As we indulge in our two days of summer, I can finally use that bit of pavement opposite Sweet Mandarin to cavort in a bit of al fresco Chinese at Sweet Mandarin. I love sitting outdoors when the weather is warm and dry…it feels like I’m on holiday somewhere exotic. I just need the ocean to dip my toes in.

Oh, is it Pimms O’Clock already?

I know one day will never make up for all the universal joys and incredible memories of childhood that I’ve shared with my Dad but I wanted to thank you Dad, for being there for me, always, unconditionally and always fighting our corner. Together with the entire world – in celebrations of Dads all over the world on Father’s Day 20th June, I wanted to say I love you Dad.

I remember the midnight jogging sessions to Chaddy park with Dad, my siblings and our dog, Choy Sum as Mum drove the old banger alongside us. Even though we never managed to jog back as we all went home in the car – I loved that sense of adventure you instilled in us.

I remember Mum had gone out to buy the groceries and you decided to be a hairdresser for the day. We all had pudding bowl haircuts……and it was so atrocious you bought us an ice cream to make up for it. I learnt quickly not to let you touch my hair ever again!

I remember the amazing dinners you made us ranging from spare ribs to a whole steamed fish to chicken tomato with an egg in it and your amazing red cooked melt in the mouth chicken. And you allowed me to go on the woks and you taught me how to cook the perfect egg fried rice. Wow – Dad you’re the best.

And now you and the fat baby are partners in crime!

For everyone out there, don’t forget its Father’s Day on Sunday 20th June. We only have a few tables left that evening (5-11pm). If you’d like to tell your Dad you love him by treating him to a delicious Chinese banquet, I’d be honoured to serve you our sumptuous food and ice cold beers. To book your table call 0161 832 8848 or email me lisa@sweetmandarin.com .

Dear Twitterati, Twitterers of Manchester, @Ev

The Times Newspapers have said women are bad networkers and even mentioned me in the article! (click here to read the article) . Come on Women of Manchester and beyond, I want to prove them wrong. Ok, I’ve got to admit that in the past five Tweetups held @sweetmandarin the ratio has been 80% men 20% women (and that’s including me and my team of female staff!) but I’m confident we can improve that ratio.

I’d love to invite you to the Mega Tweet Up to celebrate the Queen’s coronation.
My dream: To meet Twitterers who are in Manchester or who are visiting Manchester and Twitpic with you.
My wildest dream: To see #sweetmandarin trending as a top 10 (see below – I am a Twitterholic)
Date: Wednesday 2nd June 2010
Time: 6-8pm
Dress: Dress to Tweet, Twitpic’s welcome
Cost: Free
Food: Ok, I’ll bring the dim sum
Drinks: Pay as you go
About me: I’m a Twitterholic (follow me @sweetmandarin and my twin @helentse), the Head Chef of Sweet Mandarin Restaurant and I brought the F Word Trophy home to Manchester (COME ON MANCHESTER!!!) by winning Gordon Ramsay’s Best Local Chinese Restaurant Award 2009-2010. To watch the blood, sweat and tears click here.
Book your place: Please follow and tweet me or email me lisa@sweetmandarin to confirm your place.

To celebrate National Vegetarian Week, Sweet Mandarin has an exclusive offer – the Mabel’s Tofu Claypot is available at a discounted price of £7.00 – oh and you don’t have to be vegetarian to order it! Sweet Mandarin has a lot of choice for vegetarians and can even cook up the most amazing Vegetarian Banquet. To book a table click here.

Veggie myth-busters for 2010.

There are a few myths that do the rounds about veggies – the Vegetarian Society would like to kick them into touch during National Vegetarian Week.

Poor protein – wrong!
Protein is available in all foods (apart from refined white sugar and some oils) and your protein needs are automatically met by a balanced, varied diet. Meat does provide protein, however it is only one source. Nuts, beans, eggs, soya products, pulses and dairy products are all excellent sources of protein.

Veggies eat fish –wrong!
Vegetarians do not eat fish or shellfish. Fish are cold-blooded animals living wholly in water. Vegetarians don’t eat animals.

Weak and feeble, lacking in iron –wrong!
A lack of iron is one of the most common problems in a typical British diet. It is just as much a nutritional problem for meat eaters as it is for veggies and research shows that veggies are no more prone to iron deficiency than meat eaters! Even meat eaters get 86% of their iron from vegetarian sources.

Being veggie is unnatural – who says?
Arguing that an action is natural can be quite problematic. A common argument used by meat-eaters is that because we have canine teeth this is evidence that we have been ‘designed’ to eat meat. Meat eating animals have sharp claws and, since they have to kill mainly with their teeth, possess powerful jaws and pointed, elongated, “canine” teeth to pierce tough skin and to spear and tear flesh. They do NOT have flat, back teeth like us which vegetarian animals need for grinding their food. As for our sharp teeth, gorillas are entirely vegetarian – as are almost all primates – and yet have far longer and sharper canine teeth than human beings!

