It seemed like they had been working on the building across from Visart in Carrboro forever. Located at 301 East Main, for as long as I can remember it was home to the offices of IPAS, an organization devoted to insuring women's reproductive rights all over the world. So it came as quite a surprise when the walls began to tumble and debris began to pile up in a huge dumpster in front of the property. A banner strung in front heralded the eventual arrival of Gourmet Kingdom - Super Chinese Buffet. Months passed after the contract was signed last November and demolition was well under way when partner He Qiang Chen realized he had put his faith, as well as his money, into an unscrupulous out-of-state contractor. The contractor had taken Chen's money and run. Undaunted by the unexpected delay, Chen searched for a new contractor to finish the job. What he had hoped would be an April opening was delayed again and again as they worked to get the renovations finished, their licenses approved, their inspections completed, and their doors open at long last. It was worth the wait. What a transformation it has been! A new look has been fashioned across the front of 301, with several archways for windows replacing concrete block. The once drab walls and mundane metal office desks typical of corporate entities have been replaced by warm and welcoming booths and shining buffet tables, with Gourmet Kingdom open for business on July 29, 2004. In addition to the main dining room there are two smaller, private dining rooms in the rear of the building, one for smokers. This is a big place! Both He Qiang Chen and chef Gen Biao Lu are from the Fujian Province of China. The Fujian style of cooking is one of China's eight major cuisines. Childhood friends, Chen moved to New York nearly 20 years ago, then to the Greensboro area 5 years ago, where he started a very successful restaurant. From there he began scouting a new restaurant location around here. He was surprised to learn that there were so few buffet style Chinese restaurants in the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area. He planned to change that. Chef Lu also moved to New York when he first came to America, where he remained for 5 years. He then moved to Colorado where he lived for another than 5 years, working as a chef. Lu then decided Los Angeles was better suited for his talents. Following in his father's footsteps, Lu honed his culinary skills back in China at the Fujian Cooking School. Over the years he has mastered countless recipes, as well as developing his own. When Chen contacted him about his new restaurant in Carrboro, Lu decided to take the plunge and move south, becoming a partner in this new endeavor. Here he is more than just the chef, he is an owner. Gourmet Kingdom is different from most Chinese restaurants. They have nutritionist Dr. Shin-Pei Yang as a consultant, advising them on healthy ways to prepare their food. MSG isn't used in any of their dishes. As a result of feedback from their Carrboro customers, they have begun offering a wider variety of vegetarian fare. Their goal is to find out what their customers want and fulfill their requests. On any given day more than 100 selections are offered on the buffet during their lunch and dinner hours. Chef Lu prides himself on offering new and different items, as well as the typical Chinese fare. Gourmet Kingdom offers a variety of selections including soups, salads, sushi, seafood, sauces, and even a hibachi grill for grilled to order vegetables and meats. Soon they will offer kabobs, cooked to order. Their salad bar isn't just iceberg lettuce. They also offer fresh mixed greens. Rather than the run of the mill "ice cream" machines most Chinese buffets offer, Gourmet Kingdom offers 6 varieties of real ice cream, like you get at an ice cream shop. It's this attention to detail that keeps a steady crowd of hungry diners streaming through their doors. Chef Lu will be introducing new buffet items over the next several months, insuring that a trip to their restaurant will always be a new and exciting culinary adventure. Currently Gourmet Kingdom has seating for 200 people and is open from 11 am until 10 pm on weekdays, and 11 am until 11 pm on weekends. Stop by and see for yourself what a real gourmet Chinese buffet is all about. Home | Overview | About Us | Ads | Art | Businesses | Carrboro and Area Stuff | Carrboro Map | Computer Stuff | Downtown Carrboro Map | Events | Prices | Restaurants | UniqueOrn Enterprises