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nomenuneeded
| | Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 2:36 am: | |
My father Nick Davis was a true Greek. He grew up in Greektown and Del Ray as a boy. He married Sue. They moved to Royal Oak and started a family. Together they had 5 children of which I was number 4. When we were young during the 60's and 70's, a lot of Sundays we were eating at the International. My dad would park in the alley and we would enter through the kitchen. Very common for us since my dad was once a chef for Carl's Chop House and Gagens and Roostertail and Detroit Yacht Club. A parade of kids with smiles and always knowing exactly what we were going to order.
The bread and butter always at the table first. Not thin ,so called, pita bread. Real Greek bread, crusty on the outside and sliced thick, similar to that which was from the bakery just down the street near the men's coffee house where the girls never entered.
I always had a lamb shank and potatoes in that favorite tomato sauce with a hint of cinnamon.
I think the juke box was nickles and dimes or three songs for a quarter.
It was never crowded because it was always early Sunday. There was 7 of us. We always sat at the booth and the tables in the middle next to the booths.
Once we finished eating it was down the street to the bakery. The one on the same side of the street. As I remember the bread and huge barrels full of different olives and groceries were in this bakery. The pastries and cookies were across the street in another bakery. The cookie shop was on the opposite side of the street as the International. Next to a gift shop with a HELLO talking bird. I believe my dad knew the owner here too.
There was another gift shop on the far west corner of this street. You could get Greek souvineers.
I remember when the Greek Festival was in the vacant lot one block west of the main street. I remember in the 70's? Trappers Alley being like a bohemian flee market and really run down.
I remember after the International restaurant closed, my father driving out to the Port Huron area looking to talk to Gus. I don't remember if he ever found him.
I just want the family to know what great memories I have and for that I am forever greatful. |
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