Vegetarianism is a fad – don’t think so!
Some people do change diets as they change fashions. However vegetarianism has been around for literally thousands of years. For example, the Greek philosopher, Plato (427 – 347 BC), and his teacher Socrates (470 – 399 BC) were both vegetarians.
In the UK the first vegetarian cookbook was written in 1812. The oldest Vegetarian Society in the world was formed in 1847 in the UK.

Thank God for Peter Kay. I love the Bolton born comic and man-of-a-thousand-faces who loves Chinese food.
Here’s my favourite joke (thanks Peter) ….. So I went to the Chinese restaurant and this duck came up to me with a red rose and says “Your eyes sparkle like diamonds”. I said, “Waiter, I asked for a-ROMATIC duck”.

Finally, Peter has returned to us in Manchester with his tour which has people in stitches as he turns the most trivial of daily nuisances in the world of the working class family, and turns them into comedy gold. Without this man, life would, quite simply, be a bit boring.

I’ll feed Peter and I’ll feed all you lovely people who are going to see Peter Kay’s show at the MEN. We are next door to the Crowne Plaza Hotel which is a short 5-10 minute walk to the MEN Arena. Approximately 40 furry footsteps and you are door to door. Click HERE for the AA Routeplanner and Map.

OK, and I’ll get you revved up with that uber-annoying (because once heard you can’t get it out of your head) ‘Is This The Way To Amarillo’ song that Peter forced upon us, Peter Kay at his exasperated best.

To book a table at Sweet Mandarin email Lisa@sweetmandarin.com or call 0161 832 8848
Sweet Mandarin Address: 19 Copperas Street (off High Street), Manchester M4 1HS

I visited the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show at the GMEX last week and bumped into Clive and Adam from Sugarvine. It was great to see them because we go back five years, when Sweet Mandarin started and it was Clive who helped us make a 360 panoramic video of Sweet Mandarin and introduced us to google and online marketing. Sugarvine has grown to an impressive 20 regional sites so not only are locals reading about your restaurant and menu, but their million or so visitors around the country are too.  I’m often asked what tips I can give to budding restauranteurs. One of them is speak to Cliver or Adam at Sugarvine 0844 277 9858 for your promotions and marketing and just to understand your market and competition.  They are affordable, effective, have their finger on the pulse and are very pleasant people to work with – oh and they are a fellow Twitterer too (follow them http://twitter.com/sugarvine) .

To celebrate my forthcoming appearance on Iron Chef on Channel 4 in April/May (5pm- 6pm daily), I’ve teamed up with Sugarvine to launch a fantastic competition worth £180 (the Chinese believe 8 is a lucky number because it sounds like the word ‘rich’. Putting together 1 and 8 symbolises ‘always rich’).  Enrich yourself and win a three course banquet for 2 (with a bottle of wine) and a cookery school place at Sweet Mandarin.  To enter click  here  on the Sugarvine website and best of luck! Remember you have to be in it to win it.

Breathe. Breathe again. I’ve got some news my friends. I’m going to be starring on Iron Chef UK when it airs on Channel 4 in April/May. This is like a dream come true for me. Thank you God. You’ve already given me an amazing blessing when Sweet Mandarin received the most prestigious accolade, winning the Gordon Ramsay F Word Best Local Chinese Restaurant award. Deep breath. My heart is racing because I love Iron Chef. I’ve watched all the American versions and am in love with Chef Morimoto and Bobby Flay. I can’t wait to get to Kitchen Stadium – this is an experience of a lifetime.

I am honoured to be invited to cook on Iron Chef and will dedicate my dishes to Manchester, my followers on Twitter and to all my clients at Sweet Mandarin. I’m gonna tweet throughout the cook off so follow me for more of the action http://twitter.com/sweetmandarin.

PRESS RELEASE: 6th April 2010
Lisa Tse to star on Iron Chef UK

Lisa Tse, CEO and head chef of the award winning Sweet Mandarin is to star on Iron Chef UK when it airs on Channel 4 in April/May. Lisa has already received one of the most prestigious accolades, winning the Gordon Ramsay F Word Best Local Chinese Restaurant award and her cookery school is now fully booked for months. This latest challenge will see Lisa battle against the Iron Chefs in a specially created Kitchen Stadium.

