June 20 • 2019 45
jn

raskin
the best of everything

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

Improving on a 
Classic Deli
I

t had many names from which to 
choose, but preferred to keep it as is 
… However, they believe the words in 
a name do not always mean goodness … 
Rather than change title, the new owners 
preferred to keep the name and let their 
food and surroundings do the answering.
This year will be the second anni-
versary of Siegel’
s Deli’
s changeover of 
ownership … One that also exemplified 
ownership with immediacy in becoming 
known as a true family delicatessen with 
features of a New York-style Jewish deli 
… Like making its own desserts along 
with strudels, brownies, cookies, cakes, 
knishes, etc. … and best-sellers like the 
New York Reuben, Siegel’
s Salad, Gantzah 
Magilla and others.
The modification from a quiet-like 
atmosphere has seemingly been changed 
into a more home-like feeling … Bigger 
windows, soft Frank Sinatra singing in the 
background and a much cleaner look that 
always brings a sight of welcome. 
Another prime factor is the constant 
addition of new items to the menu … 
like the Reuben Egg Rolls or Chicken 
Hummus Pita, which immediately became 
big favorites that border on the true Jewish 
traditional delicatessen feeling.
But still, the new owners of Siegel’
s Deli 
… brothers Edison and Elvis Vushaj, who, 
with their mother, Vicki Vushaj, bring the 
all-important feel of family dining … so 
needed for satisfaction … Slowly remod-
eling their delicatessen, which has hardly 
had any style of upgrade to the dining 

room in more than 30 years.
Also, a delivery service now that makes 
deli desires in offices or homes easier to 
satisfy..
Siegel’
s Deli seats 52 persons … and is 
open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 
and Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 
Taking over a previous eatery that was 
set in its own particular ways is rarely easy 
…The addition of needed qualities with 
desired family styles is priceless.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT say that hav-
ing two excellent executive chef owners 
at one restaurant is dangerous because of 
conflicting personalities, among other rea-
sons … As might be by Bacco owner/chef 
Luciano DelSignore and former Tribute 
chef Takashi Yagihashi at their new Pernoi 
on East Maple in Birmingham.
But a great example of this being very 
false thinking is right here in Novi … It 
is at Diamond Jim Brady’
s Bistro where 
its worth has been mightily proven by 
Mary Brady and managing partner Sharon 
Juergens, both also executive chefs … In 
so many ways a restaurant having two 
executive chefs is a huge asset … Like the 
case where Luciano and Takashi agree 
that they will always work together until 
everyone is fully trained and that Luciano 
will certainly not neglect his Bacco … 
Remember, an executive chef’
s duties may 
also include much more than those of a 
regular chef or cook … And through the 
years, many restaurants have hired two 
executive chefs whose duties are separate 
… New York, Las Vegas and Chicago have 

been noted for this … Remember, a true 
executive chef’
s duties are also much more 
than those of a regular chef!
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … She awakes 
during the night and finds her husband 
not in bed. She goes downstairs and sees 
him at the kitchen table in deep thought 
while drinking coffee. She watches as he 
wipes away a tear. 
“What’
s the matter, dear?” she asks. 
The husband looks up from his coffee 
and solemnly asks, “Do you remember 20 
years ago when we were dating, and you 
were only 16?” 
“Yes, I do,” she replies. 
The husband pauses. “Do you remem-
ber when your father caught us in the 
back seat of my car?” “Yes, I remember,” 
said the wife, lowering herself into a chair 
beside him as the husband continued. “Do 
you remember when he shoved the shot-
gun in my face and said, ‘
Either you marry 
my daughter or I will send you to jail for 
20 years?’
” 
“I remember that, too,” she replied 
softly. 
He wiped another tear from his cheek 
and said, “I would have been out of jail 
today and a free man!” 
CONGRATS … To Rosanne Liners on 
her birthday … To Ed Rapaport on his 
birthday … To Gladys Sabin on her birth-
day … To Irwin Dickstein on his birthday 
… To William “Bill” and Carol Nosanchuk 
on their 66th anniversary. ■

Email Danny at dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

New owners of 
Siegel’
s Deli prove 
their worth.

Edison Vushaj, Vicki Vushaj and 

Elvis Vushaj

SIEGEL’
S DELI FACEBOOK 

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