Singing Pandas

During a brief chance encounter in an office with Sherri (in a very classy black and white dress) her partner Mike asked, “Have you been to the singing Pandas?” Why no, we had not. After a few words about how Sherri was a famous singer in China and how we had done business in her home town and what about this and that, we were graciously invited to a most enchanted evening at the Singing Pandas restaurant.

After searching for the right location, Sherri bought a run down taco shop in burgeoning

Panda team

downtown Chandler, a driver away from San Marcos Golf Course with the idea of singing and sharing family recipes. In China, she worked 350 days a year singing; kids work hard in China. She also worked to perfect her English and is very proud to have earned her American citizenship “the hard way.”

Mike was a traveling singer. When he realized he had earned 2.2m airline miles he figured it was enough. He found the first bar in Scottsdale and told the owner George he wanted to sing there. George said, “Try Friday night.” That’s how he and Sherri met.

Now Sherri takes orders in the same tee shirt as her staff but giving pats on the shoulders, and a warm owner’s welcome. On Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays when the dinner plates are served, she does a costume change while Mike is warming the audience up.

On our Tuesday visit he began appropriately with Traveling Man, by Ricky Nelson. Joel the bartender brings a new drink, a very big, cold Manhattan for a rendition of Dean Martin’s “Everybody Loves Somebody.” He caters to Canadians, with a joke about Dean drinking Canada Dry. The generally older crowd is back in their wheelhouse.

The food is oh so good. Flavor combinations were tested and tweaked for diverse American palates. Pick chicken, shrimp or beef to switch out in any of the Mandarin and Cantonese menu items. If you want something really spicy, ask for it. Just 16 months old, they’ve nailed the cuisine. We loved the Mongolian Beef and Szechuan. Top of the line meats and

Wine, food, fun

produce are as important as the sauce recipes. Prices are very reasonable, there is no coverage charge and the show is priceless.

Mike changes jackets and hats from a rack, playing Buddy Holly, The Blues Brothers and Elvis, “Don’t be cruel.” He asks, “Has anybody seen Elvis live?” There were proud hands raised. He rewards with “Blue Suede Shoes.” His jacket is in blue sequins as he shares the story of how Liberace told Elvis, “You need some bling.” The customers eat it up, and love it, like the food.

His Johnny Cash rendition, all in black, “Stuck in Folsom Prison,” reminded us of visiting the Cash home in Jamaica. The audience pumped their fists and sang along to “Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good, so good, so good!! “

But the real Singing Panda is of course Sherri who strolls out in a sparkly, strappy red dress to kill. And her voice really could. Wow!!!! Her Taiwanese opener she explained was a sad song about lost love but she sings it lively, “For if he leaves, it is an opportunity, I get another lover.”

Sherri sings to Jake

Little Jake, around 5 years old was called up for a Chinese love song. Embarrassed at first and then rocking, he loved her hugs and left the stage absolutely enthralled. She told him, “I will wait for you Jake for 20 years.” This kid will NEVER forget his evening with Sherri, nor will we.

Sherri sang her idol, Whitney Houston’s song, “Saving all my love for you.”  She shared the Mandarin translation of I love you, pronounced, “Wah ah knee.” They love when the customers sing along. Maryanne, a guest singer from Vegas belted her Liza Minelli version of “Life is a Cabaret.” It’s a cabaret in Chandler today. Sundays you can sing along with Jared. They say, “Call a couple days ahead and we’ll have any special music you want.”

Wah ah knee, Singing Pandas!

757 E Chandler Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85225, phone (480) 777-5050

 

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