Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-29
NEW YORK CHINESE CAFES.
There are $50 of Them and the Patrons
are Chiefly Americans.

There are now in New York some
$50 restaurants conducted by China
men. OF this number about 70 are in
Chinatown. The Tenderloin district
also has a large NUMBER Probably
the best equipped are found in China
town. One of them on Pell street is
beautifully furnished, and contains 10
ebony tables inlaid with pearl, each
table being valued at $40. A large
partition of stained glass with Chinese
figures divides the main dining parlor
from the smaller one. Oriental brio
a-brac of all descriptions adorns the
walls. The proprietor, Fong, they call
him, is man of education, and speaks
good English. He has been in the
country 30 years.
There has been a great change in
the restaurant trade" ne said ct is
really astonishing what strides have
been made when one considers the
little progress the Chinese have made
in other lines of business in this
country.
Twenty years ago l started a res
taurant in Boston. There was little
or no patronage then except from
Cinnamon. Now we depend principal
ly or Americans.
This change has been wrought
simply because people now have a
correct idea of what Chinese food and
cooking are. Cleanliness ard good
service have also done a lot toward
this change.
The food is eaten principally for
the novelty of the thing. and many
people come here just to say that they
have dined in Chinese restaurant,
but we also nave our regular Gus
toners from uptown. Sometimes a
party that has never been in Chinese
restaurant will hire one of the guides
and be does the ordering and explains
to them what the different dishes are
made up of.
Now, another thing that has at
tanned quite vogue in the last few
years is the after-theater party. In
many cases a party of friends who
have been to the theater, instead of
going to one of the fashionable res
taurants uptown, will pay visit to a
Chinese place here or place in the
Tenderloin.
Only last week cab stopped at
my door and gentleman, stylishly
dressed, came in and made arrange
ments for an imported dinner for the
following night. The party consisted
of eight. A Chinese orchestra played
during the meal.
I'VE have so many kinds of dishes
that it's almost impossible to give a
complete list. OF all these chop suey
is the most in demand. Chop suey is
COMPOSED of pork, celery, onions,
noodles and black sometimes
when ordered-mushrooms All these
are chopped up together and fried
The gravy, blood juice the customers
call it, which goes with the chop suey,
is made from the juice of black beans.
Quo Mein is simply noodle soup
with pork in it. Birds nests, shark
fins and the other imported foods we
have are very expensive and it is
imperative that the orders for them
be given at least day ahead. Shark
fms for instance, cost 50.
Another dish we have, and this is
the most expensive of all, is shirt we,
the Chinese name for a rare bird
This costs 81.
Plain rice and rice with maple
strip are also liked very much
Several kinds of tea are always kept
in first-class Chinese restaurant.
Chinese cakes and candies are very
luscious. Crystalized ginger is much
in demand, as are the lychee nuts and
preserved fruits.
Its funny to watch the antics of
some of the people who come in here