OCTOBER 10 • 2019 | 61
the best of everything
Raskin
A Name
to Live Up To
Morrie would be proud of his
grandson’
s restaurant.
N
aming a restaurant after some-
one is rarely easy … especially
when it is that of a relative
… The Morrie, named after the late
Morrie Fenkell and celebrating its third
anniversary, is more than just the name
of someone’
s grandfather.
Morrie passed on in 2007 and is
remembered as “
one of the boys” …
He led a life that included being a
medic during World War II and chair-
man of the board of Liberty State Bank
& Trust in Hamtramck.
Located on North Woodward, north
of Maple, Birmingham, The Morrie
is much like a roadside-styled eatery
with cuisine that includes Nashville
hot chicken sandwich, roadside ribs,
smoked fried chicken wings, the
Morrie burger, etc. … It is also known
for its décor styling that includes a bar
surrounding a large, elevated stage for
musical performances.
Entrees that go over in a big way
include steak frites with parmesan
fries, freshly caught seafood, roasted
half-chicken, etc.
There is seating for 214 with a bar
that includes 33 stools … It does much
of its own baking … fresh bread, sand-
wich buns, desserts like a banana bread
pudding and other dishes.
The Morrie in Birmingham is open
Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.,
Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday, 11
a.m.- 2 a.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
and Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Morrie also has a private dining
room that accommodates 36 guests
with noise control and fabric ceiling
… A raised stage can be seen from
anywhere in the restaurant, with five
80-inch screens … much wanted for
viewing games, events, etc.
If Morrie were alive today, he’
d be
proud to have his name associated with
grandson Andrew Belen’
s fine eatery.
A BIG REQUEST at many restau-
rants, mostly delicatessens, years
ago … mainly at lunchtime but also
enjoyed by evening palates … was for
a hot beef sandwich … And that is
what the customer received … A deli-
cious prime or top-choice beef brisket
with wholesome gravy and usually
potatoes …. on choices of bread, white
and sometimes rye or challah … Not
so today at numerous delis … many
hot beef sandwiches are now distant
shadows of the one-time real thing
… Especially take-outs with the meat
many times clinging to the paper on
the bottom of a Styrofoam container,
and served with thinly sliced meat
instead of the better brisket grades …
In some delis where the skimpy “hot
beef sandwich” is served, much of the
slices are thin pieces and perhaps hid-
den shavings from the meat slicer.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A few
days after seeing him, the doctor saw
his elderly patient walking down the
street with a gorgeous young lady …
The doctor bumped into him the next
day and said, “You’
re really doing great,
aren’
t you?”
The aged gent replied, “Just doing
what you said, Doc, ‘
Get a hot mamma
and be cheerful.
’
”
The doctor said, “I didn’
t say that. I
said, ‘
You’
ve got a heart murmur. Be
careful.
’
”
CONGRATS … To Karrie
Slominski on her birthday… To
Pamela Smith on her birthday … To
Robert Soper on his 80th birthday …
To Jon and Lorrie Isenberg on their
34th anniversary.
Email Danny at dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
COURTESY OF THE MORRIE/TERENCE WARDE
For info www.thewhitney.com
(313) 832-5700
201
9
T
HE
WHI
T
NE
Y
Pre-Theater Dinner Menu
Enjoy this special menu
before all theater,
DSO, LCA events.
Three Courses
$39.95
Valid on performance date
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