Mountain Palace Northern Chinese Happy Healthy Eatery

Established July 9, 2011

www.mountainpalace.net

So let’s let Lacy tell the whole story:

Two years after coming to the United States, I met a guy online named Clay. He caused me a big attention. The reason is that he said “Ni Hao” at the first beginning in his message. These words made me feel he was so familiar. Later I knew he was a psychology major. We started exchanging email and communication with Yahoo Messenger.  I was carrying a dictionary all the time. One week later, we had our first meeting at a book store in Waterfront. I had a little difficulty accepting the real person when I met him the first time. I was so anxious to run back to my apartment to talk to my online guy. I was missing the guy online very much and felt very guilty to betray him to meet another one. I don’t know how long it took me to merge together the real him with the guy online.

Two years after we knew each other, Clay found a house by Mirror Lake in Bolivar - a small town with 350 population because he was starting a new project at New Florence -another small town with 550 population by Bolivar. This is a very unique house by a lake and surrounded by mountains. We named it Mountain Palace. I came here every weekend for changing from my research work and city life. I felt it is so peaceful there just like another world.

Unfortunately, two months later, Clay got laid off from his job.

We both were shocked! How could we continue enjoying our weekends at this peaceful world? We didn’t want to lose our lovely house. What should we do? We kept asking this question of ourselves. Finally, we got an idea! It was opening a Northern Chinese Happy Healthy Eatery. It was a big challenge for us.  I have a medical background and Clay is a psychology major. Neither of us had restaurant experience. Especially difficult was having to turn the house into a restaurant following all rules.

First, we had to build a 66 foot ramp. Make pavers to proper slope. Clay was carrying electric drill working on thunderstorm days and snowstorm days.

We also had to install exhaust fan, build a fire wall, blow insulation into fire wall. We also had to build a handicap accessible bathroom, install emergency lighting, reverse the front door, etc.

We both kept working and working on days and nights. We never stopped working even on Christmas and New Year’s days.

Two years later, finally Mountain Palace Northern Chinese Happy Healthy Eatery got open!  July 9, 2011.  First day, no one shows up. We were wondering why nobody showed up? Because we had forgotten to tell anyone.

 I designed our healthy menu based upon Chinese principles of health and nutrition including selection of herbs and spices and balancing of ingredients. For example, Celery is good for lowering blood pressure; Radish is good for digestion; Chives regulate kidney function and increase hormone level; fresh Ginger is good for digestion and increasing immunity; Mushroom is good for reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, enhancing immunity and anti-cancer. Chinese herbs also help to enhance immunity, lower cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, increase blood flow and inhibit cancer cell growth. This healthy menu benefits many health issues such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, constipation and after chemotherapy.

I have been operating Mountain Palace Northern Chinese Happy Healthy Eatery (www.mountainpalace.net) on weekends for over six years. The first four years I was doing research at UPMC weekdays. Every Sunday evening after cleaning, we drove back to Pittsburgh arriving always at midnight. I had to join a lab meeting on Monday morning. Many people came to Mountain Palace from very far away. Some people came for their wedding anniversary celebration, some came for dating and many people came for their birthday parties. We had a 93 year old lady’s  birthday party with her extended family. I was so glad to see her enjoying her long life noodles that I made for her. We also had different clubs and Chinese students karaoke events. Every time when I see the people’s big smiling faces, hearing their laughing and telling me how much they are enjoying this food, I feel so happy. I deeply feel that I am doing a good thing.