Cha Chaan Teng Cuisine, withAmy Ma and Veronica Mak
VIEW EVENT DETAILSIt's not just a meal, but a history lesson - if only you knew where to look. The story of the Hong Kong cha chaan teng ('tea restaurant') extends far beyond the restaurant walls, and deep into the core of the city's people and culture. The east-meets-west institution that began in the 1950s was a natural byproduct of postwar industrial growth. With new wealth and a desire for the good life, locals could afford only short breaks to get a taste of it. Thus was born a new type of cuisine - "soy sauce western." If ever there was a 'poster child' for the traditional cha chaan teng, Mido Caf?? would be it. Located on the corner of Temple Street, a neighborhood with a dark past of prostitution and drugs, the eatery has functioned as a sanctuary for almost 60 years. Occupying its seats were politicians, poets and gamblers alike, all finding comfort in an honest meal. Today, it is one of the most well-preserved cha chaan tengs, and a muse for movie directors around the world. Learn from acclaimed food writer Amy Ma and food anthropologist Veronica Mak the history of cha chaan teng and how its many signature dishes were created. Mido Caf?? has prepared for Asia Society members a special tasting of off-the-menu dishes; dare to try Bruce Lee's favorite raw egg yolk drink and discover how the silk trade led to the invention of chicken and chestnut stir-fry. Amy Ma is a trained chef and food writer originally from New York. Her work regularly appears in the Wall Street Journal, SCMP and HK Magazine. Veronica Mak was a long time marketing consultant for the food industry, who is now pursuing her PhD in Anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She has published a series of papers on local caf?? culture and cuisine. *Limited menu for vegetarians