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Viva La Difference
Kosher restaurant finds a way to accommodate
Jewish customers and non-Jewish staff
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
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Farmington Hills, MI 48334
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1732 West Maple Road
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truck in the parking lot."
Dec. 24 promises to be a full, hectic
day at La Difference. Beginning in the
morning, regular staff will start to pre-
pare for the restaurant's weekly 11 a.m.-
2 p.m. dairy Sunday brunch and take
calls for New Year's Eve reservations.
Tables then will be cleared and set for
5:30 and 7:30 p.m. seatings. Patrons
will enjoy a buffet that features roasted
ribeye, chicken, fish, side dishes and
desserts. Bar service will be available.
or Dec. 24, a time when
many of his restaurant
employees would rather not
be working, La Difference
owner Paul Kohn is making schedul-
ing and menu changes that should
please staff and customers alike.
Most of the employees at his West
Bloomfield kosher restaurant are not
Jewish, but understand-
ing their religious needs,
Kohn says, "When they
were hired, they knew
they wouldn't have to
work on Christmas.
These are people with
strong family ties."
Although La Difference
will be closed on
Monday, Dec. 25,
Christmas Day, this is the
first time Christmas Eve
falls on a day when the
two-year-old restaurant
normally is open.
Paul Kohn in the kitchen.
So, to allow some 15
non-Jewish staff members
the chance to be with their families for
To John Wood, La Difference gener-
the holiday, Kohn has come up with a
al manager, the arrangements for the
plan. Stepping in to prepare and serve
evening show respect for all.
food will be Jewish employees of the
For customers, "We are attempting
restaurant and Kohn's Quality Kosher
to service people who are looking for a
Catering business in Southfield, as
place to eat on an evening, in the mid-
well as Kohn's own family members,
dle of Chanukah, when they are off
including his wife, Leah, and their
from work."
son, Daniel, 15.
At the same time, Wood says, the
"Daniel is always wanting to work
restaurant will be allowing its non-
in the restaurant. I'm finally giving
Jewish employees "to be with their
him a chance," Kohn says. "My son
families" on Christmas Eve.
David who lives in New York is corn-
"It is important and it makes every-
ing in to help out, too."
body feel good."
Trying to work with fewer dishwash-
ers and preparation staff on Dec. 24,
Kohn saw "a great opportunity to do
Reservations are suggested for
something totally different," and elim-
the 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. buffet
inate the need for any employees to
seatings on Sunday, Dec. 24, at
work in the kitchen. His inspiration
La Difference. It is located in
came in the form of a major menu
the Robin's Nest Shopping
change, deciding that, for one night
Plaza, 7295 Orchard Lake Road,
only, the dairy restaurant would serve
West Bloomfield; call (248)
meat dinners — on disposable dishes.
932-8934. Cost of the dinner, a
Because the kitchen in the restau-
meat meal rather than the usual
rant is used only for preparation of
dairy, is $29.95/per person plus
dairy meals, Kohn says, "We will pre-
tax and gratuity.
pare food in ovens and a fryer from a
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