Jolie Zhou began cooking her traditional Chinese dumplings at the West Side Bazaar around five years ago. In 2013 she left the bazaar and set up shop in the Horsefeathers building, along with a number of other culinary operations. Since that time Jolie has broadened her scope, and today cooks/prepares an array of foods that range from house pickled kimchi to Chinese Bolognese.
It’s a bit of a crapshoot when walking into Jolie’s restaurant, as one never knows what she might be whipping up on any particular day. Recently Jolie made an investment into a professional crêpe maker, that she had shipped from China. “The crêpe is the perfect Chinese street food,” she told me. “It’s delicious, quick to make, has lots of nutrition inside, and workers can take it with them and eat it on the go, or at their job.”
For Jolie, the crêpe was the natural transition from the dumpling – something that she has become known for at farmers’ markets throughout the city. With help from her son Mike, who she followed to the US when he attended the University at Buffalo (see here), the art of the crêpe has been mastered on Buffalo’s West Side.
It all starts with a sweet corn/egg batter, spread over a piping hot surface. Meat (pork or beef), which has been prepared in a five-spice soak over night, is added along with veggies and kimchi. The ingredients are then rolled into something that resembles a giant open-ended burrito. From there it’s as simple as taking bite after bite, until half the crêpe is gone… there are few people who eat the entire meal in one sitting (or standing).
Jolie’s crepes are made fresh on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They can be found at her restaurant within the Horsefeathers building on those days. If you’re lucky, Jolie will also serve you up a bowl of her kimchi and tofu soup – a recipe that she prides herself on. Vegetarians can find some luck at Jolie’s, but they have to ask to be taken care of, as it might not be clear on the menu board.
Jolie and her crêpe maker were recently featured in Buffalo’s Top Ten Culinary Experiences (see The Culture Trip). In all of Buffalo, you won’t find a more warm-hearted soul than Jolie, who prides herself on taking care of her customers as though they were her own family.
Jolie’s Chinese Traditional Food | Horsefeathers Building | 346 Connecticut Street | Buffalo NY | 716-491-6981 | Facebook