Dr. Martin Yan, the person who brought Chinese cooking culture into American mainstream society was employed as an advisor for UIC Food Science Progam. On November 13th afternoon, Dr. Martin Yan signed contract with UIC Vice-President Prof. ZEE Sze Yong, and gave a speech on the latest development of catering business around the world.
Dr. Yan said his social network could help make UIC's Food Science program a world-class program, which would be especially beneficial for UIC graduates.
Subsequently, Dr. Martin Yan delivered a wonderful speech, attracting a big audience. Firstly, He showed how he had gotten involved in catering business with a video play. Secondly, he made a brief introduction about how customer oriented cooking took the place of purely taste oriented cooking. Thirdly, He talked about close relationship between food and people's lives on four aspects including market competitiveness, health diet, life arts and environmental awareness, which drew audience closer to catering and widened their horizons. Lastly, He encouraged students whose major were Food Science to develop well-rounded quality and become a devoted, passionate and excellent person by sharing his own experience. His humorous speech style won a lot of applause.
Students were active in asking questions. Certain student wondered whether chefs had responsibilities of telling customers about the use of endangered animals in cooking. Professor Martin Yan appreciated students' environmental concern and said, it was a global issue and chefs should refuse making use of unsustainable foodstuff in cooking.
Concerning how to promote Chinese catering culture to all over the world, he emphasized that localization should be taken into consideration in developing Chinese cooking internationally. Another student asked about how to win her parents' approvals when they had partiality against catering business. Dr. Yan quoted an old Chinese saying: "One may distinguish himself in any trade" in response to encourage students to achieve their own goals bravely.
At the ceremony, he sent seven of his cooking books to UIC. Coordinator of Food Science Program Professor Pan Yuqiong, Visiting Associate Professor of Science and Technology Division Zhan Zhanhuo were also in attendance.
Written by Huang Shanqing, Hu Xizhi
Edited by Richard Xu
Photo by Yang Yixin, Liu Feng
Media and Communication Office
