Martin Yan '95 HDR

Martin Yan, of PBS's famed "Yan Can Cook," took time from his busy traveling and filming schedule to address 400 J&W students at our Denver Campus as a Distinguished Visiting Chef in April. Yan demonstrated knife skills and food preparation, and spoke about his life in the culinary industry.

Growing up in China, Yan began cooking in a restaurant at the young age of 13 in order to support himself, and cooked for a part-time job in high school. He traveled to the U.S. to attend college at the University of California-Davis, studying science. Yet his love of culinary arts overruled, and he made his passion his career.

"Food is only part of the experience in a restaurant," he said. "[Creating] the serving plate is an art, and you must have attention to detail," Yan told the gathering as he demonstrated techniques for decorating food. While displaying his incredible knife skills, using only one knife-- a Chinese cleaver-- the master chef and internationally recognized television personality put together three dishes: walnut chicken stir-fry, smoked shrimp salad, and pepper beef.

Recounting his experiences in the hospitality industry, Yan emphasized the role of leadership in his business. "When you are in this business, you will not be able to do everything yourself, " Yan said of the importance of delegating work and responsibility in order to complete tasks.

He followed his two-hour presentation with a question and answer session for the students, as well as a book signing. Copies of some of Yan's 27 cookbooks were available in the University bookstore, and lecture attendees bought out the entire inventory.

"Martin Yan's commitment to the culinary industry, and undying passion for educating people about culinary arts are what made his presentation spectacular," said Matt Smith '99, Johnson & Wales University's Community Leadership Institute director. "He is an amazing chef, and his culinary skill is impeccable. But the real meat to his presentation was learning how he personally developed his career. "Many chefs and business presenters charge a significant speaking fee to come to a college campus, but Martin donated his time to educate students."