Friday, July 11th, 2003

Asian twist brought to Teahouse

SABRINA DIVELL

Photo by, Bryon Johnson Mayor Susan Fennell samples some of the sushi offered by Chen-Chen Wong at the recent opening of the Teahouse in Chinguacousy Park.

A Brampton entrepreneur finally got the break she was looking for as the City of Brampton awarded her sushi business with the key to Chinguacousy's Teahouse.

Chen-Chen Wong is dishing up some Japanese delicacies this summer to complement the traditional finger sandwiches, scones, desserts and tea in the city's historical teahouse.

The new menu includes light healthy Asian foods such as sushi and Korean barbecued beef.

"The food at the Teahouse will be unique, tasty and always healthy," said the Brampton resident.

The community was first introduced to her small sushi business in January after being profiled in the Brampton Guardian's Business section.

Last year, Wong received her pink slip from Nortel networks after working with the company for more than 18 years as an engineer.

Instead of giving up, she decided to follow what came naturally to her and began holding financial planning courses and seminars out of her home for other fellow Nortel employees who were also laid off.

Struggling with the thought of having to charge her friends for the counselling they were receiving, Wong said her newfound career in financial planning was beginning to look bleak until she brought out a tray of sushi for her guests.

"All my friends started saying you should make sushi as a career," said Wong, and with that she changed gears and set out to start a catering company.

Last month, after her creative business proposal was accepted by the City of Brampton, Wong took over as manager of the Chinguacousy's Tea House.

Her innovative idea of blending the traditional teahouse workings with her sushi catering businesses caught the city's attention.

As a result, patrons can enjoy a healthy taste of the Korean culture while sipping on Japanese green tea or Chinese tea.

During non-peak hours, Wong is also offering the public various cooking classes.

"The lively and interactive classes will provide memorable experiences of different parts of the world and will include dress costumes from other countries," she said.

In keeping with its promotion of a healthy lifestyle, Sushi Wong is also running Yoga classes on the second floor of the Teahouse.

This fall, tax planning and investment planning courses will also be held out of the historical house.

"I have even added a retail component," she said.

Various pieces of artwork, produced by students at Mayfield Secondary School, are on display and for sale to the public.

Wong is also selling a selection of decorative Japanese dishes and cooking accessories.

For more information log onto www.sushiwong.ca, e-mail chef@sushiwong.ca  call 905-791-1884 or drop by the Chinguacousy Teahouse.