 FEBRUARY 11 • 2021 | 45

T

here was a restaurant that 
served only French cuisine 
for just 42 people at one 
time … at booths and tables.
Those who went to Raphael’s 
in Novi expected to spend at least 
three hours of epic 
moments in gas-
tronomy.
It was a high 
gourmet restaurant 
that did not place 
all the emphasis 
on show at the 
expense of its food 
… Surely, elegance symbolized 
by fire and ice is fake elegance … 
This, Raphael’s was not guilty of 
… The total concentration was on 

perfect food … excellently pre-
pared … and impeccable service.
Raphael’s was classic cuisine … 
like a good bottle of wine that gets 
better with age … Everything at 
Raphael’s was made from scratch 
… No such thing as powders or 
starters … unheard of things.
SOLE PARTNER OF former 
Hill Seafood and Chophouse in 
Grosse Pointe with Joe Vicari will 
be the building’s owner, Anthony 
“Tony” Soave … It will have a 
new name, remodeling, new staff 
and new menu … with hopeful 
reopening in March or April 
… Joe’s takeover of the three 
restaurants in Birmingham will 
also have new names, staffs and 
menus … also hopeful-
ly opening then … All 
four are hoping to open 
when dining restric-
tions go to 50 percent 
capacity or more.
THE 
RESTAURANT 
BUSINESS is a 
demanding business 
that many times 

requires dedication, long hours 
and patience … Perhaps in no 
other industry are there as many 
Horatio Alger stories as in food-
service, where, armed with basic 
criteria of a strict work ethic and 
a dream, many have risen to 
achieve both fame and consid-
erable wealth … However, when 
celebrities invest in restaurant 
projects as a social diversion or 
simply as a tax break, it unfairly 
dilutes the legitimate hard work 
of those who have pledged their 
savings and sweat to become suc-
cessful restaurateurs.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A 
man tries to enter heaven but first 
he has a chat with St. Peter, keep-
er of the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter explains that it is not 
easy to get into heaven … He asks 
the man several questions … Was 
he religious in life? Did he attend 
temple? Did he give money to 
the poor and charity? Did he do 
any good deeds? Did he help his 
neighbor?
The man answered, “No.
” 
 St. Peter said, “Not good. 

Not good.
” Exasperated, he says, 
“Look. Everybody does some-
thing nice sometime. Work with 
me. I’m trying to help. Now think.
” 
The man said, “Well, I came 
out of the store and found this 
little old lady surrounded by a 
dozen thugs. They had taken 
her purse and were shoving her, 
taunting and abusing her. I got 
so mad I threw my bags down, 
fought my way through the 
crowd and got her purse back. 
I helped her to her feet. Then I 
went up to the biggest, meanest 
guy there and told him how 
despicable, cowardly and mean 
he was and then I spit in his face.
”
“Wow,
” said St. Peter. “That’s 
impressive. When did this hap-
pen?”
“Oh, about 10 minutes ago.
”
 CONGRATS … To Jackie 
Headapohl on her birthday … To 
Sharen Bender on her birthday. 
To William “Bill” Wolf on his 
80th birthday. 

Danny’s email address is 
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

RASKIN
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

The finest French cuisine around. 

Rearview Mirror: 
Raphael’s

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