Martin Yan
Encyclopedia
Martin Yan is a Chinese
-born American
chef
and the host of the award-winning cooking show Yan Can Cook
.
, Guangdong
, China
, Yan was born in Guangzhou
, Guangdong
, China
, to a restaurateur
father and a grocer
mother, Yan began to cook at 12. He moved to Hong Kong
when he was 13, and attended the Munsang College
in Kowloon City. During this time in Munsang College, he worked at his uncle's Chinese restaurant and learned about the traditional method of Chinese barbecue there. He received a diploma from the Overseas Institute of Cookery of Hong Kong and later left for Canada
for continued study. Ten years after his arrival in North America, Yan received a Master of Science degree
in food science
from University of California, Davis
, in 1975.
talk show
in 1978 (on CFAC-TV, now CICT-TV
). He has hosted over 1,500 episodes of the PBS cooking shows Yan Can Cook since 1982. His shows have been broadcast in over 50 countries. He currently hosts Martin Yan - Quick & Easy
. He also hosts Martin Yan's Chinatown Cooking where he tours Chinatown
s around the globe as well as "Martin Yan's Hidden China."
Yan has opened a chain of Yan Can restaurants and founded the Yan Can International Cooking School in the San Francisco Bay Area
. He has written over two dozen cookbooks. The American Culinary Federation
has designated him a Master Chef.
Yan is one of the lead actors of the Hong Kong film
Rice Rhapsody
(海南雞飯, 2005).
He has appeared as a guest judge on several episodes of Iron Chef America
and appeared on the cartoon talk show Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
and the host of the award-winning cooking show Yan Can Cook
Yan Can Cook
Yan Can Cook is a Chinese cuisine cooking show starring Martin Yan that featured recipes for stirfrys and other traditional Chinese meals. Martin had a catchphrase, "If Yan can cook, so can you!", with which he used to sign off each show...
.
Early years and education
With ancestral roots in KaipingKaiping
Kaiping : Hoi3 Pen6) or Hoi Ping is a county-level city in Guangdong Province, southern China. It has a population of 680,000 as of 2003 and an area of 1,659 km². The locals speak a variation of the Taishan dialect.-Administration:...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Yan was born in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, to a restaurateur
Restaurateur
A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of the restaurant business.-Etymology:The word...
father and a grocer
Grocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
mother, Yan began to cook at 12. He moved to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
when he was 13, and attended the Munsang College
Munsang College
Munsang College is an EMI Hong Kong college founded by Mr. Au Chak Mun , Mr. Mok Kon Sang and Dr. Ts'o Seen Wan in 1926. It has 6 houses: Love, Tak, Chi, Tai, Kwan, May.-Mission statement:...
in Kowloon City. During this time in Munsang College, he worked at his uncle's Chinese restaurant and learned about the traditional method of Chinese barbecue there. He received a diploma from the Overseas Institute of Cookery of Hong Kong and later left for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for continued study. Ten years after his arrival in North America, Yan received a Master of Science degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in food science
Food science
Food science is a study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork"...
from University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
, in 1975.
Career
Yan began teaching Chinese cooking for a college extension program and appearing on a Canadian, CalgaryCalgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
in 1978 (on CFAC-TV, now CICT-TV
CICT-TV
CICT-DT is a Canadian television station, licensed to and serving Calgary, Alberta. It is owned by Shaw Media, and is an owned-and-operated station of the Global Television Network...
). He has hosted over 1,500 episodes of the PBS cooking shows Yan Can Cook since 1982. His shows have been broadcast in over 50 countries. He currently hosts Martin Yan - Quick & Easy
Martin Yan - Quick & Easy
Martin Yan – Quick & Easy is a Canadian culinary television program produced for Food Network Canada and hosted by Martin Yan. Yan has had other celebrity chefs on his show, like Christine Cushing....
. He also hosts Martin Yan's Chinatown Cooking where he tours Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
s around the globe as well as "Martin Yan's Hidden China."
