Jing Chuan: A Toledo favorite for Chinese cuisine

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August 30, 2023

Hours:

Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30am-2:30pm & 4:30-8:30pm
Fridays, 11:30am-2:30pm & 4:30-10:30pm
Saturday, 4:30-10:30pm
Sunday, 11:30-9pm

The Short Course

Online ordering? Yes
Carryout? Yes
Delivery? No
Outdoor Dining? No
Kids Menu? No
Changing Table? Yes
Booster Seat/High Chair? Yes

Jing Chuan Bar — Jing Chuan has a full bar menu that features a variety of wines, beers and tiki drinks.

Reviews:

4.5 of 5 on Google with 1,100 reviews
4.3 of 5 on Facebook with 460 reviews
3.8 of 5 on Yelp with 152 reviews

Jing Chuan is perhaps one of the most revered and established Chinese restaurants in the Toledo metro area, with a loyal customer base built on consistently good food and friendly service. The family-owned eatery has served classic Szechuan, Hunan and Mandarin-style dishes on Secor Rd. in West Toledo since 1985. The owners pride themselves on the quality of their food and adhere to the same recipes that founders Shanteh and Peiying Sun brought to the United States 38 years ago.

Originally from the Shandong province of China, the Suns fled to nearby South Korea in the 1960’s, during the revolution, and operated restaurants in Korea and Taiwan before moving to the United States to seek better opportunities for their children. According to their granddaughter, Wesley Sun, the restaurant’s name is a nod to the roots of their cuisine: Jing refers to Beijing and Chuan comes from Szechuan.

Wesley and her sister, Joni Sun, are the third generation to run the family business, taking over for their father at the beginning of this year. The sisters oversee the front of the house while Joni’s husband, Daniel Souimamiphanh, manages the kitchen.

Photos by Laurie Bertke

Made from scratch

Wesley explains that practically everything at Jing Chuan is made fresh from scratch, including the dumplings, noodles, soups, sauces and seasonings.

In the northeastern part of China, where Wesley’s grandparents were born, the cuisine more often features noodles and bread than rice. Wesley says many of the more “authentic” dishes served at Jing Chuan are noodle-based, such as jam pong noodle (shrimp, beef, squid, manila clam and mussel stir-fried with assorted vegetables in a spicy seafood broth) and ja jung noodle (chopped pork and shrimp stir-fried with onion and zucchini in black bean sauce, topped with julienne cucumber).

Guests can also choose from an array of familiar stir-fry combinations of chicken, beef, pork, seafood, tofu and vegetables, served over rice. Customer favorites, cited by Wesley, include the Mongolian beef, hot and sour soup, spring rolls and sweet and sour dishes.

Food is cooked to order with any special dietary needs taken into consideration and the kitchen is willing to make dishes gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan when possible.

Family-style meals

While Jing Chuan does a brisk take-out business, the restaurant offers a pleasant and elegant dine-in experience. “From the moment you walk into our door, we treat everyone like they’re family,” says Wesley. “We wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for everyone who visits us.”

Meals are served “family-style,” meaning that sharing dishes is encouraged. Instead of everyone ordering their own entree, guests are encouraged to sample a bit of everything and enjoy a variety of flavor palettes. “We definitely encourage it,” says Wesley. “With Chinese food, it’s not fun eating for just one. It’s something that’s meant to be shared at a table with the family or friends.”

At our table, we started with a pot of oolong tea and the wonton soup. The soup has a light and flavorful broth and is filled with house-made wontons, pork, napa cabbage and mushroom. All soups are shareable, and the medium size ($13.95) was the right amount for our family of five. My husband and children also sampled and enjoyed the hand-made spring rolls ($1.90 each), which come stuffed with chicken, beef and shrimp with mixed vegetables.

Our table’s main course selections included the shrimp fried rice ($13), chicken lo mein ($12), sweet and sour chicken ($15.25) and chicken with vegetables ($15.25). The variety was intriguing and we shared our meals, allowing each of us to sample several items.

