jews
d
nosh

in
the

on the cover
eats | drinks | sweets

New On
Woodward:

Maccabees

Traders

Asian-inspired with Detroit flair.

MICHAEL ISENBERG SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

D

avid Kraus’ illustrious culinary career has taken him to New
York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago, but his roots are
firmly here in Metro Detroit.
Now, as a successful restaurateur who’s left his mark across the coun-
try, Kraus, 45, has returned home as the new co-owner and operating
partner of Maccabees Traders ( formerly Maccabees Midtown) located
at 5057 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, which opened March 6.
Kraus, who grew up in West Bloomfield, spent his youth attending
Hillel Hebrew Day School, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and, like most
kids in his neighborhood, went to Tamarack Camps. He graduated from
West Bloomfield High School and Michigan State University,
Food has always been a common thread throughout Kraus’ life and
career over the past 30 years. At age 14, his first job was at the Burger
King on Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills. But the biggest influ-
ence came from his parents, Eva and Gerry, and working in the family
business, Kraus & Company, an Oak Park-based wholesale food flavor-
ing manufacturer for products like ice cream and beverages.
He recalled a conversation with his father about his interests and
how they might translate into a career, and Kraus realized working with
and around food was fun and allowed for creativity.

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