The written character for mother love is composed of two elements: love and pain. I had always thought this emotion was felt by daughters for their mothers especially when I was growing up and often reluctantly had to help in the family catering business giving up my weekends, social life and teenage years, but looking at the sacrifices my mother made and her courage, I realised this emotion was for her. My mother suffered deeply to give birth and there are so many things in her life that I long to know.

People keep secrets from each other all the time. Mothers keep secrets from their daughters; daughters keep secrets from their mothers. We tell part truths. And it is these secrets – these stories that have a ripple effect throughout generations. I don’t know every single aspect of my mother’s life – but through her experiences and how she taught my sisters and I, these things have helped to turn us into the persons we have become as adults.

I’ve learnt that the cruelest words in the universe are if only. When I was away from Manchester – Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, the initial reaction was wow freedom – hurrah. Yet as soon as I landed, I missed the smells of jasmine tea, hungered for my mum’s congee and steamed chicken, missed the chatter with our customers in the shop and the laughter around the family table late at night. I missed having my mum as a confidant – and being able to pour out my failures to my mum. But what I missed most was my mum and my family.

During my stint away from home, I’d never admit I was homesick or that I loved my mum. It was this fear of being weak. Yet every day I’d try to re-enact the usual routine I’d been accustomed to at home – even the things I hated doing such as washing up reminded me of my mum and gave me some comfort as I waded through the soapy suds. I had the freedom in Australia to go out, meet whom I wanted and not hear the nagging of my parents. Yet, this fear of not seeing them again. The fear that I might be stuck here forever – scared me and when it was finally time to return home, I was a different person and grateful for my mum.

My mother has tried so hard to protect me as a child but sometimes mothers can’t protect their children even if they try with all their might. I guess we can only do our best in the moment. My relationship with my mother has changed, evolved, endured tension and been rejuvenated through love.

On Mother’s Day (14th March), I just wanted to tell you, Mum, that I Love You and thank you for being the best Mum in the world.

To celebrate Mothers Day and to tell your mum that you love her, join us at Sweet Mandarin for a celebratory dinner (from the a la carte menu). I’ve also put together a Mother’s Day package which you are also welcome to opt for. Click here for more information.

Its finally 14th February, Valentine’s Day and also Chinese New Year – a day that evokes such an amazing energy at Sweet Mandarin because the room is filled with love. The banquet this year comprises of amazing dishes with romantic names – for example My Funny Valentine includes blackbeans dried in spring sunshine and steamed with tender chunks of beef or the Love Dare which is tender strips of chicken breast lightly battered in a fruity Shanghai inspired sauce.

As the couples enter Sweet Mandarin, the excitement level is electric; as if they were on a first date. I see the ladies smooth their silky dresses, their fingers play across their hair to make sure all their pins are in place and some even resting a hand across their heart – probably to stop its desperate, anxious beating. The dimly lit room provides some solace for blushing men who delight in their partner’s soft mist of hair, their rosebud shaped painted lips and the warmth emanating from their body.

As each of the three courses are enjoyed the couples build up courage and they reach out to hold hands resting on the cool wenge wood surface. In between the courses, they don’t seem to move and their eyes interlock almost paralysed, too in love to move, too in love to speak. Finally I hear a gentleman look intently to his date and say ‘You are beautiful here (touches her heart) and here (touches her face).’ Her face glows with joy and love. It is such a tender moment that I am transfixed. It took willpower for me to turn away and head back to the kitchen and I could hear the blood pounding in my ears as the temperature soared.

The Valentine’s Menu / Chinese New Year’s Menu at Sweet Mandarin is available for the whole of February 2010 can be found here

Things are always busy leading up to Chinese New Year (On 14 February, 2010 we welcome The Year of the Tiger grrr) and its super busy at Sweet Mandarin this year because I’ve agreed to be the featured chef for Amoy / Waitrose for their extra special Chinese New Year promotion.

Read our book Sweet Mandarin which charts our family’s rollercoaster history and you’ll discover an interesting nugget from our past; our great-grand father, Leung used to manufacture soy sauce for a living.  So when Amoy (the premier soya sauce manufacturer) contacted us and asked me to be their chef, it was a huge honour and from a personal perspective, this opportunity is the connecting piece that binds present to the past.

You see, in the beginning, our family were farmers in Guangzhou China who had nothing – not even a sausage. It was my great grandfather, Leung who decided to manufacture the soy beans he farmed and created the inky black liquid, soy sauce – that led our family’s journey to Hong Kong and gave us our first taste of prosperity. Yet the double-edge sword of our family’s successful soy sauce business led to rivalry and jealously from other soya sauce manufacturers.  This escalated to tragedy when my great grandfather, Leung was murdered, leaving a wife and six girls including my grandmother. Women in the 1930s were not entitled to assets, education or rights so all the assets he built up were dissapated to a distant male relative who wanted nothing to do with us. Once again, our family was plunged into poverty and my grandmother, mother and our generation have since faced adversity after adversity ever since. Yet what has pulled us through each generation has been a love and talent for cooking food – we have cooked for a living and survived thanks to our customers.  To be invited to be the chef for Amoy is bittersweet – I wish my great-grandfather were here to share in the celebrations.

I cannot wait to cook for the competition winner and look forward to the challenge ahead. Remember you have to be in it to win it, so what are you waiting for, get entering and I’ll see you in your kitchen.
Best wishes and sweet dishes

Lisa

Click here to find out more about Amoy

Dear Friends,

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year for 2010 and thank you for your continued support and friendship.

2010 is the Chinese Year of the Tiger – a year filled with strength, courage, bravery and luck. Incidently, this year’s Chinese New Year’s Day falls on 14th February 2010, Valentine’s Day. To celebrate we have created a wonderful menu for the month of February (click here and we will also serve the a la carte menu too ). We have two sittings every evening – one at 5/6pm, the second at 8.30pm. Please do book via lisa@sweetmandarin.com and we look forward to accomodating you.

Apparently, tigers are courageous, active, and self-assured. Optimistic, passionate and independent. Rebellious, dynamic, and unpredictable. Quick tempered but considerate. Affectionate but careless. The Tiger is a natural born leader and symbolizes power, passion and daring.

Interestingly, famous people born in the year of the tiger include Queen Elizabeth II, Demi Moore, Agatha Christie, Tom Cruise and Marilyn Monroe. Do they portray those attributes above? Tweet me your thoughts (follow me on Twitter @sweetmandarin)

Wishing you a very Happy New Year

All the best and see you soon.

Lisa, Helen and Janet
www.sweetmandarin.com

Dear Friends,

I don’t know where the year went but its nearly Christmas already. Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day – my only two days off in the whole year and I can’t wait :0)

Some dear customers have asked how do the Chinese celebrate Christmas…I guess in response, the Chinese like any other nationality celebrate with Family and Food.

Our family has always cooked two turkeys for Christmas. One British style with pork and sage stuffing, baby sausages wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes and Brussel sprouts, and the other braised in soy sauce and crammed with glutinous rice and mushroom. Both are delicious and typically represent my identity being British Born Chinese (’BBC’).

At Christmas, we also remember our dearly beloved grandmother, Lily Kwok who passed away in 2007, aged 89. My grandmother had so much courage. Pop, thank you for your sacrifice and determination. I wish you were here.

Wishing you and your family a safe happy Christmas filled with love and good food.

Lisa, Helen and Janet