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Tony Hu is a celebrity chef, restauranteur, culinary teacher, and community server. In 1989, Tony Hu graduated from The Culinary Institute of Sichuan, the first culinary institute in China. Later in 1993, Chef Tony immigrated to the U.S. as a special technician and established himself in Chicago. Starting in 1998, Chef Tony formed Tony Gourmet Group that houses famous restaurants, including Lao Sze Chuan, Lao Beijing, Lao Shanghai, and more recently Lao You Ju Restaurant & Lounge.

Chef Tony’s primary goal is to promote Chinese culinary culture and to Chicago Chinatown. He has been successively interviewed and reported on by numerous main stream media such as ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN, FOX, and “Check Please” on WTTW; Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Magazine, New York Sun Times, Time Out Chicago, World Journal, Singtao Daily, People’s Daily (Ren Min Ri Bao), Sichuan Daily, Western China City Daily, Hunan TV, etc. In addition, Chef Tony has been invited as a special instructor to teach Chinese cuisine on Channel 13 for over two years and was also invited to lecture at Chicago City Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, Beijing Chef Association, Sichuan International Food Festival, Northwestern University, The Culinary Institute of Sichuan, etc. to present Chinese cuisine and Chinese culture. Chef Tony has also been actively participating and supporting the Anti-Hunger Federation, Chicago Gourmet, Children’s Memorial Research Hospital and other meaningful fund raising events in the community and has also organized many community events in Chicagoland. Chef Tony is also one of the Ambassador Chefs of Chicago and has visited Europe to promote Chinese cuisine and to present Chicago in 2009. His restaurants have received many awards such as “The Best Chinese Restaurant”, “The Most Authentic Chinese Food”, one of the “Top Ten Chinese Restaurant in the U.S.” and the “International Famous Chinese Restaurant”, etc.

Located at the same Chinatown complex with other Laos, Lao You Ju is a new concept restaurant and lounge that delivers guests an extraordinary dining atmosphere with superior service. Just like its name defines, Lao You Ju is a place for “Friends to gather up”; all luxurious experiences at a reasonable price. By offering delicious tasting Chinese Tapas, Lao You Ju significantly differentiates itself from other Chinese restaurants. Extensive popular Chinese food and well prepared cocktails make Lao You Ju a perfect place to go in Chinatown.

Asides from his restaurants, Chef Tony also devotes a large amount of his time to community services. He is the current President of the Chinese American Association of the Greater Chicago (the largest non-profit Chinese organization in Chicago), The President of Southwest Chinese Association, the Vice President of the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, the VP of Chengdu Oversea Exchanges Association, the Commissioner of the Youth Committee of PRC Overseas Chinese Affairs, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Chinatown Special Events Committee. Because Chef Tony’s tremendous contribution to his community and the promotion of Chinese culinary culture, he has received many personal awards such as the Asian Hall of Fame, Citi Bank Heritage Award, International Master Chef for Chinese Cuisine by the World Association of Chinese Cuisine, etc. Moreover, Chef Tony has been awarded the 2nd Annual MLK Business Leader Award of 2010, one of the “Top Ten Chinese Entrepreneurs of Chicago”, the Oversea Dissemination Ambassador of Chengdu City of Gastronomy Association, The Influential Chef to Promote Asian Cuisine, and he has been on magazine covers and has been the feature story for the World Chinese Weekly and the Chinese Restaurant News.