Kudos to Super Star Group's executive chef, Chow Kuen-chung (right). This week, Les Amis d'Escoffier Society awarded him its five-star gold medal and made him an honorary chairman at a ceremony at the Times Square Super Star Seafood Restaurant. The international organisation has been around since 1936 and recognises significant contributions and achievements in fine dining. However, Chow, who has been with the group for 17 years and is known locally for his Cantonese dishes and creating cartoon-shaped dim sum, is nonchalant when it comes to awards - except for one. 'I see it as nice recognition but I still think winning the 1997 Iron Chef Competition in Japan was an even more amazing achievement,' he says. 'I've devoted many years to promoting Cantonese and regional Chinese cuisine to the rest of the world. We don't need the red and gold, dragon and phoenix dining hall with greasy unhealthy cooking to represent Chinese cuisine. Modern diners want health-conscious dishes. However, it is so broad and diversified I cannot even imagine learning all of it in my lifetime.' Seems we need to give the chef another award for being humble.
