A Quiet Enthusiasm for Mandarin Pine

Location: 833 21st St. Lewiston, ID 83501-3386

Phone: (208)746-4919

Offers:  Dine-in, Take-out

Cuisine: Americanized Chinese cuisine

Year of establishment: 1986

Website: www.mandarinpine.com

Located in the city of Lewiston in the state of Idaho, Ms. Sheree C. Teng founded a comfy dine-in Americanized Chinese restaurant that is a local stand-out in 1986. She named it Mandarin Pine. A unique name filled with imagination – her imagination, because her intent was to introduce interpretations of Chinese cuisine to this region of young people and elderly retirees. She likes to stir up the pot in more ways than one.

Over the years she has invested in renovations with the goal of keeping a lively, vibrant and perky attitude amongst her guests. After three years of operation she invested $30,000, to exchange all the tables and chairs and other furnishings. Nine years later she poured a walloping quarter of a million dollars into the expansion which included a complete kitchen makeover and interior decorating scheme. In October 2008 she wanted a more eye catching sign board. That put her out of pocket 80 grand. Yet even when ill fate struck her family, she did not hesitate to keep a smile on her face and towards her customers. She plowed on and made her business work for her.

She says, “The extensive renovation of Mandarin Pine was well worth the investment”. A cozy   sky blue wallpaper lines the walls with what appear to be miniature fans embedded in the print. Fancy Mandarin styled dark red-purple wood high backed embellished Chinese chairs match lacquered tables that feature bamboo underneath the high gloss resin tabletops. A piano sits in the corner to entertain guests on weekends.

What the Customers Fancy

As many of her customers fall into the over 65 demographic, she adjusts the flavors to be a little lighter and the textures to be moist and tender. Customers are keen on combinations such as the platter. It consists of an Egg Roll, Barbeque Pork, Beef with Broccoli and Egg Foo Young. The customers can also choose from other items to prepare the platter. This ample combination is priced between $10.50 - $12.50.

Some of the outstanding offerings her customers crave include the Almond Chicken. White chicken meat is breaded and then fried to a crispy coating with gravy and almonds to top it off. Chow Mein, General Tso’s Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Egg Roll, Fried Shrimp, Egg Foo Young and Honey Prawn are the real crowd pleasers.

Some people are health conscious and demand a low sodium, no MSG, low sugar content. Sheree is more than able to accommodate the wishes of her guests. Various stir-fries are a healthy alternative to those who ask for such. The basic prerequisite for the owner in preparing a great meal is fresh ingredients. Customers have a give and take relationship with her and she counts their feedback as useful information to improve upon.

Strangers to Chinese Cuisine

In the depths of Idaho, some elderly people are not the only ones who are unfamiliar with

Chinese cooking. Sheree's kitchen staff are mostly non-Chinese from five different countries: America, The Philippines, Vietnam, Peru and Mexico. Despite this, they work well together and get along harmoniously. Ms. Teng treats them very well; she trains them all herself offering quite a personal touch. She does the training from waitressing to cooking, offering tips along the way to improve their learning curve of Chinese cuisine and the restaurant business. She knows how to keep a stable team: being nice to people is her recipe.

“I like to work with them, as they are young, smart and quick to respond,” said Sheree. She oversees the kitchen staff with a keen eye personally insuring that all food served is fresh. If not, she will not serve it to waiting customers. Food freshness must be guaranteed. They keep a daily log of customer traffic, stocking only certain amounts of goods so as to not allow spoilage. She is hardly ever in the position of running out of stock. Customers enjoy the benefits when they order a specific dish; they are never told “we ran out” of this or that. Another benefit is that customers rarely have to wait long before being served.

Community & Private Engagements

Sheree is an active member and vice president of the Filipino & Friends Association of Idaho & Washington (FFAIW). She has donated food (roasted pig, rice, seafoods, etc) to the association for the fund raisers. They always hold council meeting in Sheree’s restaurant and she prepares personally the food that the members would order with surprise dishes. Besides her philanthropic activities, Sheree likes to go to the gym to work out, while swimming and racquetball are favorite sports pastimes. Keeping fit gives her peace of mind, something she needs in the hectic world of running a restaurant. She loves cooking for her customers and can't decide what she enjoys more: cooking or chatting with her guests.

She received a Founder's Award from the Association in 2007 for winning the 100 Top Chinese Restaurants from the Chinese Restaurant News Magazine, California. This is based on the popularity votes from the customers of her restaurant and from the requirements of the group of the Chinese Restaurant News which came to Lewiston, Idaho and made a surprise visit, inspected the place and tried the dishes of the Mandarin Pine Restaurant prior to voting.

Her four children are very supportive of her business. Eva Chow and Allen Hui, Jonathan and Joshua Teng are a big help to her. They find time to help manage the business, such as purchasing food materials and other affairs. They also phone their mother every day. Although they are not by her side, they are always in her mind, every minute.

“Sheree is passionate, nice, fair to her employees and enjoying helping others, thinks a lot, and keep herself busy all the time. She is a good mother, strong, healthy and not picky eater, she is humorous and jokes a lot with her customers. She loves her life very much, does exercise as her relaxation, and spend time with her children when they are around.” The excerpt of Business Profile on February 17, 2001 gave a vivid description of Sheree and her lifestyles.

Message from the Owner

I really appreciate my customers. When I go around the town, they will always tell me how much they like our dishes. It is their continuous support and the loyalty and hard work of my employees that drives me to go further.