Recently, I was invited to a very special dinner in The New World Hotel by my friend Sabrina.
This exclusive dinner by hosted Asian Food Channel, was part of their Celebrity Chef Tour for Chef Martin Tan and was held in only four countries covering Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, and Taiwan.
Derek Chang, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Scripps Networks interactive shares “Celebrity Chef Tours offer viewers real live ways to engage and interact with the Chefs and TV Hosts that is both personal and fun. ”
He is right. This evening was fun, engaging, and a great opportunity for the regular viewer at home (like me) to get to know Chef Yan a bit better not only in the kitchen, but personally as well. It was nice to be able to ask Chef questions about his restaurant in San Francisco, his kids and whether or not they are following in his footsteps for their love of food.
Martin Yan’s Taste of Asia is a show that so many people are familiar with. I think pretty much anyone who knows Chinese food, and knows about Asian Food Channel (or Food Channel back home,) knows Martin Yan because has been cooking up good food for decades.
During his time here in the city, he created an exclusive six course dinner which was set in The New World Hotel for some very special dinner guests. HOORAY FOR ME that I was one of the chosen few!
Chef Martin Yan welcomes Chef Jonas Ng of Le Jardin to the very intimate event.
I was really excited to attend this particular event because it would be something of a “mom’s night out,” for me. Some of my friends (not actually all are mommas) would be in attendance too. The good thing is, I was sure that we would have a good time together because we all like to EAT!!!
Dinner Menu
Appetizer
Pomelo and Prawn Delight
Soup
Hot and Sour Pineapple Fish Soup
Main
Trio of Seafood Fresh Rice Rolls
with 2 dipping sauces
Wok-Seared “Shaking” Beef
Char-grilled Spring Chicken over a Bed of Mixed Greens
Dessert
Sweet Jackfruit in Sago Coconut Milk
Ok…so for those of you who are not in the know… “Mom’s night out” does not actually involve drinking and partying every single time (only some times) we are together. In fact, on this particular night, “Momma’s night out” involved drinking hot water with lemon and superior knife teaching skills by none other than Chef Martin Yan himself.
Bloggers, Hot Water with Lemon Drinkers, and Ladies who like to eat! L-R: Joei of Joei and Me, me :-), Tina of The Phenomenal Mama, Sabrina of Sinfully Sabrina, and Joey of 80 Breakfasts.
Chef does not just have a knack for creating delicious food. He’s charming and techie as well!
How cute is he snapping a photo with Nicole’s daughter? Nicole blogs here.
All of the dishes that he served on this particular night were influenced from many of his travels to and from Asia. (After all, his show is “Taste of Asia.”)
Pomelo and Prawn Delight reminded me a little of my favorite Thai salad that my friend Tum taught me to make.
Martin Yan’s Taste of Vietnam is currently airing on Asian Food Channel. To learn more about his explorations while he was in Vietnam and some new dishes that are Vietnamese inspired you can catch his new show and learn more about the landscape, the people, and the heritage behind Vietnam’s best loved dishes.
Since food and lifestyle shows are really the only shows that I prefer to watch, I will try and catch this televised tour of Vietnam on Fridays at 7 pm. (4 shows will air back to back, so you can tune in any time after 7!)
Trio of Fresh Seafood Rice rolls, reminds me of the Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls that my friend Sabrina taught me how to make. I would never think of putting fish and squid in the spring roll, so this was an interesting fresh take on a dish that I have already come to love.
Hot and Sour Pineapple Fish Soup.
NOTE: Sitting in the front row as a student in a college classroom was something I was sure to do in a class that I wasn’t so interested in. It would force me to pay attention to a teacher and a subject that I wouldn’t always be so keen on learning more about. in other words, it kept me honest in the class that I would much rather sleep through.
Chef Martin Yan with host Jamie Fournier before he begins his demonstration.
BUT sitting in the front row, when a Chef like Martin Yan is demonstrating how to use a Chinese Chef’s Knife, and filet a chicken in less than 18 seconds?
That is a make shift classroom that you MAKE SURE to sit in the front row for, simply because it’s fun and exciting. Plus, if you’re lucky, you might pick up a few extra pointers in the kitchen.
Sitting in the front row has benefits.
How lucky was I, that Chef had asked for a volunteer to come up and help him prepare the Wok-Seared “Shaking” Beef? Of course, I was happy to volunteer (wink wink) not only because I was enjoying Chef Yan, but because I also enjoy putting on a show every now and then too. (Say it isn’t so…)
I learned how to proper julienne with a knife (what looked like a cleaver to me) that I would never have had the opportunity to use. I tossed and shook up some yummy beef cubes into something that my whole family would love, And I got to take a selfie with a famous chef who is talented, funny, and endearing.
Thanks for this shot Tina!
And now of course, my angle of Wok-Seared “Shaking” Beef and our “selfwe”…or is it “we-fie?”
And from my angle…
I will definitely be making this dish for the family at home.
It was quick and easy, with almost all of the ingredients being staples in my pantry! Let me know if you try to make it yourself? Take a photo and tag me please!
PS. Want to know an added bonus to the evening? Chef Yan was so impressed with my knife skills that he said he would gift me one of his very own chef knives from his collection!!! CAN YOU SAY EGGZOITED?
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Such a fun night! And I love your definition of “moms night out”!! 🙂 I made it already at home (posted about it too!)…yummy and easy 🙂