Won't you be my Valentine?
Delightful Dining links singles

by Melissa A. Erickson
STAFF WRITER

David Bugniazet and Bonnie Lewis, owners of Delightful Dining Inc. are bringing together single professionals from the western suburbs for dining experiences that are simply "delightful."

Delightful Dining is a singles organization that caters to discriminating west suburban single professionals who enjoy fine dining and are interested in meeting other area singles. Several times a month, members have the opportunity to meet attractive, interesting single professionals, just like themselves, while sampling some of the DuPage area's best eateries.

"Most of our members find blind dates, dating services, bars and personal ads unappealing, and let's face it, these days it's very difficult to meet other quality singles because of our careers and other time demands," said Bonnie Lewis.

Bugniazet and Lewis make every effort to take the awkwardness out of "singles events" by promoting a friendly, relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere that inspires pleasant conversation and laughter. Acting as host and hostess, they make personal introductions while members mingle, and they have assigned dinner seating, placing members at a table with others who share similar age range, backgrounds and interests.

"It's not the typical bar scene with people hitting on you," Lewis said. "It's just a nice way for singles to get to know each other. People can meet two or three times socially at dinner before going out on a date."

"I like to say at the minimum you get a good dinner, you get to try different restaurants and meet new people," Lewis said.

Along with dinner, Delightful Dining also offers Sunday brunches, theme parties, dinner dances and other fun-filled special events. Two or three events are announced per month through a newsletter written by the couple and on the Internet at www.delightfuldining.com.

Bugniazet and Lewis are proof that people can find their Mr. or Mrs. Right through an organization such as Delightful Dining. They met at a city-based singles dinner club two years ago and were married this past September. While grateful for the opportunity to meet, they often thought they could run a better singles club and they knew there was a need in the suburbs. They decided to form their own club and it would be one that took the pressure off the participants.

"Before we met, both of us had gone to functions of other singles organizations, and we found that you're usually on your own when you get there," said Lewis.

Bugniazet a territory manager for GE Capital, and Lewis a marketing communications manager for ITT Industries, held their first Delightful Dining event on April 17, 1998, at The Clubhouse in Oak Brook. Thirty-six people attended; five of those were official Delightful Dining members.

In nine short months membership is up to 155 and some dinners have had as many as 56 attendees. Lewis and Bugniazet are most proud of their ability to keep the man/woman ratio nearly balanced. They market heavily to men to keep the numbers even.

The only requirements for joining are that you have to be single and a professional. People who are only separated and not divorced are not accepted.

Several Delightful Dining couples have begun dating exclusively. The first wedding is yet to happen, but happen it will.

Yearly membership is $98, not including meals, a much less costly option than most computer or video dating services. First-time guests can try out Delightful Dining for $20 plus the cost of the event.

In March the group is planning to attend the hit comedy "Lend Me A Tenor" at Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace.

For more information about Delightful Dining, call 268-8007.

(Article re-printed from the Downers Grove Reporter, February 12, 1999)


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