Chen family plans China trip

Tucked away behind Sisters Market, the Orient Express Chinese Takeout has been a part of the Sisters eatery scene for eight years. The restaurant started out inside the market and moved to its present location when the market underwent extensive renovations four years ago.

Jian Chen and his wife Xing, along with their children Noel, 15, and Allen, 10, keep the Orient Express open six days a week for lunch and dinner, reserving Sundays for rest and fishing.

Regular customers will have to put a hold on their Orient Express fix over the next three weeks while the Chen's close up shop and visit family in China. The closure is from December 12 through January 5.

The family travels back to China every four years or so, and they are especially anxious to see Xing's mother who is in her 80s. All of Xing's four siblings live in China; she is the only member of her family in America.

Chen, on the other hand, has a large extended family here. His parents and all his siblings have immigrated to the United States. Chen has been a chef for many years, working at Chan's restaurant in Bend before relocating to Sisters. He's created an American style of Chinese food to serve at the Orient Express which includes lemon chicken, a beef, chicken and vegetable combo, a spicy meat and vegetable dish, rice, noodles and soup. At home Noel said he is a purist when he cooks, never uses a recipe and prefers traditional Chinese food.

"We eat vegetables, rice, and meat or fish at every meal," she said. "Lots of rice and veggies."

Noel, a freshman at Sisters High School, often acts as the family spokesperson. She and Allen were born in Bend and are bilingual. Sisters Market owner Susan Couch noted that Noel had to grow up fast as she took on the role of interpreter. Her parents have worked at picking up the language as they go, but they admit that having a native speaker in the house is handy.

Like nearly all who end up in Sisters after living in other places, the Chen's have no plans to leave anytime soon. They appreciate the friendly, understanding community and are happy to contribute to its diversity.