Hongkongers are known to be obsessed with food, but a couple in Tsz Wan Shan might have taken their cooking a tad too seriously, with the police having to intervene to stop their dispute from spiralling out of control.
A 49-year-old woman was preparing lunch on Thursday when she put a whole chicken in a wok to be steamed. Her 58-year-old husband disagreed, arguing it should be chopped into pieces before being cooked.
The pair came to blows and the man started slamming the wok with a kitchen knife while chanting: 'Chop first, then cook, chop first...'
The terrified woman locked herself in the bedroom and called police, saying her husband had gone berserk and was threatening to harm her. A team of officers, fearing another fatal domestic violence case, arrived and arrested the man for assault. No one was injured.
Actually, both were right regarding the chicken, according to Tony Ng Hung-to, former executive chef and president of West Dragon (Restaurant) Group.
'Generally, to keep the meat firm and juicy, the chicken should be cooked whole. This will also avoid overcooking,' he said. 'However, with some recipes, it's necessary to cook in pieces.'