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

Martin Yan

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Martin Yan
Age: 75
Born: 1948
Born: December 22
Businessperson
Chef
Canton
Restaurant
Restaurants
Leaving
China
Working
Hong
Living
Kong
Made
Thirteen
Arrived

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I can represent my culture while helping not only the Chinese-American community, but also the community at large.
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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.
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Why is America such a great country. It is because we stand united.
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I think being famous is more of a hindrance, a constraint, than just letting yourself be free.
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I have a lot of cooking tools. In fact I have a whole drawer full of knives. Cooking tools, especially cutlery, are my toys.
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First of all, I can't really claim to be a great chef.
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Well, you know, if you get into the profession because you think you can make a lot of money, you can never become successful.
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When I retire or pass away, I will be able to look back and say that this has been an exciting life. That's all that matters.
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I've never considered myself a celebrity or even part of the entertainment business. I'm a cooking teacher.
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Because normally with Western cuisine, you'll serve vegetables separate from the meat, so kids will eat the meat and never touch the vegetables.
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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.
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I enjoy the quiet life.
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You don't have to show people how successful you are.
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The problem with a lot of Chinese is that they put up divisions between Taiwanese, Hong Kong natives, mainlanders. We are never united. I really hope that the Chinese can be more united.
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Some people never contribute anything positive to society, they may even drain our resources, but most of us try to do something better, to give back.
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Just like if you were brought up on a farm, you would most likely carry on your father's business as a farmer I was brought up in the kitchen and ended up becoming a chef.
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I live a very low-key life.
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Soy sauce is really a multi-purpose seasoning.
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I am just a normal professional with a great job and a great life.
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