Restaurant in Highland Park celebrates Year of the Dragon
BY CHARLES BERMAN cberman@pioneerlocal.com February 6, 2012 5:34PM
HIGHLAND PARK Friday Feb 3 2012 Soprano singer Theresa Chang, owner of Yummy Bowl resteraunt, sings "Quando Men Vo" to an audience at the Annual Yummy Bowl Chinese New Year Dinner and Concert.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:19AM
Two sold-out crowds of 120 people packed the Yummy Bowl Chinese restaurant in downtown Highland Park last week to celebrate the year of the Dragon.
In her seventh annual Chinese New Year parties, Glencoe resident and Yummy Bowl owner Theresa Chang opened the concert with a performance reminiscent of her eight-year run as the leading soprano soloist for the Shanghai Lyric Opera.
The Friday and Saturday night parties also included a traditional buffet dinner with appetizers and 16 entrees, followed by six performances from accomplished musicians.
Music is a constant in Chang’s restaurant as her manager, Li Guang Long, performed for 15 years in China with the folk ensemble of the Shanghai Opera. Yummy Bowl also touts a youth music program.
“When we opened (15 years ago), that was one of the attractions to make us stand out,” Chang explained.
“My favorite part is getting everybody together and just having fun,” she added while preparing for the first night Friday. “Over the years, the Chinese New Years isn’t celebrated as much as the other holidays in the community, so we wanted to bring it up and celebrate it.”
Chang explained that the Chinese New Year is traditionally a 15-day celebration that began this year on Jan. 23. In China, they celebrate with fireworks. Music, dancing and food highlight Chang’s local version.
Organizers said the year of the dragon — once every 12 years — is the luckiest in the Chinese Zodiac.
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