By Jean Issler

The Gourmet House not only serves delicious food, its owners serve up friendly smiles and consistently good service every day of the week.

Adam and Cora Chan opened the Chinese restaurant in Holdrege in the winter of 1994. Twenty years ago, it seemed a novelty to Holdrege residents as there was no exotic cuisine in town. Gourmet House is now a fixture in the community, frequented by residents and visitors as they pass through on Highway 183.

The menu includes the expected beef, chicken, seafood and pork entrees. Vegetarians need not be shy as there are vegetable-only versions of Lo Mein, Chow Mein, and Moo Shu. There is also an eight-item vegetable entrée called Buddha's Deluxe.

Tasty soups and appetizers are customer favorites and are often ordered as a meal. Family Dinners offer two or more diners a nice variety of soups, appetizers and entrées.

Gourmet House is open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Adam said the consistent hours make it easy for customers to remember. The only exception is when the Chans go on vacation.

"I take a month vacation because I work seven days a week," said Adam. He and Cora have no plans to change that schedule, even now at ages 72 and 68, respectively. "I will work until something with my health changes. As long as I am healthy, I will work," he said.

Adam and Cora wait on customers and have made a concerted effort over the years to learn at least the first names of all the regulars. Regular or not, when a customer enters the restaurant, he or she is greeted with a happy hello and an invitation to choose a booth or table.

Cora is especially good at remembering customer preferences, such as "no mushrooms, please".

Gourmet House does a good business in take-out. Adam said 30 to 40 percent of sales are for take-out orders.

He is usually buzzing about taking orders and serving food, but if he has a moment, he likes to chat. He talks about his life in China. He lived in Hong Kong and worked in his mother's restaurant from the time he was a small boy.

At age 19, he decided he was tired of the kitchen and joined the police force. He said his 26 years on the force were very busy since Hong Kong is such a large city.

In 1987, Adam and Cora immigrated to San Francisco in order to follow their children. They have two sons in San Francisco and a daughter in Sacramento, CA and five grandchildren. Adam's mother had also lived in the United States for some time.

In San Francisco, Adam was on the housekeeping staff of Parc 55, a large hotel of 1060 rooms, for five years. The next stop was Holdrege where they have been ever since.

Adam has done quite a bit of commuting, though. Besides Gourmet House, he opened two Japanese restaurants, one in North Platte and one in Kearney. As each establishment become viable, he sold them to employees.

He said he does not have any plans to open more businesses. "Lots of time," he said, "lots to do, lots of gray hairs."

The Holdrege restaurant has never lacked for attention. Adam has done remodeling work himself. Decorations and amenities are kept up to date and the restaurant is always clean and tidy.

Gourmet House is open every day, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It is located at 1503 Burlington, just north of Holdrege Market Place. Take-out orders can be called in to 308-995-6980