Iron Chef originated from Japan and its American version has received cult status as well as receiving the blessing of Michelle Obama who invited Iron Chef to the White House. In each episode, a new challenger chef battles one of the resident ‘Iron Chefs’ in a one-hour cooking competition based on a theme ingredient. In April/May, the UK will witness Iron Chef which is like no other cooking show before it. It combines haute cuisine, sports broadcasting and martial arts. It is crazy, zany and addictive.

Chef Lisa said “I am honoured to be invited to cook on Iron Chef. My three passions in life are cooking, people and business, and Iron Chef ignites all three. For everyone in Manchester, for my Twitter friends and my customers at Sweet Mandarin, I will rise to this challenge and try my best. I’ve been told that when the secret ingredient is revealed, we are free to choose what to cook and have an hour to produce something amazing. The Japanese call it omikase. I call it omigod — cooking without a net!”

For more of the action follow Lisa on Twitter http://twitter.com/sweetmandarin as she proposes to tweet throughout her cook-off.

About Chef Lisa Tse

Lisa is the CEO and brainchild behind Sweet Mandarin, an award winning Chinese restaurant, cookery school and corporate team building events organizer in Manchester, which she set up with her two sisters in 2004. Lisa won the prestigious award of Best Local Chinese Restaurant 2009/10 on the F Word and Gordon Ramsay was highly impressed with Lisa’s cooking. Sweet Mandarin has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Times, on BBC Newsnight and on the front cover of the Shanghai Daily. Lisa is the third generation of women in her family in the restaurant business and their story, self titled Sweet Mandarin was published by Random House in 33 countries and covered in a documentary by the BBC and the Chinese Channel. In 2010, Amoy chose Lisa as their chef of the year to celebrate Chinese New Year. Lisa has been cooking from the age of 11 years old and now cooks at Sweet Mandarin and for celebrities.

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.

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

Its been 5 days since the F Word aired and the phone has been ringing off the hook. I’ve had 100+ missed calls in 1 hour! Sorry if I’ve not managed to answer or respond to your voice message. The best way to contact me is email with your booking enquiries and I will endeavour to get back to you as quickly as I can.  Please note that if we are very busy in the restaurant, then we cannot accept your takeaway or delivery orders.

To all the regulars, in response to your questions, I promise you I’m not putting the prices up.  We will continue to serve you our good food at reasonable prices..

To my Twitter and Flickr friends, I’ll find a date in January 2010 for our Tweet / Flickr Up.

Best wishes and thank you for your continued support and patience.

Lisa (feeling like she’s cooking for the whole of Great Britain at the moment!)

Email: lisa@sweetmandarin.com

I’ve often been asked what is the secret ingredients in making Sweet Mandarin dishes so tasty…..let me divulge to you now that there is only one secret ingredient that I rely on and that’s science!

So when the Manchester Science Festival asked whether I could feature at this prestigious show, I cleared my diary and said a resounding yes. I want more people to understand the science behind food – and be able to apply it to their own home cooking. During my cookery school, I love it when students get excited about combustions and reactions from various ingredients when mixed together – and most importantly learn that a healthy meal is far more delicious that any fast food craving.

Wanna meet me? Make it a date to remember.

Date: Wednesday 28th October

Time: 2.30pm – 3.15pm

Cost and booking info: Free . Go to http://msffood.eventbrite.com to book your place now.

As I was serving these wonderful folk, my heart twinged with sadness and longing. Unlike my grandma’s and mum’s businesses who have loyal regulars every single week – on the same day, at the same time – ordering the same dishes (‘Usual please’) for the last 50 years – being located in the Manchester city centre area – the population is far more transient.

Nonetheless, I value my regular customers and corporate clients and set myself a personal challenge to get to know my regulars with a view to build a lasting legacy for Sweet Mandarin and future generations. Helen, Janet and I want to invite you to my very exciting events for September (see below). Who knows, maybe after my 50 years, our grandchildren can invite you, our regular customers to a wonderful event like the above.

September Events

If you want to make new friends in Manchester, pop to Sweet Mandarin for our September Events.

16th September 6-8pm Rich Dad Poor Dad Cashflow Game (free)

20th September 3-5pm Flickr Meet Up (free)

30th September 6-8pm Mega Tweet Up (Twitter)(free)

HUGE THANKS

I want to thank Lisa Chan Brown whom I met on Flickr and Twitter (@yattyimages) who tirelessly over 2 hours took photos every ten seconds BY HAND to make the above video.

Thank you also to Alkrington Library for organising the event and encouraging all Middletonian book clubs to read Sweet Mandarin.

Best wishes and sweet dishes

Lisa, Helen and Janet
p.s. A Sweet Treat for you regulars – get a free bottle of wine with your Christmas lunch/dinner booking (made by 31st October 2009) Email me on sweetmandarin@gmail.com or call 0161 832 8848