Yan Can Cook: Spice Kingdom

♪ There are 1.4 billion people in China, 230 million of them under the age of 14.

When we talk about China's future, we often talk about new technology, new cities, new developments, but none of that would mean much without the human factor.

This is a typical primary school in Chengdu.

It has 2,000 students.

[ Speaking Chinese ] These are the rising stars of China, next on "Yan Can Cook."

♪ [ Speaking Chinese ] ♪ ♪ [ Speaking Chinese ] ♪ "Yan Can Cook: Spice Kingdom" is brought to you by... ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ Circulon cookware.

Circles for life.

Monogram.

A full line of professional appliances designed for food and entertaining enthusiasts.

♪ ♪ By Melissa's.

♪ The freshest ideas in produce.

By Lutian.

Tasting the essence of lotus.

♪ By Granite Expo.

Offering a wide selection of cabinet and countertop solutions.

And by B&G Group of Malaysia.

♪ Building Malaysia's tomorrow.

♪ ♪ Every year, many young men and women from Chengdu ascended these steps to begin their education in the culinary arts.

Founded in 1985, the Sichuan Tourism University is a fully accredited institution of higher learning and a magnet for international culinary professionals around the world.

Ni hao.

Ni hao, ni hao.

The best way to uphold professional standards in the food and hospitality industry is through formal training in a professional setting.

This university does just that.

All the teachers here are true professionals, and the students are not here just to learn their way around the kitchen.

They receive a full and comprehensive college education.

But they're also prolific in Western disciplines -- baking all kind of wonderful things.

The finest equipment -- the most modern, contemporary equipment, all these young chefs can have their hands on.

So, that's what's up.

Food and cooking has no national boundary.

Food is for all of us.

We all welcome the people with g ood food.

Chef Zhang reminds me -- final touch.

The famous Sichuan red pepper oil right on top.

And that's it.

That's the mapo doufu.

Xiè xiè.

[ Speaking Chinese ] And, of course, this is truly the Mecca of learning for Chengdu and Sichuan cuisine -- right here.

Many of you -- teachers and school officials -- have graciously welcomed me to your fine college.

I'm honored.

Now it is my turn.

Let me welcome all of you to my profession.

All of you choosing this honorary profession, is a very special place to pursue it.

And all of you now learn from all these wonderful, organized facilities in the school.

When I was an apprentice, the kitchen was my school.

All you need is, open your eyes, open your heart, and keep yourself open.

The world is waiting for you.

Congratulations and thank you very much.

♪ You may notice, there are many female students in this university.

In fact, an estimated 60% of the student body are female.

I will see many lady chefs in Chengdu's restaurants in the future.

♪ ♪ A popular tourist attraction in Chengdu is the Du Fu Cottage and Memorial Park.

Du Fu was a very famous poet back in the Tang dynasty, some 1,400 years ago.

His works are well-known in China's literature, and his legacy is preserved in this beautiful park.

Du Fu used his poet's eye to elevate everyday life.

Artisans were able to create this replica of his home in Chengdu from his beautiful descriptions found throughout his body of work.

♪ ♪ "Good rain knows the right time.

Will fall when spring comes.

Wind accompanies the rain quietly.

It replenishes everything and renews life."

Amazing.

These are specially chosen children from all over Chengdu.

They come here just to attend lectures, studying the famous poets' many volumes of work.

Thanks to these hardworking children, China's poetry is alive and well here in Chengdu.

[ Children reciting in Chinese ] What has a brown and a greenish skin, a little fuzzy face, and is sweet and green inside, and a funny-sounding name?

What is it?

Kiwi!

Oh!

Perfect.

Most of these kiwis originated from the countryside in the Chengdu and Sichuan areas.

Now I want to show you how to make some snacks for your lunch.

Now, you know, I always tell people you should all work with the children at home in the kitchen so they learn how to be safe, how to respect food, how not to waste food, and also you learn to organize.

It's a lot of fun.

Now, what is this?

Panda.

Panda!

But these are baby pandas.

It's cuter than the big panda, okay?

Now, I'm going to show you how to make this panda.

How's that sound?

This is the eye.

Okay?

And this is the ear, this is the nose, and this is the leg, and this is seaweed -- seaweed is very healthy -- and this is the tail, and this is the arm.

Here, you have a little panda already done, right?

Yeah.

You see that?

You see that?

Okay.

Now, this is how you do it.

The eye is right here.

You push it down.

Can you see that?

Yeah.

Huh?

And then how about the nose?

This is the nose.

Okay?

Can you see that?

Yeah.

And then how about the ear?

Ear is a little -- cut it like this, and then you snap this right here, and... That's easy to snap it.

Yeah, you just snap it.

You just snap it right here because this is sticky rice.

Snap it.

Already like a panda.

And then you got the leg.

