Chinese desserts, snacks, and cookies
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511A Maynard Ave S International District
(206) 682-3163 website
-credit cards not accepted
-take-out only
You’ll find Liana Cafe House in a narrow room tucked under a huge sign for the Hong Kong Cafe. The shipshape little space reflects the organizational skills of owner Juliana Lai, who trained and worked in hotel management in Hong Kong and China.
“When I came to United States, I don’t, you know, I don’t have certain degree in US. And besides that, I like to do business myself.”
Four restaurants and several years later, Juliana decided to give retirement a try:
“But it’s too boring after two years stay home! So now I open a small shop and I put all the specialty thing in this shop. So that’s why this shop, and have fresh food, hot food, pre-prepared it, uncooked food or cooked food. So it’s very convenient; you can either go home, reheat it, the food, or we already do all the preparation and you just defrost it and steam or stirfry the food.”
And what about desserts?
“We do have red bean cakes, too, make from red bean, and we also have like a water chestnut cake and Chinese dessert and have seasonal and holiday and come out different dessert.
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| almond cookies |
“Summer we do have the shave ice with beans or with jello or with a fresh fruit combination, or you can combine them together or you choosing your favorite to combine them. But no matter which way is really good, but my opinion, my self opinion, I like the beans, special red beans. Red bean is really good for your body and provide more iron for your body. And jello is made from some special natural grass, is really really, good, very healthy. And then shave ice is refreshing you during the summertime, you know: very nice.”
This dessert is similar to ones Juliana enjoyed growing up in Canton, China.
“But we don’t have shave ice at that time. But we use ice cube at that time.“
Today Juliana uses a Japanese machine that turns ice into soft snow in seconds.
“[scoop sound] From ice, ok, the ice cube, put it in here, and then...[grinding sound]. Yeah, see it’s really smooth. Smooth.”
Then come the toppings.
“Red beans with ice cream is the best.”
Juliana cooks them herself, with just a little sugar.
“This is vanilla ice cream.”
Then she adds shiny dark cubes of herbal jelly.
“It’s natural grass make it from. Yeah, taste very good...Then you mix like this, mix this like this, together.”
“Is that the normal size for one of those?”
“Yes.”
“Wow!”
“So people always happy. So they love to come over my place.”
“That’s huge!”
“Can you finish them?”
“Are you kidding?!”
“You know when after I start to eat, I cannot stop! I need more and more!”
