The real-life God of Cookery revives char siu rice Stephen Chow made famous in film
Chef Dai Lung, who created roasted pork and rice dish Stephen Chow’s character served in 1996 film God of Cookery, has tweaked it for menu at new restaurant in Hong Kong
Hong Kong chef Dai Lung is relishing the media attention and getting into his set poses – giving a thumbs up, arms folded in front of his chest, or holding a massive traditional chopper.
The 70-year-old is enjoying a renaissance after more than 50 years as a chef, thanks in part to comedian Stephen Chow Sing-chi, who gave Dai a large gold medal complete with a chain that says “god of cookery” which he proudly wears.
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“In 1992 I was head chef of a Chinese fine-dining restaurant in a five-star hotel and Stephen Chow would come and I would make special dishes for him. After a while, we got to know each other and two years later he wanted to make a movie about chefs and asked me to create a dish for his film God of Cookery”.
Chow’s character takes part in a cooking competition and his entry is called “sorrowful rice”; it features slices of juicy char siu on a bed of rice with a fried egg on top.
The judge, played by Nancy Sit Ka-yin, tastes the dish and can’t help but shed tears of joy. She wonders why she is crying, and Chow’s character explains it’s because there are onions in the rice.
That dish, which Dai has since improved upon, is now available at Chop Chop in Fortress Hill, which also sells other roast meats, including crispy pork belly and roast goose, and steamed soy sauce chicken.