Yan Can Cook - Anna's Cookbook Recommendation

Have my blog inspired you to learn cooking Chinese food? Actually there are quick, easy and healthy Chinese cooking methods that you can learn from professional Chinese chefs. Here are my most respected Chinese chefs and their cookbooks - Martin Yan and Nicholas Zhou.

Martin Yan started his culinary career in Hong Kong, so I am proud to present him first.

Before my introduction, you might have already known him from his TV Show “Yan Can Cook” – a show which has been seen in 70 countries and has won many awards. First time I saw him on TV, I was completely impressed by his professional cooking skills and great sense of humour.

Yan moved to North America and has worked in restaurants in Canada and the United States. He received a Master Chinese Chef Certification from the Ontario Restaurant Association and holds a Master’s in Food Science from the University of California Davis. Chef Yan has written numerous cookbooks and has consulted with restaurants and culinary schools throughout the country.

Among his cookbooks, the following being most popular: Martin Yan's Chinatown Cooking: 200 Traditional Recipes from 11 Chinatowns Around the World (intro by Julia Child), Martin Yan Quick and Easy, and his latest, Martin Yan's China (a cookbook that documents his travels throughout the far reaches of China, and his culinary discoveries).

Martin Yan's Bio

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Cookbook Review

Dim Sum Tea Time Special

My brother took me to a late lunch in Shatin last week. We arrived at the restaurant just after 2pm, so were entitled to special dim sum prices. You cannot imagine how low the prices were. Below are two examples. My favourite dessert Steamed Egg Custard costed even less than that from convenience stores.

Steamed Egg Custard

HK$3.8 (US$0.49)

Stir Fried Flat Noodle with Eggs and Prawns

HK$28.8 (US$3.7)

less than half price comparing to peak hour

Some readers asked me about the tea time in Hong Kong. Broadly speaking from 2pm to 6pm. However there are variations among restaurants. Dim sum restaurants usually start at 2pm. Food at this period is generally the cheapest in a day. Master your time and you can enjoy great food at greatly reduced price.

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Tea Time Dim Sum Special

Chinese Wedding Banquet

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December 5, 2009
Wedding Banquet at Harbour Plaza Metropolis Hotel, Hong Kong. The host told me that hotel wedding package included one suite for one night plus a Mercedes with driver.

Following the wedding cakes, I was invited to the wedding banquet. A typical Chinese wedding banquet has 8 courses plus noodle/rice, dessert and fruits. All guests should go home with an over-feed stomach. Usually we are not able to finish the desserts/fruits and have to take them home.

Below is a report of a classic Chinese (Cantonese) wedding banquet. Most of the dishes are available in everyday dining, however in a smaller portion while crab meat usually required advance ordering. A standard banquet table has 12 guests.

The names of the dishes are usually designed for good luck.

BBQ Piglet 鴻運乳豬全體 Stir Fried Brocolli with Scallops 翡翠花枝玉帶

Deep Fried Crab Meat 百花炸釀蟹箝
Vegetable with Dual Mushrooms
瑤柱金菰鴛鴦蔬

Abalone with Lecttuce

蠔皇福祿鮮鮑片

Shark Fin Soup with Sliced Chicken

紅燒竹笙雞絲大生翅

Steamed Garoupe 清蒸大海班

(I have chosen to enjoy the giant fish head)

Deep Fried Chicken 當紅脆皮炸子雞

Noodle 幸福伊面

Dual Dessert 美點雙輝

Wolfberries Jelly Cake / Coconut Juice Cake

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Cantonese Wedding Banquet

Chinese Wedding Cakes 中式嫁女餅

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In Chinese tradition, male has to give cakes to female has part of their engagement gifts. Female in turn distribute the cakes to her friends and relatives together with an invitation card to the wedding banquet. Hence treating friends and relatives with cakes is an official announcement of a female's wedding. So if someone ask a female 'when are you treating me cakes' implies 'when are you getting married?'

Chinese Wedding Cakes

Recently I received a dozen of Chinese Wedding Cakes. Actually the product range is quite limited. Below are some of them: top to bottom:

Millenium Egg Puff

Red Puff with Egg Yoke

Pineapple Puff

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Chinese Wedding Cakes

Sushi Dinner

We went to Tsimshatsui for Sushi dinner last night. There were several other sushi restaurants nearby at Granville Road with immediate seating. But the one we went Itamae-Sushi had a big crowd waiting. I was a little puzzled why my friend picked this particular restaurant. Until I started to eat, I knew why.

Scallops - our number One choice of the night. We can really taste the freshness and sweetness of fresh seafood - Ichiban !
Salmon - on special offer, I thought we ordered at least 10 for each of us.
Tuna - also our favourite
Peony Prawns - also Ichiban ! But slightly pricy.

Please focus on sushi only. Forget others. Sushi are the best. Everybody come here for sushi only.

Salmon and Scallop 三文魚, 帆立貝

Tuna Fish 端拿魚
Peony Prawns 牡丹蝦

Itamae-Suchi 板前夀司

14 Granville Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Tel: 852-31062846

Tsimshatsui MTR Exit B1

NOTE:

They don't take reservations. Average waiting time 30 minutes. They have a very professionally managed system. Just go there and pick a ticket, come back in 20-30 minutes and be seated. There are many shops around in that area, do some window shopping and you won't be bored while waiting.

We are all happy with the friendly waiters and efficient services and of course the excellent food.

Average expense per person HK$180 (US$23)

Hong Kong Food Blog - Japanese Sushi

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade
Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2009

I am a voluntary worker today (Nov 1) at the Wine & Dine Festival and had a chance to take these photos and present to you a slideshow as well.

There are 150 local and international wine dealers showcasing their products here. Together with the international foods, I get so excited. Guests can buy a through ticket to taste various wines and pay individually to taste all the yummy local and international food. Wine school and cooking classes available.

Hairy Crabs

Autumn is the best season for eating hairy crabs

Saucisson Aldules (French Sausages)

Look at its appearance, I don't know what this is!!
Food Slideshow

There are plenty of such wine booths at the show.

Wine Video

Hong Kong Food Blog - Wine & Dine Festival 2009

Hong Kong Chinese Food Close Up

Dear Readers,

I have recently written a e-book about Hong Kong Chinese Food. I can’t wait to introduce this to you.

8 Major Hong Kong Chinese Food Categories
· Dim sum
· Rice & Noodle
· Seafood
· Main Courses
· Hot Pot
· Spicy
· Vegetarian
· Desserts

150 Full Colour Photos of the Most Classic Chinese Dishes
· Price indication
· Restaurant suggestions
· Chinese food culture

Only US$19.95

for immediate download

For further preview and testimonials, visit my other website China Travel Golden Route.

For immediate download, click the BUY NOW button on the left hand column of this blog.

NOTE: Once you've made payment,Paypal will take you to my website China Travel Golden Route to achieve the immediate download links.

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