You got the leg right here.

The leg -- you push the leg on the side, okay?

On the side, like this.

Push it down and snap it.

You got the leg, right?

And then you got the arm.

This is it -- the arm.

You let the arm -- you push it right around here and wrap it around.

And this is the arm, right here.

And then how about the tail, huh?

Like I said, this is the tail.

You'll put the tail right around the back.

You know what you have?

You have a panda.

Look at that.

Can you see that?

Yeah.

Are you interested in learning how to make this?

Yeah.

Okay.

Please sit down.

I'll give you all this stuff, and I'll pass you the stuff.

Then you can learn how to make it, okay?

♪ ♪ ♪ I always believe when children can work with the parent -- work with you in the kitchen -- they will be a lot better student because they have to learn to prepare, they have to learn to get ready, they have to learn to get organized, and learn to protect and respect food.

So, finally...tail.

Put the tail at the back.

One piece, put it at the back.

Back -- the tail.

The tail.

The tail.

The tail.

And the tail.

And the tail.

Now you have created a wonderful panda.

Now, here I have rice paper.

Okay?

And I put the rice paper here.

Just a little warm water.

Okay?

Just like you go to a Vietnamese restaurant to make rice roll, spring roll, fresh spring roll.

I put it over here.

Nice.

Okay?

And nice.

Tiny, tiny bit of water -- that's all you need.

And then I put a tiny bit of rice right here -- right here.

I rolled it up.

I put the rice in the bottom here.

Look at this.

Put the rice.

And then, now, line them all up, this kiwi.

This is very healthy fruit.

You should have a lot of fruit in your diet, in your home, okay?

Caleb!

Pay attention, Caleb!

[ Laughter ] Are you paying attention to Uncle Martin?

[ Laughing ] Yeah.

Yes, good.

Then don't talk too much.

[ Laughter ] And then you put this on the side, this on the side, and then this on the side.

So the whole idea is to make it look nice, so you eat it, you go, "Wow.

It's amazing."

Okay?

And then you wrap it up like this.

You wrap it up... you wrap it up... you wrap it up... you wrap it up.

Now everybody look.

Uncle Martin's making something really, really nice.

Look at that!

A lot of kiwi.

Look at this.

Is it nice?

When this is all nice and done, let me show you how to put a lunchbox together.

You can enjoy it with your whole family, and you can enjoy it with your wonderful school buddies, okay?

Here, I have a lunchbox.

And then... here, I have some fried chicken, okay?

I have little two pieces of fried chicken on the side.

Okay?

Maybe three!

How about Caleb?

How many pieces of chicken do you like?

No idea.

[ Laughter ] I like 100.

How can you eat 100?

You got to share with 100 people, okay?

And then, you remember the panda?

You remember the panda, yeah?

Yeah.

I put the panda here.

I put the panda here.

So, this is rice.

And then you can actually put a tiny bit of vinegar and sugar here to make it nice and sweet.

And then I have one of these beautiful kiwi fruit.

Put it on the side.

And how about -- What do you like?

Corn.

Corn.

Fresh corn.

Put it right here.

Ahh!

Who likes broccoli?

Everybody.

You like broccoli.

Everybody likes broccoli.

I like 100 broccoli.

So everything you want is 100?

You want to live up to 100.

So, you have all of these, and not only that, I have more fruit just to make it nice and interesting.

A couple more extra fruit.

Okay, I put the tiny bit of nuts right around here, right around here.

Look at this.

Can you tell me -- what do you think about this lunchbox?

Is it healthy?

Yes!

I like it.

So, when this is all nice and done, we cover this up and serve -- instead of our regular soft drink, you serve healthy drinks.

[ Groans ] You serve healthy drinks, and this is how you do it, okay?

And then you cover this up.

On the side, on the side.

Look at that -- healthy lunch.

Caleb, this is one out of 100.

I'll make 99 more for you.

[ Laughter ] This is for you.

Okay?

And take it home and look at it, and then look forward to another 99 of these, okay?

How'd I get this?

Yeah.

No.

Now, I have a special gift.

Panda thermos!

So you can drink.

This is, Donovan, for you.

And this is for you.

I got two things.

And this is for you.

Everybody come to Uncle Martin's kitchen have special gift.

Braden.

And this is for you.

Okay?

I think you have done a good job.

You have learned how to make healthy food, healthy lunch.

Look at all the stuff I have.

I have more stuff than everyone.

You are so lucky.

You know why?

You know why, Caleb?

I like you.

[ Children giggle ] [ Laughs ] Let us, our live studio audience, say hello and thank all these rising stars of America.

Hello!

[ Cheers and applause ] Thumbs up, thumbs up, thumbs up, everybody.

One, two, three -- "We love panda!"

We love panda!

"We love healthy lunch!"

