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

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

As long as the food is well prepared and not overdone, I think it tastes good. It doesn't matter if it's Chinese, Japanese, anything.
Martin Yan

At thirteen, when I arrived in Hong Kong after leaving China, I made a living by working in a restaurant.
Martin Yan

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

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

First of all, I can't really claim to be a great chef.
Martin Yan

Happiness is within. It has nothing to do with how much applause you get or how many people praise you. Happiness comes when you believe that you have done something truly meaningful.
Martin Yan

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

I am just a normal professional with a great job and a great life.
Martin Yan


I can represent my culture while helping not only the Chinese-American community, but also the community at large.
Martin Yan

I don't like to waste anything. Any food left over from the night before is always eaten the next day.
Martin Yan

I enjoy the quiet life.
Martin Yan

I have a lot of cooking tools. In fact I have a whole drawer full of knives. Cooking tools, especially cutlery, are my toys.
Martin Yan

I live a very low-key life.
Martin Yan

I normally don't eat junk food.
Martin Yan

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

I think a lot of times it's not money that's the primary motivation factor; it's the passion for your job and the professional and personal satisfaction that you get out of doing what you do that motivates you.
Martin Yan

I think being famous is more of a hindrance, a constraint, than just letting yourself be free.
Martin Yan

I've never considered myself a celebrity or even part of the entertainment business. I'm a cooking teacher.
Martin Yan