The community is in charge of their own canteen! An election for the new contractor of the elderly canteen in Cuiyuan District One, Hangzhou, was held this year in April.

The canteen was closed for several months. It was then put into trial operation at the end of April and officially opened on May 8.

It has been 17 years since the first community canteen for the elderly in Hangzhou was completed in Cuiyuan District One in 2003.

The development of a canteen for the elderly during the last 17 years is also a microcosm of the democratic autonomy at the grassroots level.

Boss Wang: to make money, but not the money of senior citizens

It was the first time for bidding since the operation of the canteen.

Wang Youyin, the least eloquent and the most simple, finally won the vote with the support of the community.

Wang, 45, said he would like to devote his heart for love, filial piety, and determination.

The bamboo shoots in the Yuxiang shredded pork was pointed out a little unpalatable while the "picky" residents supervise every day

Aunt Gu, 78-year-old, is adept for cooking. During the trial operation, aunt Gu ordered Yuxiang shredded pork and home-made tofu in particular.

"I had a taste. It's good, but I don't care much about the material of Yuxiang shredded pork where there are too many unpalatable bamboo shoots."

"Picky" aunt Gu and the other three resident representatives were members of the canteen meal supervision team established this time.

Zhang Aimin, Secretary of Cuiyuan District One claimed that residents of the community are supposed to "advice publicly, comment publicly and discuss publicly". The criteria are also applied for the elderly canteen. "Whether the winning company is qualified has to be tested for 3 to 6 months. To keep on or not depends on the community residents".

It is observed that the senior citizens play a big role in the canteen every day from 10:30 to 11:30 in the morning while the young mothers and office workers are the main clients afterward.

Wang Youyin's business idea is that with the relatively low rent here, it is available to develop some fried yet affordable dishes aimed at young people as little profile is squeezed from elder clients.

To put it into practice, Wang recruited two chefs from famous restaurants devoted to Hangzhou cuisine like Grandmother's House, both of whom were experienced teachers for one or two decades. The taste can be guaranteed.

The current canteen for the elderly is an updated version

Nowadays, the canteens for the elderly has blossomed in every community in Hangzhou. Having been developed from satisfying the basic needs of the senior citizens to offering cuisines in good quality for more than one decade, the canteen has counted as one of the brightest service brands in the community.

(Compiled by Xu Yuhong)