Yan has opened a chain of Yan Can restaurants and founded the Yan Can International Cooking School in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. He has written over two dozen cookbooks. The American Culinary Federation
American Culinary Federation
The American Culinary Federation was established in 1929 and is the largest professional chefs' organization in North America.ACF, which was the progeny of the combined visions of three chefs' associations in New York, comprises more than 22,000 members in 230 chapters across the United States,...
has designated him a Master Chef.
Yan is one of the lead actors of the Hong Kong film
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
Rice Rhapsody
Rice Rhapsody
Rice Rhapsody is a 2005 film directed by Kenneth Bi. The cast includes Sylvia Chang and Martin Yan. Jackie Chan was one of the executive producers....
(海南雞飯, 2005).
He has appeared as a guest judge on several episodes of Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
and appeared on the cartoon talk show Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.
Television appearances
- Yan Can CookYan Can CookYan Can Cook is a Chinese cuisine cooking show starring Martin Yan that featured recipes for stirfrys and other traditional Chinese meals. Martin had a catchphrase, "If Yan can cook, so can you!", with which he used to sign off each show...
(1978— ) - Host - Christine Cushing LiveChristine Cushing LiveHosted by Christine Cushing, Christine Cushing Live was a completely live cooking show that featured live call-in questions and guests from the world of food and entertainment. The series aired live weeknights at 6 p.m. EST on Food Network Canada and repeated daily at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST. The...
- Guest - Space Ghost Coast to CoastSpace Ghost Coast to CoastSpace Ghost Coast to Coast is an American animated parody talk show hosted by the 60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Space Ghost. The show premiered on April 15, 1994 on Cartoon Network...
- Guest - Martin Yan's Hong Kong (2005–2007) - Host
- Martin Yan's Quick and Easy - Host
- Martin Yan's Chinatown Cooking - Host
- Martin Yan's China (2008) - host
- Iron Chef AmericaIron Chef AmericaIron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
(2011) - Judge - Food CourtFood courtA food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
(2011) Hong Kong Cable TV - Tutor / Host
Cookbooks
- Chinese Recipes (1978)
- The Joy of WokWokA wok is a versatile round-bottomed cooking vessel originating in China. It is used especially in East and Southeast Asia.Woks are most often used for stir frying, but can also be used in other Chinese cooking techniques, such as in steaming, deep frying, braising, stewing, smoking, or making soup...
king (1978) - Martin Yan's Feast: The Best of Yan Can Cook
- Chinese Cooking for Dummies
- Martin Yan's Asian Favorites
- Martin Yan's Quick and Easy
- Martin Yan's Chinatowns
- Martin Yan's Culinary Journey Through China
- Martin Yan's Asia
- Martin Yan's Entertainment At-Home
- Martin Yan the Chinese Chef
- Martin Yan's Invitation to Chinese Cooking
- Martin Yan's Feast
Awards
- An honorary Doctorate of Culinary Arts by Johnson & Wales UniversityJohnson & Wales UniversityJohnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, co-educational, career-oriented university with four campuses located throughout the United States. Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is home to JWU's first and largest of four currently operating campuses. Founded as a business school in 1914, by...
- A Daytime Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in 1998 for best cooking show - A 1996 James Beard Award for Best TV Food Journalism
- A 1994 James Beard Award for Best TV Cooking Show
- The Antonin Careme Award by the Chef's Association of the Pacific Coast
- The Courvoisier Leadership Award by CourvoisierCourvoisierCourvoisier is a brand of cognac owned by Beam Inc.. The production is now based in the town of Jarnac in the Charente department of France...
- 2008 Picnic Day (UC Davis)Picnic Day (UC Davis)Picnic Day is an annual open house event held in April at the University of California, Davis. Picnic Day was first held on May 22, 1909. It has grown to be what is believed to be the largest student-run event in the United States, typically drawing more than 50,000 visitors. In 2009, around...
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