While there is not a separate children’s menu, the shareable nature of the meals makes it easy for children to partake in one or more of the adult-sized entrees at the table. Jing Chuan’s menu also includes a variety of family-style, multi-course dinners that serve between two and six people and include soup, spring rolls and an assortment of entrees for a flat rate.

Bottom line

If you have never experienced this Toledo classic, know that Jing Chuan’s reputation for excellence in Chinese cuisine is well deserved and its longevity in Toledo is a testimony to its delicious food. Along with convenient takeout, the restaurant offers a welcoming and relaxing dine-in experience. It also has an event room to accommodate larger groups, making it a great place to gather for a meal out with family or friends.

Jing Chuan, 4424 Secor Rd., 419-472-9612.

Ripe for the picking: A guide to favorite U-Pick farms in the area

By

Laurie Bertke

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August 29, 2023

Not everyone can be a farmer, but U-Pick fields allow all to share in the joy of the harvest. As the summer heat winds down and crisp fall air moves in, we’re offering up a guide to some of our favorite spots in the region.

Take your “pick” from fresh flowers, veggies, berries, apples or pumpkins, depending on the time of year. For the latest hours, pricing and seasonal updates, it’s a good idea to check each farm’s social media pages before you head out.

GardenView Flowers
U-Pick Flower Garden & Flower Stop

11160 South River Rd., Grand Rapids

Wander the beautiful garden and pick your own bouquet from more than 30 varieties of flowers. Bring a quart-size mason jar or buy a vase at the farm. Open daily June 26-mid September.

Talisman Farm

1501 Township Road K, McClure

This family-owned, specialty-cut flower farm is open seven days a week from dawn to dusk for U-pick flowers. Select your vase or bucket option, place payment in the mailbox, grab a pair of scissors and create a bouquet of your favorites. Season passes are available. Open mid-July through October.

Gust Brothers

Summer Market: 11998 Rodesiler Hwy., Ottawa Lake, MI

Pumpkin Farm: 13639 Mulberry Rd., Ottawa Lake, MI

Gust Brothers offers U-Pick vegetables, flowers and pumpkins. Get lost in the beauty of the sunflower trail and bask in 10 acres of fresh flowers and vegetables in the late summer. Return in the fall for more fun including hayrides, farm animals, cider, donuts and, of course, pumpkins.

Stevens Gardens

4550 Weckerly Rd., Monclova

After you pick your own pumpkin from the field, hop on the hay ride or the cow train. Fire the corn cannon, visit the petting zoo and navigate the small straw maze or a corn maze that is just the right size for shorter legs. Don’t miss the apple cider slushies!

BJ Pumpkin Farm

9777 Secor Rd., Temperance, MI

Take a hayride out to the U-Pick pumpkin patch, wind your way through the search-and-find corn maze, crawl through a cornstalk tunnel and visit BJ’s Little Pumpkins Playground. Round out your visit with fresh donuts and cider.

Trabbic Family Pumpkin Farm

1560 E. Sterns Rd., Erie, MI

After you take a hayride to the field to find your pumpkin, Trabbic Farm has plenty of other activities to keep your family busy including rides, a four-acre corn maze, petting zoo, young children’s play area, cider, donuts and other treats.

The Pumpkin Peddler

20354 North Dixie Hwy., Bowling Green

After picking your pumpkin, enjoy other activities such as a pumpkin maze, face painting and guessing the weight of a painted pumpkin.

Johnston Fruit Farms

2790 US. 20 Alt., Swanton

U-Pick crops include berries, flowers, apples and pumpkins. Enjoy free activities such as a sandbox and a petting zoo with a donkey, miniature horse, goats and chickens. Check out the “pumpkin wall” and watch the cider makers at work on the press through the viewing window! The U-Pick season starts early July.

