GUESS which culinary icon was recently in Manila for a visit?
Yes, the title of this article says it all—it’s Chef Martin Yan, who is one of the pioneers of cooking shows on TV. A certified Master Chef, he is best known for his pioneering daily Chinese cooking show Yan Can Cook back in 1978. Now considered as a classic, the show gained popularity not only for the recipes that it presented but also for the wit of the host and the generosity of information and practical tips that he shared with his audience. So, unlike other chef-hosts of his time who faded into oblivion after some time, Chef Martin continued to flourish, especially since he was able to keep up with the times and innovate on the show, developing its format from being a simple cooking show to a culinary travelogue where he features culinary hot spots in Asia. Among the most memorable was Martin Yan’s China, a 26-part series showcasing a multi-faceted look at China yesterday and today.
Born in Guangzhou, China, he began to show interest in cooking at a young age. His father was a restaurateur, and his mother owned a grocery store. At age 13, he was already an apprentice in a popular restaurant in Hong Kong. He formalized his culinary education by enrolling at the Overseas Institute of Cookery in Hong Kong then worked on a Master of Science in Food Science degree at the UC Davis in the United States, where he became an instructor in the university’s extension program. His flair for teaching led him to teach at the Culinary Institute of America, Johnson & Wales University, The California Culinary Academy and The Chinese Cuisine Institute in Hong Kong. Then, in 1985, he founded his own Yan Can Cooking School in California, and, in 2007, he put together the Martin Yan Culinary Arts Center, a unique international academy for professional chefs in Shenzhen, China.
Aside from being a cooking show host and a culinary arts professor, Chef Martin is also a restaurateur. He has two restaurants, Yan Can and SensAsian, which offer inventive pan-Asian menus. Add to this the fact that he has authored some 30 cookbooks, including Martin Yan’s Feast, Martin Yan’s Asian Favorites, Chinese Cooking for Dummies, Martin Yan’s Quick & Easy and Martin Yan’s China.
Very active in all aspects of the culinary arts, Chef Martin Yan stars in Asian Food Channel (AFC)’s Taste of Vietnam, which is currently airing in Manila every Friday at 7:00 p.m. until November 27, 2015, on Cignal Channel 26 and Skycable Channel 22, Channel 248 (HD), and Channel 602 (outside Metro Manila). To promote the show, which is a 26-episode series that explores the breathtaking landscape, colorful history, generous hospitality and delicious dishes of Vietnam, AFC recently embarked on the Martin Yan Taste of Asia tour, which took Chef Martin and the AFC team to Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines.
During the Philippine leg of his tour, Chef Martin hosted a series of cooking demonstrations and exclusive dinner events at New World Makati Hotel’s Glasshouse. There, he engaged guests—a mix of platform partners Cignal and Skycable, corporate clients and partners, and media—in a cooking demo featuring Wok-seared “Shaking” Beef. He also treated guests to an exclusive six-course Vietnamese inner created by Chef Yan and executed with the help of the kitchen team of New World Makati Hotel.
The six-course dinner started with Pomelo and Prawn Delight as appetizer, replaced salad with Trio of Seafood Fresh Rice Rolls with Two Dipping Sauces, progressed to Hot and Sour Pineapple Fish Soup, peaked with the two main courses Wok-seared “Shaking” Beef and Char-grilled Spring Chicken Over a Bed of Mixed Greens, and winded up with Sweet Jackfruit in Sago Coconut Milk.
“The menu consists of some of my favorite dishes, which have been inspired by my personal food journey,” explains Chef Martin.
Chef Martin felt so at home in Manila, as he had been in Manila on visits many times before and his special bond with Filipinos showed with the way he interacted with everyone during his cooking demo and during dinner.
I have seen him in one of his earlier visits to Manila, but this particular visit of his would always be extra special to me because, well, he joined our media table and—what do you know?—he sat beside me. And I have a photo to show.
