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By Costa Maragos
It took just a few moments for the memories to come flooding back as Janice Wong and her mother entered the kitchen of the old Lotus Cafe in Prince Albert.
"Mom, look at the old dishes," said a surprised-sounding Wong, who was in the central Saskatchewan city on a visit from Vancouver.
"The same dishes my mom purchased for the restaurant 50 years ago. So neat to see them again."
"Those are the originals," replied Janice's mom Mary, a touch of a smile playing on her lips.
So began their trip down memory lane.
The Wongs, Janice’s dad and mom, Dennis and Mary, and her uncle Cecil, opened the Lotus Cafe on Central Avenue in 1956 and operated it for almost a quarter of a century.
Knotty pine and chow mein
At first glance, time seems to have stood still there. The cash register is still located at the front of the cafe followed by a wavy-design lunch counter. The rest of the restaurant is filled with booths, tables, chairs and, at the back, a dimly-lit kitchen.
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It was a tasty trip down memory lane for Janice Wong at her family's old restaurant. |
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Taking in all the knotty pine paneling, the silo-shaped sugar containers and the red-vinyl stools, one could be forgiven for thinking the decor could use an extreme makeover. But who can argue with success?
For decades, cooks at the Lotus have been churning out dish after steaming dish of chicken fried rice, chow mein, wonton soup and other familiar items unique to Chinese restaurant menus and in the process helped alter the culinary landscape of the Canadian prairies.
"I look at it and it's 50 years since that restaurant opened," said Wong. "And I think it's neat that a Chinese family is still running it." Next 
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Last Updated: November 28, 2006
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Regional Online Journalist: Kevin O'Connor |
