Chen Kenmin

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen.

Chen Kenmin (simplified Chinese: 陈建民; traditional Chinese: 陳建民; pinyin: Chén Jiànmín; Japanese: 陳建民 Chin Kenmin); (June 27, 1912 – May 12, 1990) was a Japanese chef of Chinese origin, also known as the father of Chen Kenichi, the Iron Chef Chinese on the television show Iron Chef.

Born in Yibin, Sichuan, China, Chen emigrated to Japan in 1952, and became a Japanese citizen in 1954. Chen had originally specialized in Chinese imperial cuisine. However, in 1958, upon opening the Shisen Hanten (四川飯店) restaurant in Japan, Chen arranged his dishes to cater to the tastes of his Japanese clients. Chen introduced Shanghai-style Sichuan cuisine to Japan through the Shisen Hanten Restaurant as well as through nationwide TV shows, particularly NHK's TV show, Kyō no ryōri ("Today's Cuisine" in English). Chen came to be known as the "father of Chinese Sichuan cooking" in Japan.

Chen Kenmin's popular dishes

Among the many Shanghai-style Japanese Chinese dishes Chen popularized in Japan include:

"Prawns in Chili Sauce" (simplified Chinese: 干烧虾仁; traditional Chinese: 乾燒蝦仁; pinyin: gān shāo xiā rén), which Chen renamed to Ebi Chili Sauce (エビチリソース, ebi chiri sōsu) for the Japanese.
Mapo doufu (Chinese: 麻婆豆腐; pinyin: má pó dòu fu).

References

A large portion of this article was translated from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on February 5, 2007.

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