Hills points out that a Chinese
dinner was the only economical
option for families at one time
— lots of food at low prices.
says the owner of Big Daddy's
Parthenon in West Bloomfield.
"They go out for dinner five
nights a week. They put in fan-
cy kitchens and never cook
again."
With the emergence of large
restaurant chains, neighborhood
restaurants are responding by
opening on Sundays — as their
Chinese counterparts have always
done — and staying open later.
The key to success on Sunday
evenings, Mr. Klingeman says, is
catering to entire families, from
infants to grandparents.
Healthy food, though, doesn't
seem to be a consideration for
many people when choosing a
Milly Kovan
Eating habits have changed,
as has the frequency of dining
out, according to Harry Klinge-
man, assistant executive direc-
tor of the Michigan Restaurant
Association. Forty-four percent
of food dollars are spent in
restaurants — nearly double
what it was 20 years ago, he
says.
Although
It was like a rule' seccind11Ptur
people still
family of six would order diritar
want tradi -
meals and egg rolls, and everybody war*
tional family
get-togethers haPPY. The farni1Y-stYle
dining was very appealing.
on week -
R
Gustltory
Gene Woo: The owner of Hoa Kow followed his customers west.
Galloping
Chinese once reigned as king
of Sunday dining, but it's not
the only game in town anymore.
ANNABEL COHEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
ain, sleet or sunshine,
Sunday dinners were once
synonymous with egg foo
yung and almond bone-
less chicken.
Like bagels and lox in the
morning and the winter trip to
Florida, Chinese on Sunday had
become ritual. And, all one
needs to do is peer inside Peking
House in Royal Oak or the Gold-
en Phoenix in West Bloomfield
to see that the tradition is alive
and well.
However, others are in the
making.
With two-income families
more the norm than the excep-
tion, the acceptance and conve-
nience of eating out, and the
profusion of all styles and types
of eateries, Chinese isn't the only
game in town.
"You get sick of Chinese. You
want options," says Sherri Ruza
of West Bloomfield. "Now peo-
ple eat out all the time. Chinese
is hardly considered ethnic any-
more."
It's easy, in fact, to locate a
nearby Thai, Italian, Greek,
Indian or Mexican restaurant.
Milly Kovan of Farmington
dining spot. •
Mr. Klinge-
Bill Stein, Fran
ends, they
man adds that in
don't neces-
.general, while
sarily want to cook, he says.
people are concerned about a
"People are living such hectic healthy diet, they don't walk the
lives, and restaurants have be- walk. What has changed, he
come the living rooms of the says, is that restaurant goers are
'90s," Mr. Klingeman says. "Peo- eating in moderation. Many con-
ple can sit around a table and fo- sider weekend dining as
cus on each other, but without "splurge" meals.
Aside from the profusion of
ethnic comestibles and a trend
toward eating out more, people
have migrated further away
from the city. That means do or
die for some restaurants.
Following their customers to
the suburbs is now, quite clear-
ly, a trend. Longtime favorites
like Lelli's and Maria's Front
Room have recently hopped on
the bandwagon by opening lo-
cations in Oakland County. Big
Daddy's is a cousin of the
Parthenon in Greektown.
"We're busy all the time, and
especially on weekends," Mr. Ro-
gow says. "One of our customers
once joked, 'Big Daddy's opened
and closed down three Chinese
restaurants."
Sherri Ruza: "You want options."
Lelli's, a Detroit dining insti-
tution, opened a second location
the distraction of television."
in Auburn Hills
Rick Rogow agrees, whole-
"In Detroit, people from the
heartedly.
GUSTATORY page 64
"People don't cook anymore,"
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