raskin 75
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the best of everything
niversary
End Of Year
Wrap-Up
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
Owners of Pepino’s Restaurant,
Carol Carson, Dr. Chris Hutchinson
and Kathy Morley
POTPOURRI …
In checking out various pros
and cons of the 2017 dining
scene as it is about to flow
into 2018, it seems that among
numerous major spring ups
and downfalls might have been
the usual entrance of people
who had never before been in
the restaurant business.
Because of this, and not
strangely so because so many
must depend on others, among
them could be the yearly hiring
of line cooks from other regions
who may have come here pos-
ing as executive chefs … This
may have been the reason for
decline in business by some
eateries where first (and last)
time visits were noticed … One
executive chef revealed to me
that few attempts are made to
contact the former out-of-town
employer.
The importance of good
line cooks is highly necessary
… Nobody can be blamed for
wanting to make money … It
seems so easy in the dining
game … However, in too many
of these cases, an attempt to
save money by some new own-
ers results in the shallow real-
ity of cooking that could be a
reason for smaller returning by
customers.
Also at fault, it seems, some
owners or managers not show-
ing waitpersons correct ways
of service … There was a time
when, more often than not,
staffs were given manuals
to peruse … Even a plain list
of do’s and don’ts is seldom
offered today … Most dining
customers are not fools …
Many recognize good and bad
service almost as much as they
recognize good and bad food.
ALL PAST 38-YEAR records
of doing this wonderful thing
were broken with 2017’s won-
derful annual free Thanksgiving
dinner for everyone at their
restaurants by brothers Sam
and Moe Leon … From 3-8 p.m.
the day before … During those
hours, about 3,000 people filled
the 270 seats at Sam’s Leon’s
Dining in Dearborn … and
Moe served around 1,200 at his
smaller Moe’s On Ten eatery …
Truly a most admirable gesture
by the two Syrian gents who
have adopted America … them-
selves welcomed by America
years ago.
AMONG THE MANY new
year gifts to University of
Michigan football coach Jim
Harbaugh may be one from the
owners of Pepino’s Restaurant
on Orchard Lake Road, Sylvan
Lake, Dr. Chris Hutchinson,
Kathy Morley, Chris’ mother-
in-law, and Kathy’s sister, Carol
Carson … Chris was first team
All American defensive tackle
at Michigan under former
coach Bo Schembechler in the
early 1990s … and his 6 foot-
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FAVORITE RESTAURNT
Of Yesteryears … From Jackie
Kallen … “My parents, Phil and
Marge Kaplan, loved Zukin’s
Bar-B-Q Ribs on Seven Mile
near Meyers, and my dad could
sure eat a lot of their ribs. He
turned me into a real rib lover
as well. One night when I was
about 10, I bet him I could
eat more than he did. I forced
myself to eat two full slabs,
while he quit at one-and-a-half.
I won the bet, but threw up all
night. I didn’t eat ribs again for
a long time, but I love them
now!”
REARVIEW MIRROR … The
ultra New Year’s Eve party at
Duffy’s Tavern on Union Lake
was cut short and people were
hustled out in quick, orderly
fashion … The Bobby Laurel
Trio’s engagement was short-
ened when told that Duffy’s was
on fire, and his group’s continu-
ance of playing music did much
in averting panic … The res-
taurant was completely demol-
ished, including something
that could not be replaced …
Bobby’s own piano that had
been brought to Duffy’s from
his home … and the one on
which Bobby had composed
most of his fine music.
SERVER PEEVES …
Customers eating with feet in
the aisle and their legs crossed
… People who eat everything
on their plate and complain
that the food was not any good.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … The
rabbi was truly a religious man.
Besides his duties as a rabbi, he
was also very active in various
hospitals visiting sick patients
and taking care of all their
needs. So, it was no surprise
that one day when he ran out of
gas, the only container he could
find was a bedpan. The rabbi
happily walked two blocks and
headed back to his car.
As luck would have it, as the
rabbi started tipping the gas
into the fuel tank, the traffic
light turned red, and he had a
large audience witnessing the
spectacle. Just when the rabbi
finished pouring in the last
drops of gas, a fellow opened
his window and hollered, “I
swear! If that car starts, I’m
becoming a religious man!”
CONGRATS ... To Eunice
Ring on her birthday … To
Steven Fisher on his birthday …
To Dennis and Beverley Wolgin
on their 50th anniversary …
To Seymour “Sy” and Pearl
Manello on their 57th anniver-
sary. •
Danny’s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
“For 40 years, Gallery Restaurant has served up masterpieces”
~ Danny Raskin
THE GALLERY RESTAURANT
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jn
December 28 • 2017
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