Martin Yan Professions : Chef Born : December 22, 1948 Browse All Authors Top 37 quotes by Martin Yan At thirteen, when I arrived in Hong Kong after leaving China, I made a living by working in a restaurant. Martin Yan hong-kong restaurants leaving I remember when I was in college, I used to watch Julia Child's cooking show during dinner and joke with my roommates about becoming a TV chef. Martin Yan cooking college children The problem with a lot of Chinese is that they put up divisions between Taiwanese, Hong Kong natives, mainlanders. We are never united. I really hope that the Chinese can be more united. Martin Yan hong-kong chinese division A lot of people don't enjoy their job, they may even hate it, but I am lucky enough to be able to make a living through my passion. Martin Yan passion hate jobs The hoopla, the applause, the praises have never excited me. Martin Yan applause excited praise When you have a good stock, you can make a good soup. Martin Yan soup Anyone that has come to America past the age of eighteen will be able to understand when I say that you can never shake your accent. Martin Yan age america past Chinese culture has a lot of virtues that are tremendously valuable to not only us as Asian-Americans, but also the world in general. Martin Yan chinese asian culture When you enjoy what you do, work becomes play. Martin Yan enjoy play work Well, you know, if you get into the profession because you think you can make a lot of money, you can never become successful. Martin Yan money successful thinking I live a very low-key life. Martin Yan keys lows life I enjoy the quiet life. Martin Yan introvert quiet life The only thing that counts is if you know how to prepare your ingredients. Even if with the best and freshest ingredients in the world, if your dish is tasteless or burnt, it's ruined. Martin Yan dishes ingredients world I also have a lot of preserved foods, things that will keep for a long time like dried fish, seaweed or lotus seed. Martin Yan fish-tanks time long Because normally with Western cuisine, you'll serve vegetables separate from the meat, so kids will eat the meat and never touch the vegetables. Martin Yan meat vegetables kids I think being famous is more of a hindrance, a constraint, than just letting yourself be free. Martin Yan constraints fame thinking I've never considered myself a celebrity or even part of the entertainment business. I'm a cooking teacher. Martin Yan cooking business teacher Similar Authors Bryant Terry chef Alice Waters chef Auguste Escoffier chef Art Smith chef April Bloomfield chef Anthony Bourdain chef All Authors