Julia Zhu is the managing partner for the United States of Grandma’s Home, a chain with more than 200 locations in 60 cities in China, and with its first U.S. location opening soon in New York City’s Flatiron neighborhood.
Zhu is the daughter of one of the founder’s of the chain and she’s heading up the opening.
She was born in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province in China and a city whose cuisine hasn’t been seen much in the United States. Zhu moved to the U.S. at the age of 15 and said she’s looking forward to showcasing the food that she grew up eating and that is hard to find here.
Neither Hangzhou nor its cuisine are well known in the United States, but it is an ancient and beloved city, known for its scenic West Lake and general beauty. In fact, there’s a Chinese saying: “The sky has heaven, the earth has Suzhou and Hangzhou,” Suzhou being another ancient city known for its gardens the next province up in Jiangsu.
Marco Polo reportedly said that Hangzhou was the finest city in the world.
Zhu discussed the cuisine of her hometown and her plans for the New York City restaurant.
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