Publication: Fairmont Sentinel Publication Date: January 10, 2009
City/State: Fairmont, MN Frequency: Weekly
Circulation: 5,200
City/State: Fairmont, MN Frequency: Weekly
Circulation: 5,200
Locals score national honors
Megan Alexander — Staff Writer
POSTED: January 10, 2009
FAIRMONT - A few miles apart, identical trophies are showcased in Fairmont's two Chinese
restaurants, the owners' faces at each establishment lighting up in similar smiles.
Both are included in the buffet category for the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants, an annual recognition sponsored by Chinese Restaurant News for the past five years.
Kihn Hoong and Lisa Zheng own the China King: Wok 'n Grill on North State Street. Down the road to the south is the Chinese Buffet Fairmont, owned by Minqin "Judy" Lin and her husband Zuqia Chen.
Chen and Lin returned this week from Las Vegas, where they saw Zheng and her two children - Tony and Paulina Hoong - at the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants awards ceremonies and accompanying parties.
"There were lots of people, over 600 people there," Zheng said. "And lots of parties. It was really amazing. We were very honored to go there."
Back in Fairmont, in their separate establishments, Zheng and Lin described the experience, talking with restaurant owners from around the country, posing for pictures with Chinese celebrity chef Martin Yin and meeting the mayor of Las Vegas.
"It was so exciting," Lin said, "our first time attending this kind of program."
When Lin was informed her restaurant was among the top 100 Chinese buffets in the United States,she had never heard of the award program, but Zheng had.
At first, she was hesitant about participating with "big city restaurants. (Only the top 10 restaurants in the Top 100 different categories are ranked, not the remaining 90.)
Obviously Lin changed her mind about the competition, and based on the new trophy and plaque she proudly displays at her restaurant, she feels she made the right decision.
The Wok 'n Grill received additional recognition for being one of the few participating restaurants to receive a 100 percent "Mystery Dining Score," given by some unknown diner from Top 100 Chinese Restaurants.
The event started Sunday night, with a mix-and-mingle session and pictures. ON Monday, after a welcoming breakfast, they spoke with print and television reporters. Each award recipient was interviewed for a few minutes for Chinese TV.
"I told them I feel really, honored, really happy," Zheng said.
The attendants also listened to the top names in their profession talk about the future of the Chinese restaurant business. They were encouraged to provide better service and friendlier environments; try healthier, natural foods and adopt other "green" practices in order to keep up with the current trend in American consumerism.
Lin said she is doing that already, with an MSG-free buffet, low-fat foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
On Tuesday, the awards were given out, and they dined in style, first enjoying an all-American meal with steak and salad, followed by Chinese cuisine.
"My kids preferred the steak," Lin said, laughing. "They don't get steak that much."
Megan Alexander — Staff Writer
POSTED: January 10, 2009
FAIRMONT - A few miles apart, identical trophies are showcased in Fairmont's two Chinese
restaurants, the owners' faces at each establishment lighting up in similar smiles.
Both are included in the buffet category for the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants, an annual recognition sponsored by Chinese Restaurant News for the past five years.
Kihn Hoong and Lisa Zheng own the China King: Wok 'n Grill on North State Street. Down the road to the south is the Chinese Buffet Fairmont, owned by Minqin "Judy" Lin and her husband Zuqia Chen.
Chen and Lin returned this week from Las Vegas, where they saw Zheng and her two children - Tony and Paulina Hoong - at the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants awards ceremonies and accompanying parties.
"There were lots of people, over 600 people there," Zheng said. "And lots of parties. It was really amazing. We were very honored to go there."
Back in Fairmont, in their separate establishments, Zheng and Lin described the experience, talking with restaurant owners from around the country, posing for pictures with Chinese celebrity chef Martin Yin and meeting the mayor of Las Vegas.
"It was so exciting," Lin said, "our first time attending this kind of program."
When Lin was informed her restaurant was among the top 100 Chinese buffets in the United States,she had never heard of the award program, but Zheng had.
At first, she was hesitant about participating with "big city restaurants. (Only the top 10 restaurants in the Top 100 different categories are ranked, not the remaining 90.)
Obviously Lin changed her mind about the competition, and based on the new trophy and plaque she proudly displays at her restaurant, she feels she made the right decision.
The Wok 'n Grill received additional recognition for being one of the few participating restaurants to receive a 100 percent "Mystery Dining Score," given by some unknown diner from Top 100 Chinese Restaurants.
The event started Sunday night, with a mix-and-mingle session and pictures. ON Monday, after a welcoming breakfast, they spoke with print and television reporters. Each award recipient was interviewed for a few minutes for Chinese TV.
"I told them I feel really, honored, really happy," Zheng said.
The attendants also listened to the top names in their profession talk about the future of the Chinese restaurant business. They were encouraged to provide better service and friendlier environments; try healthier, natural foods and adopt other "green" practices in order to keep up with the current trend in American consumerism.
Lin said she is doing that already, with an MSG-free buffet, low-fat foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
On Tuesday, the awards were given out, and they dined in style, first enjoying an all-American meal with steak and salad, followed by Chinese cuisine.
"My kids preferred the steak," Lin said, laughing. "They don't get steak that much."
