Jade Sisters – An Oasis in the Heartland

Jade Sisters – An Oasis in the Heartland
Interviewed by Cuiyin Zhang     Written by Elise Krentzel

One of the first stops to authentic Chinese and a smattering of Japanese in a first class setting, if not the only elegant dining experience in Coralville, Iowa, is run by two sophisticated sisters, the Tse's. They do not, by any stretch of the imagination, represent the image of typical country hicks. Not in their taste for post-modernistic fashionable yet streamlined interior décor nor in their carefully displayed artisanal cuisine. Not in their detailed yet systematic views of management nor in their warm approach to their customers.

The Medium is the Message

You enter a large 2,800 square foot room that is not artificially blinding. Here the sunlight and simple halogens do the work. Booths are made of bamboo wood slats reminding one of shutters that are open all year round. They are produced in China and shipped to Iowa. The grey geometric pattern of the upholstery in the booths match the onyx colored marble tables and chocolate brown carpeting. Set against pale blue walls the result is subdued and modest. Hanging on the walls of each booth are one-of-a-kind Chinese handicrafts framed in red maple wood. Perhaps you'll find an emblem or a calligraphic symbol, an embroidered design of meaning or a special omen. From outfits worn by the staff to the tableware and interior furnishings, the entire composition is designed by the owner. As the name implies, there are touches of real jade handiwork as well as jade plants throughout the restaurant. Romantic music is the calling card here, something Jennifer Tse, the owner chooses to woo her customers with.

The level of attentiveness to keeping the establishment clean far exceeds expectations yet is right on queue with the type of dressed up eatery that this is. The true test of a well-kept restaurant can almost always be seen in how the bathrooms are maintained. Jade Sisters wins hands down here as well.

Never Greasy, Always Outstanding

Perhaps it's simply the gorgeous presentation that elevates Jade Sisters to the realms of the Gods and Goddesses. Although they insist what they serve is Americanized Chinese, it certainly appears otherwise. Not following in the footsteps of other traditional Americanized Chinese locales, innovation is apparent here by the well chosen fresh ingredients and how a final dish is displayed. Taking a cue from their Japanese neighbors across the China Sea, the plate ware looks like Japanese pottery. So when a bushel of Shanghai green and sliced chicken in black bean sauce appears, it is a blossoming flower. It is also one of the most popular stalwarts called Shanghai Green with Black Bean Sauce and Chicken.

Stuffed Eggplant with Tofu is an original dish which was taught to Jennifer by a Szechwan chef when she was traveling in China a few years ago. The eggplant simply melts in your mouth as with the small squares of tofu. This dish is praised by vegetarians and vegans and can be easily digested. It is also rich in nutritious value.

The chef here doesn't drench any of the meat or poultry or fish dishes in excess sauce. Sauces are house made daily. For those who prefer a salty taste, there's fish sauce. Brown for a bold flavor, Basil, Thai and French sauces are part of the mix. White sauce pleases those with a light taste and light stir-fried and dry-fried are aimed at revelers who prefer the lightest taste of all.

None of the food is greasy in the way that most Chinese can be, especially at take-outs in a very local neighborhood. Stir-frying is the main method used in making Chinese food at Jade Sisters. Japanese sushi is comparatively healthier, admits the owner, because oil is seldom used.

Jennifer adds, “Our basic standard for cooking is to use very little oil and no MSG. When making sauces, food coloring is unavoidable. However, Jade Sisters tries in every way possible to reduce using edible pigments when natural substitutes are available. For example, sweet & sour sauce is mostly made of ketchup. Using ketchup is more natural and easier to absorb.”

Mock meats are also available in the restaurant offering vegetarians a wide range of choice. “It is our own creation we developed in 1995. Chefs use more than ten ingredients to make the sauce, which creates a very subtle taste,” adds Jennifer.

For customers who have been operated on or have high cholesterol and blood pressure vegetables with a high dietary fiber are added to their entrees. Jennifer explains, “Senior citizens are especially catered to when dining in our restaurant. We are concerned about our customers’ health, that's why we are so particular when it comes to purchasing ingredients. We guarantee the use of fresh products of the highest quality,"

The soup base is made from chicken, mixed vegetables and some secret stock. “Adhering to basic principles and procedures usually produces the best results. Stringent multi-step processes are used throughout the whole cooking process to respect the most classic Chinese recipes and provide diners an authentic dining experience,” says Jennifer.

Jade Sisters was a pioneer who firstly operated the sushi bar in the city and was once reported by the local television show in 1994. The sushi bar has about 60 different kinds of rolls on top of 20 kids of Nigiri sushi. The four mainstay chefs and one sushi chef work full-time churning out deliciously prepared, copious portions of succulent Chinese dishes and creative sushi. One of the restaurant’s popular rolls is Caterpillar Roll (shrimp tempura and cream cheese with homemade spicy mayo sauce). And Hawkeye roll, a special fried sushi item which is made of shrimp, eel, cream cheese and spicy mayo, is also popular.  

Prize Winning Service

Remembering customers’ names and preferences are just part of the mainstream of daily operations. What is outstanding is when a customer comes in for a birthday or anniversary --- the restaurant prepares gifts for them: a pair of cell phone accessories or dolls for use as car decorations. If there's a graduation party then a pen or other gifts of symbolic significance are presented. “We try to have the name of each guest on name plates so that they immediately feel valued when seated,” Jennifer said. She gave a long standing customer a piece of jade as a birthday gift to show her appreciation of her patronage. This type of interaction is typical at Jade Sisters.

A Better Than Good Restaurant

Ms. Tse's attitude towards operating a good to great restaurant reads like a manual:

1. Each staff has their own area of responsibility to upkeep: food, service and sanitation. Even the smallest dent or defect leaves a poor impression.
   
2. Chefs should keep pace with customer demands. If they want something new that is when the chefs can experiment otherwise, “don't fix what isn't broken”.
   
3. Satisfaction cannot be achieved unless there is complete customer approval in all ways.

Jennifer Tse hopes to systematically develop the management tasks and procedures so she can open branches of this concept, while her sister wishes to open more restaurants. The future looks promising for the Tse sisters.

Jade Sisters

• Location: 906 2^nd St., Coralville, IA 52241
  
• Cuisine: Traditional Chinese & Japanese Food
  
• Restaurant Concept : Upscale
  
• Capacity: 50
  
• Offers: Dine in, Take-out
  
• Signature Dish: Shanghai Green in Black Bean Sauce, Stuffed Eggplant w. Tofu, Tempura
  
• Year of establishment: 2005
  
• Phone:319-338-3880
  
• Owner: Jennifer Tse