MacQueen’s Orchards

7605 Garden Rd., Holland

Drive your own vehicle into the orchard to pick apples, choosing from Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Granny Smith and Ida Red. MacQueens also offers U-Pick pumpkins and hosts the Apple Butter Festival in October, with live entertainment and rides.

RELATED: Let’s Get Moving in Toledo’s City Parks

Hoen’s Orchard

12540 County Road 7-2, Delta

Along with the familiar blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, this family farm grows some more unusual U-Pick crops such as gooseberries and currants. In the late summer and fall, choose from pumpkins and more than 20 varieties of apples.

Homeschooling Activities in the 419

By

Julie Pompa

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August 28, 2023

The popularity of homeschooling in the U.S. has grown considerably. From the movement’s unofficial beginning in the 1970s to its impact during and after the COVID pandemic, homeschooling is now a staple of the K-12 educational system. In fact, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that homeschooling grew from 2.8 percent of all students in 2019 to 5.4 percent in 2021.

Homeschooling is unique to each of our 50 states. In Ohio, parents must notify the superintendent of their local school district of their intention to homeschool, agree to provide 900 hours of instruction per year and provide an assessment of each student’s work for the year. But Michigan parents are not required to notify their local school district of their intention to homeschool. Both states require parents to offer reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing and English grammar.

Just the basics

Developing a curriculum can appear daunting, but help is available at every turn. The departments of education in Ohio and Michigan can help develop curricula for students of every age. But there are other groups (paid and free) that can help you plan your curriculum. For example:

Join local pages on social media to connect with others who are homeschooling in the area and can help answer the localized questions you might have. Check out The Homeschool Mom for Ohio homeschools; Facebook Homeschoolers in NW Ohio and SE Michigan; Instagram pages on homeschooling ideas, books, organizers, etc.; online curriculum assistance programs such as Time4Learning.
Make Toledo Lucas County Public Library a regular resource for curriculum and activities. – With just a library card, create a personal and local curriculum to help kids succeed. Check your local branch for activities you can incorporate throughout the year.

Museum of the Great Lakes kids club Medium

Customizing the kids’ education

An important part of a homeschool program is to broaden kids’ education beyond the home, while giving them opportunities to socialize with friends. Parents should create programs that:

Meet the specific learning style and pace of each child
Are flexible to the schedules of students (you can take in a local activity in the morning, and then do online or textbook training in the afternoon)
Build stronger parent-child relationships

Cater your classes to the things your kids respond to and enjoy – and bring a local perspective to it. If you’re teaching a science class, apply it to characteristics of local flowers each season with trips to the Toledo Botanical Garden. Studying the Great Lakes? Visit the National Museum of the Great Lakes to see the ships common on the different lakes (or visit their Kids Club). Studying outdoor art? Visit Toledo’s murals, including the Glass City River Wall in downtown Toledo, the largest in the U.S.

Several local organizations offer programming for homeschoolers:

Imagination Station offers monthly (fee) workshops (for grades K-3 and 4-8) in all things science.
Study animals at the Toledo Zoo, with fee programs through the school year in animal habitats such as rainforests, deserts and oceans. Classes are for students 5-15 years old.
Monthly fee programs are offered at Metroparks Toledo for homeschool students. Learn about nature, weather, fossils and other elements of earth, with a project at the end. Or participate in outdoor adventure camps at many park locations.
Camp Navigator can identify many regional camps to schedule for your kids.
Put together a specialized art program at the Toledo Museum of Art using virtual or guided tours, art classes (fee) and the family center.
Plan a field trip to a fee performance of the 2023-2024 Toledo Symphony or Toledo Ballet Young People’s Season.

As you investigate items for your curriculum, remember to check websites and social media posts by various links, look for recommendations, compare with friends or call directly to check on details.

5 EASY Ways to Start the New School Year Without Losing Your Mind

By

Rebecca Hastings

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August 25, 2023

As I try to soak up the last moments of summer fun, I feel like I’ll never be ready for the switch back to the routine of the school year.

