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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Monuments and Markers
Bronze Markers
Memorial Duplicating
Cemetery Lettering & Cleaning
“Same Location Over 80 Y
ears”
www.MonumentCenterMichigan.com
32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile)
(248) 855-0007
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