Chef Mickey Zhao 趙健彬: Baking Bread, Breaking Boundaries「用心」烘焙無邊國度

Chinese bakeries are famous around the world for their unique selection of ‘Chinese Western Pastries’: buns, cakes and tarts that are best described as a combination of Chinese bakers’ imaginations and Western-style baked goods. Colonial life in Hong Kong brought together different ethnicities and demographics whose cultures and ideas inevitably co-mingled over time. Egg tarts, pineapple buns and coconut cocktail buns are perfect examples of this gastronomic mélange and can be credited to the legions of bakers colloquially referred to as ‘beng lou’ or ‘min baau lou’ — this literally translates to ‘bakery men’ or ‘bread men.’

Long Reads, Personal StoriesFête ChinoiseMarch 22, 2022Asian Representation, Food, PastryComment

Ronny Chieng in Toronto: This Is Not A Review

My day begin with delicious Pho for lunch, then on to exciting wedding planning activities, which eventually brought me to Nordstrom for some suit shopping. After an hour of unsuccessful consulting, I found myself rummaging through the ready to wear clearance section hoping to find some gems. I end up next to another frantic asian man – I could tell based on the slightly sweaty forehead and furrowed brows, and of course the pace of his browsing from hanger to hanger. I almost instantly had a hunch, wow, is this RONNY CHIENG? He made a remark to the associate helping him and I knew it had to be him based on his distinct Asian-Australian accent. Then, finally it was confirmed, I caught a glimpse of his cyan blue printed Ronny Cheng socks, and there was no mistake!

Current AffairsFête ChinoiseMarch 21, 2022Asian Representation, CommunityComment

Bernice Liu: The Metamorphosis of Perspective 廖碧兒：是「滴」是友

Like the metamorphosis from a caterpillar to butterfly, (coincidentally her favourite creature in nature), Bernice took time away from her work to heal. During this phase of her life, she spent time back in her home on the Canadian West Coast in the embrace of her home country, the love of her family and the serene beauty of British Columbia. It was in this cocoon of warmth and healing that she was able to breathe and slow down from the fast-paced life she had in Hong Kong.

Long Reads, Personal StoriesFête ChinoiseMarch 15, 2022Asian Representation, wine, CelebrityComment

Turning Red: A Disney Pixar Chinese-Canadian Fairytale

After the Canadian Premiere of Turning Red, Disney and Pixar’s newest masterpiece, we stepped out of the TIFF Lightbox onto King Street, where the historic two-storey brick buildings sat as a backdrop to a passing streetcar, CN Tower lit up in red and purple to the left. It felt like the scenes from the movie continued into the sidewalk. This is the first Disney film to be situated in (and featuring) Toronto in the early 2000’s, a coming of age story about a 13 year old Chinese-Canadian girl whose emotions turn her into a giant red panda… as the poster suggests, “growing up is a beast!”

Current Affairs, Mark Your CalendarDeborah Lau-YuMarch 11, 2022Asian Representation, Film, animationComment

Chef Ken Yau 邱璟琛: Elevating the Ordinary 舌尖上的人情味

After returning to Canada from years of working at groundbreaking restaurants like the Michelin 3 Starred The Fat Duck in England and Liberty Private Works in Hong Kong, Chef Ken Yau launched k.Dinners, a pop-up supper club concept in Toronto. These were multi-course, experiential tasting dinners for just 16 guests in a different location every week. Those lively evenings of great food and convivial conversations around a communal table came to an abrupt stop when the pandemic hit. Suddenly, Ken was left scrambling to think of another source of revenue.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Food and LifestyleFête ChinoiseMarch 8, 2022Asian Representation, Food, Chinese FoodComment

