COVERING CALIFORNIA EVENTS
COVERING CALIFORNIA EVENTS
By Gerrye Wong April 16, 2022
The fanciest Chinese restaurant has burst onto the San Jose dining scene and I am sure it will become one of the notable favorites in town very soon. ICHINA is part of THE Westfield Valley Fair Center near the Men’s Macy’s section of this huge three story shopping paradise. On a recent visit there, I asked Marketing Staff member Jean Francisco what was the idea behind the scenes by the owners, in developing this very unique restaurant. She said, “Our owners cherish China’s vast culinary landscape and on a recent trip to China, they found a more modern take on Chinese cuisine that focused on a refined dining experience. Returning back to the States, they realized that this style of refined dining in a luxurious setting did not exist in the US on the level they had experienced in China – and so the vision of ICHINA came to be.
Caption: Tea ceremony performed at ICHINA
Of course, since this is definitely not your traditional small business owners’ mom and pop operated restaurant, which was such a common way for Chinese immigrants to earn a living in the past. Palatial luxury surroundings of beauty is how I could best define the first impression walking in. When you’re seated in the upstairs formal dining, your eyes appreciate the beautiful crystal glass chandelier and the shades of teal greens and blue in the decorative glass walls. But of course, no matter how attractive a dining room is, food is your main concern.
Caption: In front of tea ceremony station at ICHINA
Jean explained further, “ICHINA’s cuisine focuses on New American Chinese cuisine. It is a scratch kitchen that puts time-honored flavors, techniques and culinary expressions in the hands of talented chefs, bringing a generation of New American Chinese Cuisine to the table. We bridge east and west , maintaining the integrity of traditional flavors from China’s eight major culinary regions while offering brilliant interpretation. And windows open the kitchen up for diners to watch the workings if wants to be seated near the window wall.
caption: active kitchen seen from dining room
Eddie Lam is the Executive Chef and visionary for ICHINA. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Oakland, he has built his culinary career at the intersection of Asian and American lifestyle. There are private dining areas for small parties, and perfect for silicon valley dinner meetings, ICHINA has a private virtual dining area like no other. “The original idea”, according to Jean Francisco,” is inspired by the immersive technology used to market, for example, the new IPhone by showing what can be done using the space around an audience. The restaurant itself is static, and the décor will be the same whether it is a guest’s first visit or their hundredth visit. And while we hope guests are as awed by their hundredth visit as their first, our ownership wanted something that showcases the innovations of the location as well as the everchanging fluidity of society. When we brought the idea of an immersive dinner experience to Mr. Zhongxuan Hong of HHD Hong Kong Eastern Holiday International Design Consultants LTD, he showed the ownership a restaurant in Shanghai that offers a VR dinner experience. From there, we were introduced to a company that specialized in VR and helped us design the space. So I guess you could be dining in San Jose, but the walls could be projecting scenes of anywhere else in the world you might like to think of dining at, surrounding and transporting you visually to a different location, so to speak.
Caption: Private dining room
The first floor of the restaurant is JiuBA, which is the lower bar floor. It serves as an extension of the sophisticated lounge environment. The turquoise blue leather walls, crystal pillars, and the carefully customized lighting are attractive – but one must go visit the All gender over the top bathroom, highlighted with individual restroom pods, gold finishes and jade glass tubes. They all contribute to a grand luxurious atmosphere that embodies THE grandeur of I CHINA. All around the bar area, indoor and out, small tables for two are romantically placed so I can picture this being the go-to place for young couples to enjoy the beautiful ambiance in a romantic setting.
;Caption: Lantern made of wooden bamboo
When I brought a select group of friends for their first visit to ICHINA, they were clearly mesmerized by the beauty of the design and the intricate details woven into the color scheme and lighting. They especially appreciated the colorful wall behind the Tea Station, where demonstrations of tea ceremony are given for patrons. All agreed the restaurant exuded a feeling of being in an opulent palatial environment as inspired by the painting “A Thousand miles of Rivers and Mountains.”
caption: view of dining room from entrance of restaurant’s second floor dining room
Instead of the fix prixe lunch menu, we tried all eight of the entrees offered, and agreed ICHINA may taste like home and heritage to some, and completely new to others. But for all, it will be Chinese cuisine as you may have never experienced it before. So very definitely worthy of a first time visit, and probably many many more!
FRIENDS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS NAMES BUILDING
Caption: Well wishers at the FCSN Naming ceremony
The sun shone brightly on a very happy occasion for the FRIENDS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS non-profit group when it gave a new name to its first Center in Fremont, California. Back in 2006, the FCSN opened its first Center , which they named Dream Center at that time. On April 12, its very successful facility which has seen thousands of patients stream through for its many services and classes for developmentally disadvantaged individuals, the Dream Center has a new name. The new name was unveiled as the “Chenming & Margaret Hu Center” before a crowd of well wishers and devoted staff members. It was a very exciting moment when I was able to witness the TSMC Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley Dr. Chenming and his charming wife, Margaret, pull the cord to unveil their names on the center’s second story building wall.
caption: Son Raymond speaks at Center Re-naming Ceremony
The Hu’s son, Raymond, who lives at the FCSN housing facility adjoining the Fremont property, spoke on how happy and proud of his parents he was for being supportive of his group which has provided a loving atmosphere for him to reside in. You could see the beaming faces of his parents as their son spoke, making them equally proud to be a part of this FCSN circle of friends. Raymond, a talented artist, has been participating in FCSN programs for more than 20 years. MC Limin Hu, in his introductions, shared that Chenming and Margaret Hu had been a huge part of the FCSN for many years. Dr. Hu served as FCSN chairman from 2016-18 and both had been active on the FCSN Board for many years. Today’s event was to formalize and honor their latest contribution of $500,000 to help FCSN build better programs and improve their present facilities.
