Saturday, January 24, 2004
His cultural influences will be the focus of his talk.
By LAURA MEYN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Chinese-American chef Martin Yan -- probably best known for his television cooking show "Yan Can Cook" -- is coming to Kent State University on Monday to give a lecture and cooking demonstration as part of the Schwebel Guest Lecture Series for the School of Family & amp; Consumer Studies' Hospitality Management program.
The lecture, which will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Kent State University Student Center Ballroom, is free and open to the public, thanks to the support of Youngstown's Schwebel Baking Co. Reservations are recommended, though not required.
Yan's lecture is titled "The Asian Cuisine: A World of Opportunities." According to Dr. Mary Dellmann-Jenkins, director of Kent's School of Family & amp; Consumer Studies, Yan's lecture will focus on "how the Chinese culture has influenced his career." She added that Yan will augment "the audience's appreciation of ingredients and culinary techniques used in the preparation of Chinese and Asian foods, as well as increase the audience's knowledge base of Asian Culture."
Stage
Yan will be working on an elevated area of the stage, and television monitors will give attendees a better view of him as he demonstrates his art. Immediately following the lecture, Yan will be available to sign copies of his cookbook, which, along with his brand of knives, will be for sale on site.
A reception will feature several of Yan's recipes, including such appetizers as Bean Curd Seaweed Wraps, Cookie Cutter Fish, Precious Pearly Rice Balls and Star Studded Toast. (For these recipes and more by Yan, visit his Web site at www.yancancook.com.)
But the energetic chef won't stop with the lecture, demonstration, and reception. Yan will conduct a second cooking demonstration on the campus of Kent State University, in the Eastway dining hall, from approximately 5:45 to 7 p.m. This second demonstration will also be open to students and the public.
Dellmann-Jenkins describes Yan as "very approachable" and notes that he has planned to be very generous with his time while visiting Kent. While on campus, in addition to his scheduled lecture and cooking demonstrations, Yan will meet with Kent State University officials, and speak to students in the hospitality management program.
Biographical
Yan, who was born in China, initially worked as a chef's apprentice in both China and Hong Kong before coming to North America, where he worked in several restaurants. Yan's formal culinary education includes a master's degree in food science from the University of California at Davis, and certification as a Master Chinese Chef from the Ontario Restaurant Association. Yan was also awarded an honorary coctorate from Johnson and Wales University.
Yan's first cooking show, "Yan Can Cook," won three awards, including a Daytime Emmy in 1998, and two prestigious James Beard awards: one in 1994 for Best TV Cooking Show, and a second in 1996 for Best TV Journalism. Seen in more than 70 countries, "Yan Can Cook" is among the world's most watched cooking shows, reaching about a billion viewers.
To date, Yan has hosted more than 1,800 cooking shows. His latest cooking show, "Martin Yan's Chinatowns," is broadcast on Cleveland station WVIZ TV-25 on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. The show lends its topic and title to Yan's most recent cookbook, which includes a personal and exuberant introduction penned by Julia Child, who spent time in China before her own cooking show career evolved. "Martin Yan's Chinatowns" is among the author's ten best-selling cookbooks.
Restaurants
In addition to his cooking shows and cookbooks, Yan has opened seven Yan Can Fresh Asian Cooking restaurants in California over the past year and a half, and he is also a popular food consultant and professional instructor.
To make a reservation to attend Yan's free lecture and cooking demonstration at Kent State, contact Darlene Contrucci at 330-672-2197 or via e-mail at dcontruc@kent.edu.