Bay Area Bites: You travel often. Where are we with appreciation for other cuisine in the U.S.?
Yan: There are 54,000 Chinese restaurants in the U.S. and then another 15,000 Asian restaurants. By common sense, there is supply if there is demand. You see more and more sushi. Thirty years ago there was not a lot of sushi places and even 40 years ago the fishermen would not eat their raw fish. It had to be cooked.

Americans are becoming more appreciative and adventurous, more accepting and more sophisticated because of TV, cookbooks, and people travel widely. There’s more commerce between the US and China.

I think the American palate will continue to expand and grow and be more adventurous. Things they never tried before they now try.

Bay Area Bites: Where have you been lately?
Yan: I just came back from Manila, Malaysia and Vietnam. I did 26 shows to air later this year, called Taste of Vietnam. We went to every city and village in Vietnam. I go to Asia eight times a year. I taste it all and try to experience the local culture and heritage.

Anthony Bourdain and Martin Yan. Photo courtesy of Martin Yan

Bay Area Bites: How did you come to meet Anthony Bourdain?
Yan: We get invited to go to different places and events and participate -- as celebrity guests. I’ve been with him in Lake Tahoe, and Reno and we got a chance to do things together. I attended some of his presentations. I like that he’s a straight shooter -- a lot of people can’t do that and he’s had the courage to do it.

I’ve done events with Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Ming Tsai, and Rachael Ray. Recently I was at Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsey.

Bay Area Bites: Where do you go to eat when you are in the Bay Area?
Yan: I like Gary Danko, Boulevard, Yuet Lee and Yank Sing for dim sum.

On the Peninsula, I like the Kitchen in Millbrae and the Hong Kong Flower Lounge. I know so many people and chefs so I never order off the menu--it's usually a dish recommended or cooked by the chef.

Bay Area Bites: What are you working on these days?
Yan: We have a second M.Y. China set to open in November this year in Santa Rosa. I also have something in the works for Summerland, Las Vegas. With a lot of developers, once they know I want to do a restaurant, they always give us some deal.

Bay Area Bites: It’s the year of the snake. What is your sign?
Yan: I’m a snake. We're going to do a special New Year dinner and menu. The New Year is always about sharing, family, and longevity. So we’ll serve a lot of noodles.

Bay Area Bites: Do you have any guilty pleasure foods?
Yan: I’ve maintained the same weight for 26 years, and not gone a pound over. I live a very clean, simple life. I eat a lot of vegetables and seafood. I stay away from junk food. I never touch popcorn or chips -- those tortilla chips with the cheese. If I'm going to a movie, I just eat a simple dinner before. A lot of people love snack foods and I don’t. Snack foods are loaded with salt and preservatives. I studied food science at Davis and think "Why do that to yourself?"

Related Information:
M.Y. China
Address: Map
845 Market Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 580-3001

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Martin Yan: M.Y. China, Vietnam Travels and Chinese New Year