Caption: Pulling the cord to unveil name of FCSN building
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, Vice Mayor Raj Salwan, City Council members Shao and Keng together with representative Kathy Kimberlin of Chief of Staff of County Supervisor Haubert, who presented commendations from their respective offices to the Hu family. In the background and preceding the official ceremony, the 3 piece combo band, FCSN Dream Achievers provided the toe tapping music, as well as their own original “Friends With Dreams” a song composed and dedicated to honor the individuals and families of FCSN during last year’s 25th anniversary celebration. Asking everyone to step up and help him pull the draperies back hiding the new name of the Center, Chenming Hu directed everyone to stand next to them. The line-up of friends and family then were presented gold gilded scissors to cut the bright red ribbon to formally open up the Center under its new moniker. It was a glorious moment for us all who have supported FCSN through its many years of hard work to establish a comforting environment for many with physical handicaps. Friends of Children with Special Needs is a non-profit organization established in 1996 by a group of Chinese American families to help people with developmental disabilities. In 2006, FCSN launched their first Dream Center in Fremont and subsequently, established a South Bay Center in San Jose in 2017. The group has acquired recently another 18,000 sf property in Fremont for future planned expansion of services.
Currently FCSN has established many vendorized programs to help special need adults in continued education, living, job training and work experience. I commend the group that for the past 25 years, has been following its dream to build a community for their special children, and their continued expansion shows the commitment they have made to further their mission. Another active parent, James Chiao, recently authored a book chronicling the group’s mission and progress as it fulfilled its dream to serve this often ignored community of handicapped citizens. I commend not only the Hu Family for their generous philanthropic gift to this worthy organization, but all of the other dedicated volunteers who have continued to devote their time and energies to making this a strong viable organization serving the community.
For information on how you can become involved with this group whose motto is ‘TOGETHER, LET’S BUILD A COMMUNITY OF LOVE, HOPE AND RESPECT FOR OUR SPECIAL CHILDREN”, the FCSN Center is at 2300 Peralta Blvd., Fremont CA. Upcoming April 30 is their annual fundraiser, Special Needs Talent Showcase, where individuals perform in a competition for prizes and accolades. Check website: www.FCSN1996.org for information. Let’s all come out and support the fine goals of the group.
THEATER IS ON THE RISE AGAIN
ALLEGIANCE by Palo Alto Players
Palo Alto’s award winning local theater group, PALO ALTO PLAYERS is once again showing its dedication to showcasing Asian themed productions. Pre-pandemic times, the company presented Flower Drum Song, where audience patrons were invited to support the theater group, as well as the local non profit CHINESE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL PROJECT by dropping donations as a show of their appreciation if they enjoyed the show.
Opening up finally after a two year hiatus from live in person performances, the Palo Alto Players are presenting ALLEGIANCE. Inspired by the true childhood experience of TV film actor and social media icon George Takei, (Mr. Sulu on Star Trek). ALLEGIANCE tells the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they are forced to leave their Salinas, California home following the events at Pearl Harbor, and join 120,000 other Japanese-Americans in internment camps dotted around America.
Sam Kimura seeks to prove his patriotism by fighting for his country in the war, but sister Kei fiercely protests the government’s treatment of her people. An uplifting testament to the power of the human Spirit, ALLEGIANCE follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves. Show runs April 22-May 8 at the Luci Stern Theater in Palo Alto. Steaming on demand May 8-9. Appearing will be featured actors Mel Abe, Joey Alvarado, Doy Charnsupharindr, Brandon Gruber, Michael Paul Hirsch, Yoshi Humfeld, Justin Karekes, Edmond Kwong, Cordelia Larsen, Corinna Laskin, Ethan Lo, Sharline Liu, and a large cast. Tickets: 650 329 0891 or paplayers.org. Music and lyrics by Jay Kuo.
THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN by SF Playhouse
In celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, perhaps, San Francisco Playhouse is presenting THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN beginning May 4-June 18. It is very gratifying to see many Asians having a chance to showcase their talents in local theater productions. The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin is by Jessica Huang, and is being directed by Jeffrey Lo. The play is based on the true story of Liang Cheng Yu, who immigrated to the US from Taishan, China in 1939 under the name of Harry Chin. Through hours of interviews with the daughter, Sheila, and pages of interviews with Chin himself, Jessica Huang retells the story of this one man’s internal struggle.
Plot centers on Harry Chin, a Chinese national, who entered the US by buying forged documentation. Like other “ paper sons” Harry lived his life keeping secrets, even from his daughter. Told through his eyes as he reaches middle age, he reveals the complicated loves and regrets of this Chinese immigrant. As Bill English, artistic Director said, “Through elements of magical realism infused with Chinese myth and storytelling, Ms Huang takes us on an incredible, emotional journey through Chin’s past and present.” Cast includes Will Dao, Kina Kantor, Carrie Paff, Sharon Shao, Jomar Tagatac and Michael Torres.
Local theater arts non-profit group, Contemporary Arts Theater Scene (CATS) is giving this production its go ahead support, and I am encouraging everyone to see this one incident of our Chinese American history in story/play form. San Francisco Playhouse is in a comfortable setting in downtown San Francisco in the Kensington Hotel. Ticket info 415 677 9596 . I personally have tickets to give persons who want to come and sit with my group of friends.