I’m not sure who invented the lazy days of summer idea, but it wasn’t a mom. Summer is full of sun and beach and popsicles and more TV time than I care to admit. But it didn’t feel lazy. Now we’re on the cusp of a new school year, and the pressure is building.

All of a sudden, a switch will be flipped and we’re supposed to find routine and structure again (which feels kind of like playing with that disastrous moon-sand my kids love.) The sun is screaming, “Stay and play!” but the calendar is an annoying buzz in my ear challenging me to get it together because the clock is ticking.

The transition to a new school year doesn’t have to be complicated. You can have a great start to the school year with a few simple tricks. No, these tips will not complete the reams of paperwork headed your way during the first week of school, but they will help you feel better equipped to handle it.

Rest: Don’t skim past this. I know rest seems counterproductive and even impossible sometimes, but it will make a huge difference. My family knows a tired mom is not the nicest mom (at least in my house).

Start thinking about what you can do now to feel more rested. Skip that last episode of your favorite show late at night. Give yourself permission to sit down for ten minutes in the afternoon. Do things that make your body and soul feel calmer and more rested. You’ll be able to tackle the change to school days more effectively.

Eliminate: Think about the things you do. All of them. I know it’s a lot. Write them down. Now look at that list and cross off as many things as you can. Not that you’ve done them, but to eliminate them, at least temporarily. You can always add them back later.

Now that your list is smaller, look at what’s left. Instead of vacuuming three times per week, try twice. Skip the daily laundry and pick two days to do laundry each week so you’re not thinking about it every day. These ideas don’t need to be permanent, but they will help during the busy transition.

Autopilot: Put as much as you can on autopilot. My favorite place to do this is with food.

Come up with a simple meal rotation by picking an easy thing for each night of the week. For example, salad night, chicken and veggie, burgers and corn, taco night, breakfast for dinner, pizza, and leftovers. Then rotate through for the next few weeks. Your grocery list will be the same, and you don’t have to think too hard or prep too much ahead of time. You can let this go after the first few weeks of school in favor of your favorite fall recipes. But it will save your sanity now.

Other things you can put on autopilot: morning and bedtime routines, easy breakfast and snack options, and 5 minutes a day for mail and paperwork.

Let Go: As much as I love finding fun ideas on Pinterest for magical first-day photos and perfectly curated bento box lunches complete with animal face mini sandwiches, it doesn’t help me stay sane. Instead, it makes the pressure build that I am responsible for making the new school year absolutely amazing.

We do not need to make school magical. We can let go of these crazy expectations during the transition from summer to school, and give ourselves permission to try those things in a few weeks when we feel more grounded.

A happy, calm mom is more important than a sandwich shaped like an animal.

Grace: Let’s just say it right now – we’re going to drop the ball. It’s true. At some point, we’re going to miss something or turn in a form late. Last year I forgot to pick up my son’s inhaler from the nurse at the end of the school year. We all lose track of things sometimes. So, let’s start the year with a bit of grace for ourselves and one another.

Instead of beating ourselves up over getting the wrong color folder or forgetting to send a water bottle, let’s remember that we’re all here doing our best to love our kids well. And no folder or missed bus can change the way we love our kids.

Semillitas – Little Seeds Program Helps Children Learn and Grow

By

Kim Krieger

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August 23, 2023

Screenshot 2023-08-23 at 4.24.02 PM — Throughout the summer, the Semillitas program includes organized camps and trips to the zoo, local parks, and camping opportunities

Photo credit Nuestra Gente

Semillitas, which means “little seeds” in Spanish, is a youth program established by Nuestra Gente to help plant the seeds of knowledge and nurture the development of children who are eager to grow and learn.

With programs for children ages 5 to 12, the Semillitas – Little Seeds program consists of three two-hour sessions per week. The bilingual Semillitas program is focused on the historically underrepresented Hispanic community in Lucas County, but it is open to all children. The free programs are offered year-round at Nuestra Gente in Toledo. Approximately 45 children are participating in the summer programs and the after-school programming typically serves more than 70 children.

