East meets West at the China Emerald Restaurant & Grill in Westmont, where the dining room features Chinese cuisine and the American-style lounge- Bugsy`s Wok & Roll Bar-presents live jazz from 8 to 12 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Jimmy Chau, a Hong Kong native who came to the United States in 1982, and his wife, Joann, a native of Korea, brought years of experience to their restaurant, which opened in February. He had managed restaurants for other owners, and she`s from a family that has been in the restaurant business for three generations. Together they operated a 40-seat restaurant in Geneva.
”We wanted to expand and found the Westmont location, where we can seat 140 people in the main dining room,” Chau said. ”It crossed my mind the area might be somewhat saturated with Chinese restaurants, but because we offer diners something out of the ordinary, we knew we`d be welcomed.”
Taiwan-born chef Nancy Lin supervises a staff of four cooks who prepare everything to order from an extensive menu featuring poultry, beef, pork, lamb and seafood, as well as vegetarian dishes.
”We don`t use monosodium glutamate (MSG),” Jimmy Chau said. ”Many people are allergic to MSG, and I`m one of them. I know what an unpleasant reaction the flavor enhancer can produce. Our recipes call for ingredients with plenty of natural flavor.”
Two luncheon specials are offered each weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., one for $3.50, the other for $3.75. The price includes entree, soup, a spring roll, fried rice, an almond cookie, a fortune cookie and tea. Prices begin at $4.45 on the regular menu, which in many cases offers diners a choice of a large portion, or a small one for $2 less.
China Emerald`s answer to the fondue pot is the hot stone. Heated for 30 minutes, the stone is a centerpiece for a platter of thin-sliced beef strips and butterflied shrimp ready for tabletop grilling.
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China Emerald Restaurant & Grill, 204 E. Chicago Ave., Westmont (in the Oak Tree Plaza), is open 11:30 a.m to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 708-325-8898.