PLACE DES SOUHAITS 《願望之城》: MONTREAL, QUEBEC 蒙特利爾

Montreal artist Karen Tam worked with designer Jean de Lessard to create the vibrant “Place des Souhaits/Place of Wishes” in the Quartier des Spectacles. This joyous, intergenerational public space and artwork, reminiscent of a typical Asian Night Market, welcomed visitors of all colours and creeds, while supporting local residents, families and businesses during its four-month run. It shone as a beacon of positivity and hope, highlighting the resilience of Chinatowns everywhere.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Community & PeopleFête ChinoiseMarch 1, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artists, InstallationComment

Justine Yeung: Still Perspectives 楊應琪：電影定格

For a long time, many members of the Hong Kong film industry, both on and off screen, have moved to North America or constantly traveled between the two places for work, education, or simply in search of a better life. You can find them on film sets and post-production studios all over Hong Kong and Asia, while simultaneously making their mark in many North American film studios or international film festivals.

Long Reads, Personal StoriesFête ChinoiseFebruary 24, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artists, FilmComment

Chef Craig Wong: Food + Sustainability 王智榮: 永續的飲食革命

We caught up with Chef Craig Wong, the Toronto-based owner of the award-winning restaurant Patois and upcoming Bar Mignonette, to explore his views on sustainability. We wanted to know what the actual practice of this word versus lip service means to him as a chef, restaurateur and cultural champion. During the pandemic, he was a part of a collaboration with IKEA that focused on cooking with scraps. That exercise, in turn, inspired the images in our feature. In this special conversation, we examine the concept of sustainability through three lenses: first as a culinary philosophy, then towards the preservation of culture and, finally, the conservation of the restaurant industry.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Food and LifestyleFête ChinoiseFebruary 23, 2022Asian Representation, culture, Food, SustainabilityComment

Tirion Law: Time As Foundation For A Ballerina’s Life 台上一分鐘，台下十年功

Standing at 158 centimeters tall, this young Hong Kong-born New Zealand-trained ballet dancer is making the most of her time as part of the National Ballet of Canada. Tirion Law officially joined as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2018. Her repertoire includes Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, Anna Karenina, The Dream, Paquita, The Second Detail and The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude.

Long Reads, Personal StoriesFête ChinoiseFebruary 17, 2022Asian Representation, ArtComment

Documentary Filmmaker Ruby Yang 楊紫燁: On Working With Time

Academy Award-Winning Director, Ruby Yang, talks about her journey, the idea of time and pace in her work, and COVID-19. Yang is currently the Project Director of the Hong Kong Documentary Initiative (HKDI) and was the recipient of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s Artist of the Year for Film in 2018. Our Fête Chinoise editors first met Ruby in December 2019 at the film screening of The Last Stitch (2019) directed by Alfred Sung, which Yang served as the Executive Producer. Later, Yang shared that she saw the wonderful events featuring Chinese Canadian culture that Fête Chinoise had designed. It is truly our pleasure to share her thoughts.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Film & BooksFête ChinoiseFebruary 11, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artists, FilmComment

The Ultimate Gift of Time, Longevity and Luxury for Lunar New Year: LOUIS XIII Cognac

Sponsored by LOUIS XIII Cognac. Whether you are celebrating Lunar New Year with family virtually, or live under one roof, one thing we can still enjoy is a time of gifting and receiving! Whether it's lucky red pockets of money or a red-wrapped gift, all are delivered with auspicious wishes of fortune, good health, and longevity.

Food and Lifestyle, Objects of Desire, AdsFête ChinoiseFebruary 1, 2022Lunar New Year, HistoryComment

Lunar New Year Gift Guide 2022 新年佳品雅集

Lunar New Year is upon us on February 1st, and we welcome the Year of the Tiger with great anticipation. The Tiger is a strong, courageous and majestic animal, which brings about much forward momentum, spontaneity and resilience during a time when we need a fresh outlook. Celebrations may be kept to immediate families this year, due to this wave of the pandemic, but it doesn’t mean the celebration means any less! We have curated some unique ideas for you to help toast the new year with gifts and experiences for your family and friends to whom you may be dropping off some special packages. To new beginnings!

Objects of DesireFête ChinoiseJanuary 31, 2022Gifting, giftsComment