2017 Restaurant Week at M.Y. China

Update 2022: a casualty of the pandemic M.Y. China is closed. https://sf.eater.com/2020/9/2/21417565/fall-winter-restaurant-bar-closings-san-francisco-bay-area-2020

**November 23

SAN FRANCISCO — MY China, a Michelin-recommended, luxurious and expensive restaurant from TV personality, restaurateur, and occasional Iron Chef judge Martin Yan and partners Ronny and Willy Ng (Koi Palace), has closed for good, a spokesperson for the Westfield San Francisco Centre confirms to Eater SF. The spot, which was located on the fourth floor of the downtown mall, had closed at the onset of the pandemic, saying at the time that the shuttering was only temporary. But according to Westfield spokesperson Christina Mendez, “Unfortunately MY China will not be returning to the center” once the pandemic ends. Efforts to reach MY China management were not successful as of publication time.**

J.K. was walking the Fancy Food Show, and Angela was working the day job, so we had time for only one Restaurant Week lunch. We chose to return to M.Y. China, because we had such a good time there last year.

  

Sparkling wine is always a great treat and Angela chose to splurge at this lunch!

 Our entrees arrived first, but that wasn't a problem. J.K. ordered the wok-seared beef filet, while Angela chose the rice cake with wild boar. M. Y. China always gives a generous portion. We forwent the rice and simply mixed and matched tastes and textures. As it was there was still a doggie bag at the end of the meal.

Wok-Seared Beef Filet
sichuan peppercorns, arugula with jasmine or brown rice

Rice Cake with Wild Boar
cabbage, edamame, green onions

Mr. Zheng Dumpling
pork, shrimp, shitake, sesame oil, green onion

Close-Up of Dumpling

Veggie Spring Rolls
Toasted Taro, Wild Seasonal Mushrooms

 We usually  show you as many dishes as possible, but the the Sugar Puff Ice Cream Sandwich was too good to substitute sorbet for one of them. It's really more of a profiterole, but we weren't quibbling. 

M. Y. China is a delightful place to try out some delicious dishes. If you're on a tight budget, Restaurant week is the perfect way to splurge!

Martin Yan at Bloomie's

Chef Candi hosted Chef Martin Yan at Bloomingdale's demo kitchen. Again, Angela had to work, so I went alone. And had a great time. Chef Yan, who has a restaurant (M.Y. China) under the dome at the Westfield Center, is a real showman and kept the crowd entertained for his two-hour presentation.

For the first hour, he prepared his ingredients. Vegetables first, then protein, so he didn't have to wash his knife and cutting board until he was finished. He cut everything into extremely thin slices, constantly reminding us "I can do this. You can't." In other words, don't try this at home!

Here he "relaxes" a chicken.

Madman With A Cleaver
Now I know where the 11th Doctor acquired his knife skills.

The crowd was large, so the tastes were small. But big enough that M.Y. China is now on our list.

   

Peking Duck with Scissored Noodles

The Longevity Noodle is one very long noodle, served on birthdays to ensure long life. So instead of serving it to the crowd, it was presented to the audience member with the nearest birthday. We also sang the Happy Birthday song to her.

Longevity Noodle

Then we ate our veggies. Chef Yan told us we need to eat more leafy greens.

Kung Pao veggies

Then Chef Tony and his apprentice, who is from China, demonstrated the ancient method of hand-stretching noodles. Starting with one piece of dough, they end up with thousands of noodles.

Chef Tony and his apprentice hand stretching noodles

Showing off the finished noodles. Notice that they didn't get any flour on their jackets!

Cooked noodles served to the observers

The last dish of the afternoon was a kung pao crab. Those of us with the sharpest elbows got to taste pieces of it.  It was delicious. It was great to taste food made by a famous chef! Is there anyone you admire in the culinary world? Have you ever travelled to find their food served at a restaurant?

Showing off the kung pao crab

Knife skills*

Martin Yan and friends!*

*These two photos courtesy of Candi Austin.