Pic story: One-star Michelin restaurant 'Cafe China' in New York
Walking in the bustling street of midtown Manhattan, you may not notice Cafe China if there weren't so many people waiting for seats outside the Chinese restaurant. Although the space is limited and decoration not so luxury, Cafe China has won Michelin one star for six consecutive years from 2012 to 2017.
Wang Yiming and Zhang Xian, a couple from China, quit their well-paid financial jobs in New York and opened Cafe China with the ambition to provide authentic Sichuan cuisine along with a comfortable dining environment. They decided not to sell American-Chinese dishes like most Chinese restaurants did at that time.
Meanwhile, the couple decorated the place with items such as vintage posters, antique cameras and lamps to create an old Shanghai style. At the beginning, their idea was strongly opposed by many friends and even their staff, as the American-Chinese food was the easiest way to make money at that time.
However, it surprised them that many Americans swarmed to Cafe China with curiosity for decent Chinese dishes and the unique dining environment as soon as the restaurant just opened. The couple believed the success of Cafe China resulted from not only the appeal of authentic Chinese food but also the sophisticated Chinese culture behind it.
"No matter what the culture is, it is worthwhile to keep the exquisite and thought-provoking parts in it. Don't be afraid that others won't understand, someday they will," said Zhang.
