Chef Martin Yan at Little Asia

MANILA, Philippines -  Chef Martin Yan had dinner in Little Asia’s Lucky Chinatown branch recently, hosted by LA owner-manager Charlemagne Lim and his siblings Charlson and Charlynn. With them was the staff of Asian Food Channel (AFC).

“I told Martin that our velvet prawns with caramelized nuts dish came from his cookbook and I made him try it.  He told me to put ‘Martin Yan’s Velvet Prawns’ on our menu,” said Charlemagne. “He taught Charlson and me some cooking secrets and how to run a restaurant. After our dinner, he was so impressed with our food that he signed our three cookbooks.”  

On one, he wrote, “To Little Asia, good food, good service, a place to be.” And on another, “Delicious food, marvelous restaurant, beautiful people.” On still another cookbook, “Good food, good luck.” He was referring to the new LA branch in Lucky Chinatown which was opened last Aug. 15.  

Martin invited Charlemagne to his new restaurant in San Francisco called My China (located on the 4th floor of Nordstrom San Francisco Center). Charlemagne has just come back from Sanfo.

“I got some new recipes which I will put on our menu,” said Charlemagne.  

(Little Asia has outlets in Tomas Morato, Quezon City [call 373-0609/410-4937], Greenhills Promenade [727-5265], Fort Bonifacio [798-0354] and Lucky Chinatown [720-9063]. For delivery, call 8-7878; for delivery, 0917-8334223.)