Birthday parties are also held throughout the year to celebrate and recognize the children involved in the program.

“Our Semillitas – Little Seeds programs are focused on many different areas of development. Two of the sessions are expansions of existing Nuestra Gente programs that focus on physical health, artistic and cultural expression, and community building and empathy,” shared Linda Parra, founder of Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Inc. “The third session is a new program focusing on bilingual academic instruction. As always, our programs are offered in both Spanish and English and are open to all.”

Children involved in the Semillitas programs will have an opportunity to be involved in tutoring, art classes, soccer and more. Throughout the summer, the Semillitas program also includes organized camps and trips to the zoo, local parks, and camping opportunities! Birthday parties are also held throughout the year to celebrate and recognize the children involved in the program.

Program Accessibility a Key to Success

Kids playing — The Nuestra Gente soccer program is popular with kids of all ages!

The Semillitas – Little Seeds program helps build on Nuestra Gente’s mission of breaking down cultural barriers and helping families find safe, age-appropriate programming. By offering programs in both English and Spanish and providing free transportation, Nuestra Gente has helped to make the Semillitas programs even more accessible to children.

“Our bilingual programs are accessible to kids from diverse communities despite pre-existing language barriers. Filling the gaps in bilingual programming is one of Nuestra Gente’s defining missions,” Linda added. “We have also helped to overcome transportation barriers by picking up and dropping off kids as needed and offering programs in centralized locations with access to public transportation.”

Kids posing for a photo — Nuestra Gente is located at 1411 Broadway Street in Toledo. Their summer and after-school programs are free and open to all!

About Nuestra Gente

Established in 2008, Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that serves low-income individuals and families in the Old South End and surrounding communities. Their primary mission is to build a healthier, more vibrant South Toledo, and to serve the city’s Spanish-speaking residents.

For the past 15 years, Nuestra Gente has offered a variety of social services to the Latino community.

Kids studying — Nuestra Gente programs focus on physical health, artistic and cultural expression, and community building and empathy.

“We are always looking to fill many gaps that have existed in our community. We’ve covered everything from language barriers, transportation issues, an art festival, a bilingual food pantry to putting a 24-hour radio station on the air in Spanish, the first and only in Toledo and Northwest Ohio,” Linda added. “We have focused on community building and promoting and sharing Latino culture and artistic expression. We’ve always worked to bring communities together and give a voice to the voiceless.”

Learn More

Nuestra Gente is located at 1411 Broadway St. in Toledo. They have developed a fun video on their Youtube channel to help families learn more about the Semillitas – Little Seeds program.

To learn more about the Semillitas Program or to register your child visit www.nuestragentecommunityprojects.org or call 419-283-0581. You can also follow Nuestra Gente on Facebook to stay connected and learn more about upcoming programs and community events!

Imagination Station and Great Lakes Museum host Full STEAM Ahead

By

Sneha Kamath

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August 22, 2023

On September 9 from 10 am-5pm, Imagination Station and the Great Lakes Museum are hosting Full STEAM Ahead.

This free, back-to-school event has been made possible by a grant from the Greater Toledo Community Foundation (GTCF), which is guided by the mission to improve the quality of life in the Toledo region. Through the grant, awarded in honor of GTCF’s 50th anniversary, Imagination Station and the Great Lakes Museum are able to provide community members a day filled with learning from water-based, green learning activities.

Each museum will be contributing different activities for the day. Activities pertaining to the Great Lakes Museum will include a STEAM-based scavenger hunt and Recycled Regatta, while activities related to the Imagination Station will include repurposing materials and glass crusher demonstrations.

Museum members will have the option to enter the Great Lakes Museum and Imagination Station for free anytime from September 1-10. To learn more about Full STEAM Ahead, visit 50yearsfortoledo.com/events.