In search of a new chef for her famous Chinese restaurant, Susanna Foo is heading off to China with a delegation of business leaders in what could be one of the largest Philadelphia trade missions there.

Organized by the city's commerce department and in the works for a few years, the mission's pilgrimage includes the cities of Beijing, Dalian, Shenyang and Hefei. The purpose is to focus on trade developments, contracts and deals with the country that has more than a billion people.

Mjenzi Traylor, the deputy commerce director, will represent the city, with 13 companies and 22 participants involved.

Some of the business representatives include architectural firm Hillier; Mothers Work, the maternity clothier; Synterra Partners, a development and project management company; and the law firms of Volpe and Koenig and White and Williams.

Stephen Ching, an attorney at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel, is from Hong Kong and involved with the mission.

He sees the trip not only as a way to promote trade and good relations between China and Philadelphia, but also as a chance to promote the Chinese community here in the city.

"Philadelphia has a large Chinese population and it is growing," said Ching. "We would like to see more Chinese culture here -- Chinese opera, ballet and soap operas are very popular."

The trip is scheduled for Sept. 9-20 and according to Ching, will hit fashion week in Dalian.

"Dalian has a huge fashion industry," said Ching. "That's why the textiles companies are so interested."

He described Shenyang as the "Detroit" of China, as it is emerging as a large automobile manufacturer.

Ching doesn't think so, and referred to China as a country of a "new progressive" communism.

"China is communist in name only and only from a political point of view. The wealth over there is amazing. People are allowed to do as they choose economically. They are the new rich and have made their money in the stock market, various businesses and as venture capitalists," he said.

"There is also an exchange program in the works for doctors and nurses to learn more about medicines in each country," said Ching.

Money for Something and the Drinks Were Free

The scene resembled an ordinary happy hour. Looking around at the youngish crowd assembled at Club Halo on Locust Street last Wednesday, one would never know it was in fact a fundraiser for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed Rendell.

It was a long happy hour, mainly because Rendell didn't get there until seven and it started at 5:30. But no one seemed to mind -- the drinks were free.

When Rendell finally did arrive, he brought along Sixers' general manager Billy King.

"Out west and in the middle of the state I got 40 percent of the vote when they thought I was going to struggle to get 28 or 29 percent," Rendell said in his opening remarks. "Why? Because we were able tell them the story of the turning around of Philadelphia. So I won the primary because of what we did in Philadelphia."

But Rendell expressed concerns about what was going on in the rest of the state, problems that are not going away.

"The state's condition worsens, the deficit grows over $2 billion, there are job losses, the unemployment rate is up, 40 percent of school districts face deficit situations, and there are rising property taxes," said Rendell.

"My best calling card for the general election is, hey folks, this is a guy who has been there and done that. If he did it in Philadelphia, which is even worse than what he is going to face in Harrisburg, he can turn this state around," he said.

Alison Grove, the director of corporate and foundation relations for the Philadelphia Orchestra, organized the $100-per-person cocktail party. Others on the host committee that were chosen because of their contacts were Rebecca Shapiro, a lobbyist and president of Young American PAC, and Kelly Croce, a public relations associate at KB Consultants.

More than 300 guests showed up. Some had been Bob Casey Jr. supporters and appeared resigned to the fact that Rendell beat Casey; they let bygones be bygones despite the nasty primary fight between the two candidates.

Other former Casey-ites were not so enthused and said they were still not ready to let go.

Rendell's moneyman Herb Vederman had arrived to work the crowd before Rendell got there.

Vederman is hosting a pricey fund raiser for Rendell at his home in Longport this week; he has been busy lately because Rendell needs to raise $17 million all over again for the general election, where he will face Republican opponent Mike Fisher.

Rendell's primary money was spent on beating Casey, who is supposed to be helping Rendell raise money to beat Fisher, who had no primary opposition.

"As I walk around the city, a lot of people think the election is over and I just have to wait until January to become governor," said Rendell. "If we're complacent, we won't win."