The Best Of Everything

P.F. Chang's reaches into five provinces of China.

"WHERE
THE TROPICS
COME ALIVE"

AMERICAN AND
CAMEEAN DELICACIES

Pasta • Seafood
Gourmet Pizza • Ribs
Nova Lox
"Jerk" Chicken & More

Tropical & Coffee
Specialty Drinks

Dance Weekends To
70's, 80's, 90's Music

(248) 926-5300

6041 Haggerty

Between 15 Mile & Pontiac Tr.
West Bloomfield

Join us for a

Cmzaavi,

3/14,4,4

Served every
Sunday
llam-3pm

Open Daily

11 a.m.

2/5
1999

director of operations for Palace
One of P.F. Chang's biggest sellers
Sports and Entertainment ... His
is an appetizer which has gone over in
father, John Wood, former Machus
Local Columnist
a big way ... It's Chang's Chicken (or
Enterprises vice president, is Paul
vegetables) in Soothing Lettuce Wrap
ake no mistake about it
Kohn's general manager in the La
... The special chopped chicken (or
... The food is definitely
Difference kosher restaurant
vegetables with mint and lime)
traditional Chinese ...
in West Bloomfield.
are on the side ... and scooped
Not gourmet Chinese as
Manager Patty Cole's
by customers onto cold crispy
some would have you believe.
mother, Carol Cole, is head
lettuce leaves for wrapping
Especially not those who operate
of the Flint Jewish
deliciousness.
the P.F. Chang's China Bistros nation-
Federation Seniors Program.
In the first week it opened,
After valet parking their
ally.
according to Executive Chef
However, although there are dishes
car (there is no charge
Ted Teeter, P.F. Chang's China
from all regions of China, you might
because the ticket is validat-
Bistro at Somerset Collection
say that the items shown on its menu
ed by hostesses like Rebecca
South went through 28 cases
are more a compilation of the better
Brim, who makes certain
of lettuce (24 heads in a case)
DANNY
selections from each sector.
people don't forget by ask-
on Friday and Saturday ...
RASKIN
At Somerset Collection South, P.F.
ing for their ticket when
Sunday was another 12.
Local Columnist leaving), customers enter
Chang's opened at the former
That weekend, Ted says, it
Sebastian's site ... And enjoys an ele-
P.F. Chang's between two
prepared 38 ducks and 48
ment of success which is bringing
7'6"
700-pound
Ming horses and
pounds of chow fun noodles (white
people back for more.
bonsai
trees
at
the
front entrance.
flat noodles) ... For the week, over 100
There are many reasons why it has
Inside
is
the
first
P.F. Chang's
pounds of Chinese egg noodles were
become so popular ... One of them is
restaurant without windows ... This
used.
the heavy concentration on health
makes for much coziness even though
Behind the partition of its open
consciousness in a restaurant sanita-
the 7,000 square feet seats 215 ... Two
kitchen are four wok stations, with
tion program that has few equals.
huge hand-painted
murals, hardwood floor-
Behind the open
ing, hand-blown light
kitchen, there are six sinks
fixtures, white linen
where all the almost 60
employees must wash their
napkins, spacious
booths, settees and
hands every 15 minutes
tables, terra cotta warrior
(four times an hour) ...
Those doing any cleaving
statues, etc. are accom-
wear cutting gloves covered
panied by a decor touch
that meets much
by rubber gloves on one
approval ... At booths,
hand ... and rubber gloves
lights are concentrated
on the other ... Those who
onto food, not the peo-
don't cleave wear rubber
ple ... Soft music of
gloves only on both hands.
Frank Sinatra and others
A laminated sanitation
manual for employees is a
wafts from the evenly-
spaced speakers.
proud feature.
Plus regular spirits are
P.F. Chang's may be a
12 exotic drinks and
chain operation ... there
special Asian wines and
are 22 nationwide ... but
Chang's
Rick
Tasman
and
Dean
Wood.
beers, a long wine list
each has its own identity
P.F.
includes almost 50 vino
... All waitpersons, like
excellent server Renee
selections with almost all available
two woks at each location.
Wetoszke with the great . smile ... and
both by glass and bottle.
Running the show at Somerset
Chris Christiansen, courteous, effi-
The food at P.F. Chang's is highly
South are Rick Tasman and Dean
cient and knowledgeable ... have their
sophisticated ... But definitely the best
Wood ... Temple Emanu-el member
own sauce preparations ... Some cus-
of traditional Chinese ... blended
Rick, resident of Huntington Woods
tomers are known to come in and ask
together with American-style affability
with wife Cathy, is managing partner
if so-and-so can make their sauce for
to make for an upscale bistro operation.
and owner ... She was co-chairman of
them ... "Wait until you try mine!"
Its menu, that reaches into the five
Book Fair at Jimmy Prentis Morris
their waitperson might say.
provinces of China in presenting high
JCC in Oak Park with Eileen Polk.
The sauce is made directly at the
quality offerings, has a wide variety
Dean Wood, operating partner and
table in front of the customer ... If too
that seems to include something for
owner with Rick, is its general manag-
spicy or not enough, other condi-
everyone.
er locally, and previously was assistant
ments are brought for adding.

DANNY RASKIN