The world is getting more interested with everything Oriental - from hot Asian food recipes to good-looking chefs. One of them is Eric Chong, the first winner of "MasterChef Canada" who now owns a restaurant in collaboration with another Michelin-starred cooking master.
The "MasterChef Canada" episodes showed Chong cooking Asian-inspired dishes such as the pork belly and dumpling appetizer, the "Chinese banana split" with tempura banana and more, according to website Edmonto Sun.
During one mystery box challenge where contestants needed to make an apple pie, Chong reportedly almost backed out after severely cutting his index finger and thumb during the challenge. Determined as ever, this Asian contestant reportedly dropped out of the challenge for a while and returned with six stiches.
"I guess I was fortunate it was a mystery box and not an elimination challenge," he said in the report. "It absolutely could have been over for me."
Literally, being named as the first "MasterChef Chanda" is a result of blood, toil and tears. He won his $100,000 prize and started his own restaurant with Michelin-star chef Alvin Leung.
The Globe and Mail reported that Chong and Leung, after the former won "MasterChef Canada," opened R&D, a modern Chinese bistro located in Chinatown. He admitted he was an underdog in the show but persevered and went on to become champion.
The bistro is considered as one of the best in Toronto. A website listing said it is a "stylish bar" that welcomes guests with ornaments from the high ceiling. Its drink menu is filled with clichés and one of the most interesting drinks is the Pina Colada Bubble Tea.
"We did the majority of the R&D menu in Hong Kong and we replicated them here with Canadian ingredients," he said in the report. "Buttermilk in Hong Kong is ridiculously expensive! You can only get them in small little jars."
Chong is also chemical engineer but is able to use his scientific skills to become the master in the kitchen.
"Cooking is essentially a science," he said. "You're just mixing ingredients instead of chemicals."
Master Chef Canada winner Eric Chong at TEDx Youth@Toronto
Posted by Foreshots Photography on Saturday, November 15, 2014
