Chef Martin Yan and Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Photo: TVT
After producing 30 cookbooks and hosting more than 3,000 cooking shows worldwide, celebrity chef Martin Yan has been given the highest honor of Lifetime Achievement Award. When Martin attended the 5th Annual Top 100 Chinese Restaurants USA Awards show and conference at The Rio, he told me that he would be opening his first Asian restaurant here in Las Vegas later this year at the new Tivoli Village at Queensridge in Summerlin.
I’ve known the gregarious and effervescent Master Chef since back in my former Food Network days. In addition to being chef, author and TV personality, Martin is a highly respected food consultant and an instructor for other budding kitchen stars. He owns the Yan Can and SensAsian restaurants at his San Francisco headquarters. Ever since age 13, when his mother operated a grocery store and his father ran a restaurant in Guangzhou, China, the culinary world has been Martin’s passion. His classic TV series Yan Can Cook began in 1978 (that’s 31 years ago!) with daily broadcasts, and to this day airs in more than 50 countries.
Our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman was on hand for the ceremony sponsored by the Chinese Restaurant News, which represents Chinese restaurants throughout America. Both Oscar and I were amazed by the display of ancient fruit and vegetable carving art. Chefs Moon Sari and Jimmy Zhang excelled with the artistic creations. They sculpted food into fairy tale scenes. They transformed carrots into mice, taro roots into birds and a sweet potato into a stallion.
More than 500 Chinese restaurateurs from all over the United States turned up for the presentations. This year’s top-ranked 100 winners were recognized out of nearly 44,000 Chinese restaurants across America. They were judged on regional cuisines, Asian fusion, decor, healthy menus and rising star chefs. The No. 1 winner was Koi Palace in Daly City, Calif. Las Vegas winners were Wing Lei at the Wynn for Overall Excellence and Best Local Favorite, and The Red 8 bistro, also at the Wynn, for Asian Fusion.
Martin’s Lifetime Achievement Award was in recognition of his pioneering spirit and inventiveness as an outstanding individual in improving the Chinese restaurant industry and simultaneously inspiring others.
