For many, pepper chicken isn’t just a dish, but a primary meal that marks a new chapter in our lives. From our first days at Pace High School to the brink of graduation, pepper chicken has been a comforting staple in our lives. We’ve watched the prices change and witnessed Spicy Village’s rise to fame. However, we tend to miss the people behind our go-to Chinese restaurant.
Wendy Lian, the manager of Spicy Village, has been the backbone of the restaurant for the past ten years, always prepared to provide customers with a genuine smile and speediness. Lian lives close to the restaurant and often “will run from [her] apartment to help save time” making sure she’s never late and always at service.
The name “Spicy Village” was suggested by a friend and now has grown into a well-known gem in the neighborhood. Wendy unveils some background about her life and the restaurant, and claims that Pace High School has played a significant role in changing the path of Spicy Village.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
How has Spicy Village changed since you first started working here?
In the beginning, the business was slow. Only like two, three were people working. Now it’s more people. Somebody wrote about it in an article. It brings us more business, and then we have more people coming to work here.
When do you get the most busy throughout the day?
Mostly dinner time between 6:30, 7:00 p.m until 9:00 p.m.
What are some difficult things the restaurant faces?
When the employees don’t come into work because somebody is sick. Oh, my God!
What’s your favorite part about working here?
Helping customers. I see them like the food and leave their plate empty because I make the pancakes or noodles. I help to make everything, [to make sure] the customers will like it. Even if they don’t like it, we will fix it.
Do you work every day?
No, we are close[d] Sunday.
But other than that, do you work every day?
Yeah, but sometimes, my son or daughter, they will come in to help me and then I’ll go home and rest for one hour or two hours. My son works on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I can go home to rest, like two hours.
What do you recommend students try other than pepper chicken? As you know everybody always has their pepper chicken.
Yes, you can do the sesame chicken or the pancake, maybe pancake with egg and the pork. That’s my favorite.
If you could say one thing to all Pace students, what would it be?
I hope that all the Pace students realize they help the community. I hope all students who come here [stay] good boys and good girls. In the [past], they helped the community a lot.