Detroit Jewish News

N ews last year that the former Caucus Club on Congress, Detroit, would reopen under new ownership at the same Penobscot Building off-lobby location that closed in 2012 threw me back again into the past to those delightful heydays of this onetime wonder- ful Detroit dining institution. According to many published reports and news releases, it was to reopen in the spring of 2016 … As of yet, it has not happened. Once more, my eyes were closed as I dined in memory of those great Caucus Club days … It was probably in the '50s that I was greeted by the English Beefeater gent statue … Then, into the restaurant surrounded by soft dark panels, looks at the superb menu and wine lists with their fine selec- tions … Lunch with a variety of gourmet sand- wiches including James Beard Hamburger Steak, Steak Peppercorn crusted and flamed with brandy or a Chef Pancho Valez burger, etc. … Dinner later of perhaps a beauti- ful and delicious sauteed Dover sole. Sitting at the table with me was white- haired Les Gruber, who came from their sis- ter restaurant across the street, the original London Chop House owned by him, brother Sam Gruber and brother-in-law Al Woolf … Les jokingly said that he liked to eat at the Caucus Club because their Executive Chef Pancho Valez made the same food for both his London Chop House and Caucus Club, and the Caucus Club prices were cheaper. Brother Sam Gruber, a large gent with iron gray hair and the stately presence of an army general or navy admiral, joined us to also hear the new girl sing at the Caucus Club … 18-year-old Barbra Streisand, at first, doesn't overly impress, but the food does as we dove into the luscious offerings brought by a gracious server. During the day and evening, legendary Caucus Club was a pet luncheon and dinner spot for Downtown businesspeople, shop- pers, celebrities, local personali- ties and so many people walking around the busy and bustling area. In the front room were those original ceramic Toby coffee mugs, oodles of wine in cases and walls and waitper- sons wearing tuxedos in lavish splendor as they smilingly brought orders to their appre- ciative customers … Tiffany lamps hung nearby. The back room where young Barbra Streisand was singing, accom- panied by local pianist Matt Michaels, and seemingly starting to sound better, was strik- ing with its dark-wood- ed mahogany, artifacts, heavily padded booths, hanging lamps, etched glass dividers that Les told me were brought over from France. An untold amount of dining distinc- tion awards hung with honor … and we dug savagely into our deboned Dover sole, tournedos of beef and London broil … Around us other diners were enjoying beef- steak tartare, sauteed lake perch, a Pancho burger, etc. Then came the beautiful years that fol- lowed before it was shut down in 2012 by the Penobscot Building's new owner from Toronto … Even though Caucus Club had recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. For many, the loved din- ing institution Caucus Club that opened in 1952 and was closed in 2012 may never be forgotten. Mary Belloni, former 20-year-owner of the Caucus Club restaurant, today owns and operates Caucus Club Catering LLC in Roseville … Its catered weddings, bar mitzvahs, showers, etc. are at the 106-year-old Scarab Club Art Gallery, on Farnsworth and John R, behind the Detroit Institute of Arts. SINCE THE NAMES Sam, Samuel's, etc., are or have been used, what about just a plain Sam Gilbert Restaurant honoring Dan and Gary Gilbert's father, late co-owner with Irving Sacks of Saksey's Lounge, Woodward, Detroit … Would be a wonderful trib- ute to their dad having it in one of Dan's Downtown Detroit buildings. MAIL DEPT. … From Jerry Silecchia … "My wife, Doreen, and I took our grand- sons, James and Charlie Papadopoulos, to Russell Street in Detroit's Eastern Market and Supino's Pizzeria. We grabbed a table, and I ordered two pizzas, a large red pizza with mozzarella and Parmigiano cheese for Doreen and me, and a small red pizza with olives for the boys. "After a couple of bites of the olive pizza, 4-year-old James asked if he could try ours. Once he did, he never returned to the olive pizza. Two-year-old Charlie, was content with the olive pie. "This is the closest restaurant that serves the kind of authentic New York-style, thin- crust pizza that we have long searched for." EXPECTED RAINY weather never came, but what did arrive was another large attendance for the 26th annual Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf Invitational at Franklin Hills Country Club, Farmington Hills. First-place golf team had husband and wife Bob and Brenda Felsenfeld, Jeffrey Davidson, Michael Beaton and Brian McCullough … Second place went to Brian Eisenberg, Darren McCarty, Jeff Shapiro and Jeff Weber … Brian Eisenberg also had the longest drive, and Eric Tellem was clos- est to the pin … Mike Ferrell was evidently so thrilled winning the putting contest that he gave the $220 prize back to the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation. OLDIE BUT GOODIE … New version of one with huge rerun requests … The captain of an anti-Semitic airline sends out a "mayday" help message. "This is Desert Air Airlines 175 announcing we have lost one engine and want to land in any airport in the Middle East other than Israel!" … No answer. A while later he announces, "This is Desert Airlines 175 again. We have lost two engines and need to land at any airport in the Middle East other than Israel!"… Still no answer. Finally the captain calls out, "Help, this is Desert Airlines 175. We have only one engine left and it is rapidly failing. Unless we can land we are going to crash. We need permission to land at any airport in the Middle East including Israel!" Shortly after, a voice is heard in the Desert Airlines cockpit. "Shalom. This is Tel Aviv approach control. We would like to help." "Allah be praised," says the captain. "What should we do?" "Repeat after me. Yisgadal veyishkadash." CONGRATS … To Elaine Schonberger on her birthday … To Carolyn Nosanchuk on her birthday … To Sanford "Sandy" Topper on his birthday … To Alex and Diana Kovnat on their 35th anniversary. * Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. Where Barbra Sang … Sweet memories of the wonderful Caucus Club. 52 June 30 • 2016 Danny Raskin Senior Columnist arts & life t h e b e s t o f e v e r y t h i n g There were not many places like the former Caucus Club. 1300610 6 5 4 5 O R C H A R D L A K E R D . W E S T B L O O M F I E L D , M I 4 8 3 2 2 W W W . P R I M E 2 9 S T E A K H O U S E . C O M W E D N E S D AY S WINE DOWN 1 / 2 O F F S E L E C T B O T T L E S D I S C O V E R Y O U R N E W FAV O R I T E W I N E

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