-8954

33210 W. 14 Mile Rd
In Simsbury Plaza, just east of Farmington Rd.
West Bloomfield

Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pmtFri: 11am-11pm
Sat: 4pm-11pmtSun: 4pm-9pm

2071910

Includes Petite Filet, antipasto plate, side of pasta,
salad, soup, potato and vegetable.
Dine-in only, not valid with any other offer.

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