Chinese cuisine for Ohakune

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 479, 30 March 1993, Page 9

Chinese cuisine for Ohakune

Advertorial Chinese style cooking that Kiwis are used to will soon be available in the Waimarino, along with other culinary styles from China. Chef Xiao Feng Gan and his wife Yue Ma take over Stutz Cafe this week, having bought the business from previous owner/operator Chris Thrupp. They plan to continue to offer the Stutz style food, prepared by the present staff who are staying on. Xiao and Yue will mostly look after the Chinese menu of an extensive range of Chinese dishes. The hours for the dining room will be extended, so at

night it becomes a Chinese restaurant. Xiao and Yue are from Beijing in China, the colder part of the country - much colder the Ohakune. "Most New Zealand Chinese (immigrants) are Cantonese - from the south," said Xiao. He said because of this New Zealanders are used to the Cantonese style of Chinese cooking, which is characterised by its overall sweet taste. Xiao and Yue will prepare their meals in the Cantonese style, to suit their new New Zealand customers, but there will be touches of the style of cooking from their home land. Xiao hopes to use his

experience in cooking all of the eight styles of cooking from China, of which Cantonese is but one. He proudly shows the Bulletin reporter his certificates from the Tianchu Culinary Art School of Beijing which states he is proficient in cooking dishes of Shangdong, Guangdong, Sichuan and Jiangsu, among others. Xiao is trained to the highest level in China, they said. He has been cooking for 10 years, owning and operating a restaurant and a fast-food outlet before leaving China. Yue worked as a technician in a University laboratory for 12 years before leaving China.

The couple decided to emigrate to New Zealand after Yue had visited the country to see her sister who works in the computer field. They travelled around the North and South Islands, visiting Ohakune on the way New Zealand has freedom that they like. "China is a good coun-

try, but we prefer to live in New Zealand," said Xiao. He said in China they are constantly harassed by government officials, making it hard to run a good business. The couple take over the business on Thursday, starting with opening specials. At lunch they will offer Chinese food from the

smorgasbord counter, changing one of the dishes available each day. In the dining room in the evening, they will serve authentic Chinese dishes, and Xiao says he will cater for anyone who wants to try the dishes of the other styles of China. People can either ask for

a range of dishes from the different styles, or all dishes from one style. They will take bookings for parties and offer a set Chinese feast menu to suit. They will also cater for children' s birthday parties, offering kiwi food with the birthday trimmings to make it a fun day.