We love healthy lunch!

"We love our parents!"

We love our parents!

"We love school!"

We love school!

"We love to study!"

We love to study!

"And we love everything 100!"

[ Laughing ] We love everything 100!

Good.

Very good.

♪ Healthy body, healthy mind.

You think that all Chinese kids do is play video games?

Hey, think again.

♪ [ Grunts ] Hey, don't get me wrong.

I do love kids, but leading 2,000 of them in morning exercise was a first, and that was a bit challenging.

The kids were wonderful, so much energy, and they were up for anything.

But have you ever tried to keep the attention of a 7- or 8-year-old?

Mm.

Now multiply that by 2,000.

You get the picture.

Hey, what a day.

[ Huffing ] ♪ ♪ This is a very special class for the musically gifted students.

They are taught many traditional musical instruments, as well as acts from famous Sichuan opera.

♪ ♪ Lucy, how are you?

I'm fine.

Thank you.

Good.

So, what grade are you in in this school?

Grade 5.

Grade 5?

Oh, wonderful.

Are you enjoying studying in this school?

Yes, very much.

How old are you?

I'm 11 years old.

Oh!

11 years old.

They love the school here.

So, besides studying, do you do any sports?

Dancing.

Oh!

You like dancing.

Wow.

That's wonderful.

You like Sichuan opera?

You can dance and sing like a Sichuan opera?

Yes.

Oh, wonderful.

Do you have very good teachers here?

Yes, they are very good teachers.

Very good teachers.

Wonderful.

When you grow up, what do you like to do?

Teacher.

You want to be a teacher?

Wow.

That's good.

I think China and the world around need good teachers.

You have good teachers here in school, and she, Lucy, wants to be a teacher.

Wow.

Very, very good.

Xiè xiè ni, xiè xiè ni.

Thank you.

[ Speaking Chinese ] I wish you a bright future.

What is your name?

My name is Jason.

Jason.

I like that.

J-A-S-O-N, right?

Jason.

So, how old are you today?

I'm 11.

11.

Wow.

So, are you enjoying school here -- studying here in this school?

Yes.

Very much, right?

Oh, good.

Yes.

Yes, very much.

So, besides studying, what else do you like to do in school?

Sichuan opera.

You like Sichuan opera?

Yes.

Wow.

I could learn something from you.

So, now, you love to study and you love the Sichuan opera, so when you grow up, what do you like to do?

Mm...doctor.

You want to be a doctor?

Oh, good.

It's a good profession because you can take care of a lot of people, a lot of sick people.

The world -- China, and the world around -- needs a lot of doctors.

So I wish you the very best.

Okay?

Okay.

Want to shake hands?

Huh?

Xiè xiè, xiè xiè, xiè xiè.

Thank you.

[ Speaking Chinese ] Have a bright future.

Besides studying, do you play sports?

Basketball.

Oh, you like basketball?

So, are you good at the basketball?

Are you good?

Yes.

You're good?

[ Laughs ] Maybe the Warriors can hire this young man, Jason, to be the basketball star for the San Francisco Warriors.

Amazing.

The Golden Warriors.

So, you strong?

Are you strong?

Uh... Oh-ho, wow!

Strong.

Hey.

You know, he loves studying, he loves Sichuan opera, he loves the sport, he loves basketball, so this is definitely one of the rising stars of China.

Xiè xiè.

Thank you.

Xiè xiè, xiè xiè, xiè xiè.

[ Indistinct talking ] [ Speaking Chinese ] I agree.

It's absolutely delicious and very healthy.

Today's Chengdu is an ultramodern city, but it's also a place rich in history, culture, and art.

The music scene is thriving -- not only traditional Chinese music, but all forms of Western music.

Every night, artists perform in many of Chengdu's hotspots.

Many Chengdu artists who have since gone national, or even international, have their starts right here.

Some came here first on their open-mic nights.

So far, you may think that this Music Box only plays folk music, and you would be wrong.

[ Dance music plays ] [ Singing in Chinese ] [ Rapping in Chinese ] [ Song ends ] Whoo!

In Chengdu, everybody has the opportunity to become a star.

You can visit our website to learn more about Martin and his travels, get information about upcoming events, find and print selected recipes, provide e-mail feedback, and more.

It's all at yancancook.com.

"Yan Can Cook: Spice Kingdom" is brought to you by... ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ Circulon cookware.

Circles for life.

Monogram.

A full line of professional appliances designed for food and entertaining enthusiasts.

♪ ♪ By Melissa's.

♪ The freshest ideas in produce.

By Lutian.

Tasting the essence of lotus.

♪ By Granite Expo.

Offering a wide selection of cabinet and countertop solutions.

And by B&G Group of Malaysia.

♪ Building Malaysia's tomorrow.

♪ ♪ ♪