Jade Palace Day Declared in North Carolina

-Name: Jade Palace Chinese and Seafood Restaurant
-Location: 103 E. Main St. Carrboro, NC 27510-2072
-Cuisine: Americanized Chinese Food 
-Restaurant Concept: Upscale 
-Capacity: 100
-Offers: Dine-in, Take-out, Banquet room/Party room,
-Signature Dish: Ivory Shrimp, Mongolian Lamb, Sesame Chicken or Tofu
-Year of establishment: 1982
-Phone: 919-942-0006
-Website: www.jadepalacerestaurant.com
-Owner: Jenny and Francis Chan

Have you ever heard of a restaurant being granted a special holiday by a Mayor? Jade Palace of Carrboro, North Carolina has received this special honor! November 10, 2007, was declared Jade Palace Day by the Mayor of Carrboro, Mark Chilton. The restaurant celebrated its 25-year anniversary at the same location in downtown as when it first opened: just 2 miles from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and situated smack in the middle of a commercial center, the Town of Carrboro.

The North Carolina State Assembly presented the owners with a Certificate of Recognition plus a letter from State Senator Ellie Kinnaird, one of Jade's original and loyal customers. She attested that their high standards, delicious cuisines, and excellent management have stood the test of time. 
ARN spoke to the owner, Jenny Chan, a hard working businesswoman, wife and a mother of two grown children.  We asked her what she attributed her solid success in the community to after so many years.

“No doubt it's our food”, Jenny says.  “Our American Chinese menu is extensive, including our top sellers, Sesame Chicken and Sesame Tofu. Our customers know that they can place special orders with no problem.

The food critic from the Chapel Hill News enjoyed our Ivory Shrimp, one of our signature dishes, prepared with a distinctly-flavored creamy sauce with Dijon mustard. The most popular dish on the special occasion dinner menu is the Mongolian Lamb. Also, a specialty of the southeast region of China is Shanghai-style Scallops and Shrimp. The scallops and shrimp are translucent-crusted and stir-fried with scallions and fresh ginger”.

“There are plenty of choices for the vegetarian customer,” she adds.  “Popular vegetarian dishes here are the Sesame Tofu and Garlic Eggplant. Generous portions of eggplant are lightly sautéed with broccoli, snow peas, and mushrooms in a sauce with lots of fresh garlic and ginger. All the brown sauces made by Chef Chen are generously seasoned with fresh garlic, ginger and special daily home-made soup stock.”
What about service at Jade Palace? 

“Next is the service, which is outstanding. Happy and efficient our wait staff is to insure our customers have an enjoyable meal. I designed waitress uniforms in the traditional Chi Pao (Chinese-style long dress). The hostess wears this feminine dress attracting many male customers.” That may sound a bit sexist; however, Jenny knows how to keep customers coming back for more, by creating a good party menu and atmosphere to help customers have a wonderful time with their guests.

Cleanliness is next to godliness is an old expression that rings true, even today. One of the best ways to tell if a restaurant is clean is to visit the restrooms. ARN peeked into corners so we could see “how clean is clean?” We discovered high sanitation standards due to a participatory attitude by the staff. The restrooms are scrubbed daily, the floors are cleaned after every shift and the kitchen staff is cleaning when they are not cooking. Jade Palace's serving staff is required to be in fresh uniforms with their hair neatly tied back on every shift. The kitchen staff is required to wear a cap and a clean apron for every shift. Considering environmental protection, Jade Palace separates glass, metal, cardboard and paper, and delivers it to the recycling center close to the restaurant.

We are Family

Jenny boasts that the turnover of staff is low. Most of the employees have been working for her for over ten years. Like in a family, when someone new is hired, everyone helps them learn to make them feel welcome and comfortable. Just like the type of cuisine, a cross-over management takes place that is beneficial to all concerned. The manager, Long Chao, from Vietnam, and the assistant manager, Chris Spinelli, from Pennsylvania, have both been here for 20 years. They are very loyal and work well together. They inspire teamwork with the staff. 

Celebration

America is a melting pot rich in diversity and culture.  At Jade Palace, they promote cultural exchange, informing customers about many ancient Chinese traditions. “Our favorite way of sharing our culture is to celebrate Chinese New Year with a special menu, a lion dance, exhibition of firecrackers, and for children there is a Chinese kung fu exhibition and red envelope gifts”, Jenny says.

During this special celebration, local elementary school teachers and students come for a show-and-tell about Chinese culture and eat a specially-prepared lunch provided by the restaurant. One school that brings nearly 100 participants is Glenwood Elementary, which has a dual-language program of Mandarin and English.

A Peek Inside

Step inside Jade Palace and what you encounter is a whopping 3000 square foot space. Divided in two parts, there is the dining area and a VIP party room that seats 35.  Here hangs original artwork from Taiwan, purchased at a special art exhibit.  Antique screens from Hong Kong divide the space in surprising ways creating an air of mystery. All the mirrors are etched with Chinese landscapes reminiscent of Guilin. There is a large aquarium centrally located in the main dining room, which marvels kids and adults alike. The windows are decorated with unusual screens framed in wood with romantic curtains. Adding to the cozy feeling is the soft Chinese Fusion classical music contributing to a serenity often lacking in upscale Chinese American eateries. Besides, the lighting can be dimmed and is adjustable to suit any mood. The forest green carpet inlaid with gold patterns matches the pattern of the material in the booths offering a naturally comfortable, yet regal atmosphere. 

In the entryway you will find a collection of photos of customers and special events, and newspaper articles that show the history of the Jade Palace since 1982. Jenny has framed these memories to share with all her customers.
The bright lighting on the exterior gives a welcome to all who walk or drive by. At this time of year Jade Palace celebrates the holidays with three white Christmas trees all alit and attached with a musical device that plays Christmas carols. 

Next Steps

Apparently the economic crisis is not as important to Jenny Chan as it might be to others. Her persistent go-getter attitude is firmly rooted in experience. She's seen the ups and downs and lived through them gracefully. Her wish is to continue the Jade Palace dynasty to the next generation. One of the tips she can give to young restaurateurs is: “Have patience with staff who lose their tempers. Be diplomatic in such situations. Training the kitchen staff and the front of the house can be difficult if you don't have training yourself, so take time to study yourself.”  These are wise words, indeed.

Awards

All the years of hard work and experience have paid off with two recent awards for the Jade Palace from the Top 100 Chinese Restaurant contest. Top 100 Regional Chinese Cuisines was for their distinct styles of authentic regional cooking with the subtle use of special sauces, ingredients, and cooking methods. The second award was Top 100 Local Favorites. This award especially recognized the proven success of the restaurant over many years of maintaining an important community presence and a significant and devoted customer base.