42 January 24 • 2019
jn

continued from page 40

I knew in the evening I’
d be 
going to a lot of restaurants. Some-
times, I’
d go to three restaurants in 
one night. I didn’
t eat at all of the 
restaurants. 
At the beginning, I thought 
being a restaurant critic would be 
great. But, I remember one critic 
started out at 190 pounds and 
wound up more than 300. I made 
sure not to eat a lot. I learned to 
push away. 
People think I get all these free 
meals, but I never wanted to be 
obligated to a restaurant. If I am 
obligated, it means I have to write 
about them and I’
ve got to be nice. 
I don’
t want that. 
One thing I will not do: I’
ll nev-
er bum-rap a restaurant because I 
know how much it costs just to put 
that damn key in the door! People 
don’
t realize it, but when you go 
into a restaurant, there’
s a lot of 
money just for him or her to open 
up that door. Insurance, licenses, 
gas, fi
 xtures, employees — it costs 
a lot of money.
If I had a bad experience, I 
would tell the owner what to do to 
fi
 x it. But I would not write about 
it. And then, I’
d come back again 
when it’
s all fi
 xed up. And if it’
s 
done properly, I tell them I’
ll see if 
I can get something in the paper. 
To this day, I still try to help out.

You’
re well known around town. 
You’
ve given your time and ener-
gy to myriad worthy causes. 
What’
s it like being a Jewish 
Detroit institution?
Many times, readers come up 
and say hello. Th
 at comes with 

the years, and I like the respect. It 
means I’
ve lived good — people 
have nothing bad to say about 
you. It’
s so important. I don’
t want 
anyone talking bad about me.
 People read my column and 
write to me, not only from here, 
but also from all over the coun-
try. A lot of people get the Jewish 
News in other states. It’
s not just a 
local paper.
Many times, a part of my 
column is nostalgia for them. 
It brings back good memories. 
I’
m like a representative of their 
memories. 

What’
s special about Detroit delis 
that your readers who have moved 
elsewhere still rave about?
Detroit Jewish delis were an entity 
in themselves. At one time, inside 
of a few blocks you had seven 
Jewish delicatessens. Down-to-
earth delicatessens. Everyone talks 
about New York City. I can only 
think of a few good ones there. 
But, that’
s strictly my opinion. 
People who move from Detroit 
long for the old delis. Th
 ey were 
mom-and-pop operations. Th
 ey 
had someone in the kitchen who 
knew how to make the mamalo-
schen type of food — stuff
 ed 
cabbage, stuff
 ed peppers, beef 
goulash.

Looking back on your career, 
would you change anything?
No, I don’
t think so. I enjoyed the 
days then, and I enjoy the days 
today.
It’
s a good ride. I try to have a 
lot of fun. ■

Peter Farago, CEO Farago 
& Associates, JN Account 
Executive Annette Kizy, 
Danny Raskin and 
Denise Kizy.

100 years young!

Best wishes for

Danny’s 100th birthday!

3251 Orchard Lake Road, Keego Harbor, MI 48320
248-682-0320
info@theharborsteakhouse.net

Wishing Danny, 
a Wonderful Happy 
100th Birthday!

– Szatmari Family and the 

entire Hungarian Rhapsody Team

H
appy 100th

Bir
thday, Danny!

From The Detroit Jewish News

