Arts & Entertainment

BEST OF EVERYTHING

Rikshaw West

Famous local restaurant tastes live on at Eurasian Grill.

M

emory circles wafted about ...
I hadn't seen him in years ...
and here he was again, owning
the type of upscale restaurant that always
seemed to be in the back of his mind.
Likeable David Lum, with his promi-
nent smile and effervescent personality
that exudes enthusiasm whenever he talks
about food, has changed very little.
The former Rikshaw Inn that he and
barrister Joe Cohen owned in the Orchard
Mall closed its doors in 1994 after a 21-
year run.
David's present Eurasian Grill on
Haggerty, slightly north of Pontiac Trail
in the West Wind Lakes Villages (Kroger,
Hollywood Video, etc.), West Bloomfield, is
a neo-American restaurant with an Asian
base that together forms a most interest-
ing epicurean combination.
Of course, some of the former Rikshaw's
wonderful dishes are still being served by
David, who had today's popular lettuce
wrap 30 years ago with chopped chicken
and duck ... He calls it Chicken Soung at
Eurasian Grill ... And that excellent Dover
Sole ... plus the wonderful Caesar salad
he used to make tableside at Rikshaw,
also the first restaurant in Michigan to
have Shanghai noodles, which is on the
Eurasian Grill menu as Shanghai Pasta ...
Even the great Shrimp Saigon that David
used to prepare tableside at Rikshaw is
available today at Eurasian Grill, freshly
prepared in the kitchen.
His 31-year-old chef Michael Fung is a
natural, with his culinary talents further
enhanced by many basics taught to him
by David ... He was 14 years old when
David hired him as a bus boy ... Mike had

makes huge strides in becoming a true
NEW
attended West Bloomfield High and served
destination restaurant.
RESTAURANT
at one of Dave's food courts (Tel-12) that
FROM ONE EXTREME to another
slated to open
he owned other than the Orchard Mall sit-
for
Giorgio's Gourmet Diner, Orchard Lake
around June,
down restaurant.
Road,
north of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield ...
Carpaccio Italian
The very different tomato-based siz-
'It
added
Thursday to Friday and Saturday
Restorante, will be
zling rice soup with shrimp and chicken
late
hours,
opening the three days until 3
on Northwestern
that was a big Rikshaw favorite is one of
a.m.
...
Now
Giorgio's is doing a breakfast
the more popular soups prepared by Mike, Highway, between
morning
bit
with
two eggs, any style, toast
Middlebelt and
who insists on all entrees being prepared
and
coffee
for
99
cents ... $3.95 buys
14 Mile, West
when ordered, which is many times dif-
Danny Raskin
hash
browns
and
meat
choice as well.
Bloomfield, in the
ficult to do but such a huge fresh dining
Senior Columnist
PLUS
BEING
hubby's
right-hand gal,
former locale of
advantage ... It takes a special kind of
Debbie
Winkler,
Al
Winlder's
wife/assis-
Hakata Japanese
chef to perform this culinary asset.
tant
at
his
Bread
Basket
Delis,
is also
dining ... with Siam
Eurasian Grill is open seven days, din-
Singing
The
an
author
...
Her
book,
Spicy and Intelligent Chicken on each side.
ner only, Monday-Thursday, 4:30-9:30,
is
a
true-story
depiction
Song
Of
Life,
GOOD SERVER DEPT. ... Gabriel
Friday and Saturday, until 11:30, Sunday
Green, at Commerce Grill, Union Lake Road of Debbie's own existence, written with
to 9:30 ... Seating is for 70 in one open
tinges of Jewish flare as it takes in adven-
room with brown walls, white linen, wood just off Commerce Road in the Uptown
ture, love, friendship, humor and song ...
Plaza, is winning many plaudits for his
floors and six-stool, full-service bar.
effervescent personality, smile and efficient In recounting her self experiences, Debbie
Many will remember, too, the 14-ounce
shows the importance of believing in one-
service ... And plus being a top waitper-
New York sirloin that Rikshaw used to
serve charbroiled with David's own special son, Gabriel will also appear in the TV sci- self and finally finding the right partner
in life.
fi series Inzero being filmed in Detroit.
sauce, or the spicy rolls he brought from
GET WELL WISHES ... To Marvin
OPERATING Commerce Grille with
New York, or the Mandarin Delight with
Raskin
at Evergreen Health and Living
either major luck or strokes of genius,
beef and chicken in a garlic black bean
Center
in
Southfield ... To Alice Rybka.
Diane Walsh, owner of the newest come-
sauce that still nobody else has, or the
CONGRATS
... To Former Detroiter
back-to "in place" ... is now aided by a
Szechuan chicken with its spicy red sauce.
Debbie
Ball
in
Atlanta,
Ga., on her birth-
A lot of fish is prepared by Chef Michael new general manager whose previous
day
...
To
Debbie
Lusky
on her birthday.
employment record ranks among the best
... His fish brought in from Hawaii
FROM
LAS
VEGAS
to Palm Beach,
... Marin Oata, former stalwart at Joe
includes a white tuna special so tender it
not
bad
for
the
Mel
Ball
and
Colours 10-
Muer's and Lelli's in their great days, Steve
flakes on the fork, and a highly popular
piece
musicians
and
songsters
group ...
& Rocky's and Indianwood Country Club,
poached salmon with teriyaki sauce.
It
was
recently
the
featured
entertainment
is a huge addition ... And popular Don
Eurasian Grill has many of its own
for 3,500 UAW Ford guests at Vegas' Paris
Nadell, at the piano Thursday, Friday and
favorites, but the memory of Rikshaw Inn
Hotel, and two weeks later performed in
Saturday evenings, is the same gent who
will never leave David Lum or the many
Palm Beach, Fla., at an ocean-side Jewish
was director of the art department at Oak
who enjoyed its interesting cuisine ...
wedding
reception.
Park High for over 30 years.
They will never die ... If you remember
The
food,
reasonable
prices
and
inti-
the Rikshaw corned beef fried rice, have
Danny's e-mail address is
mate atmosphere continue to also be
no fear that it is gone ... Eurasian Grill
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
top-drawer
attractions
as
Commerce
Grill
has that, too.

Antiques
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