Hooi Kok Wah (simplified Chinese: 许国威; traditional Chinese: 許國威; pinyin: Xǔ Guówēi; born c. 1939), also known as Hooi Kok Wai,[1][2] is a Singaporean chef and restaurateur. Known as one of the country's four "heavenly kings" of cooking, he began his cooking career in the 1950s.

Career

Hooi started working as a cook at the Cathay Restaurant in the 1950s.[1] On 8 April 1963, Hooi opened his own restaurant, the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant in Tanjong Pagar.[3] In 1974, the Red Star Restaurant, a joint venture between Hooi and his former colleagues at the Cathay Restaurant, was opened.[1]

Hooi is credited with creating a distinct version of chilli crab that involves eggs, sambal, and tomato paste.[4][5] Hooi and his Red Star Restaurant co-founders, collectively known as the four "heavenly kings" of cooking in Singapore, are also credited with popularising a Chinese New Year raw fish salad known as yusheng.[6][2] As of 2018, Hooi was still involved in running the Red Star Restaurant, while he had handed over management of the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant to his son.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Coming together over raw fish – for 30 years now". Weekend East. 27 January 1995. p. 15.
  2. 1 2 Xuanwei, Teo (29 January 2011). "A dish called yu sheng". Today. p. 2.
  3. "Did Chilli Crab Come From Singapore... Or Malaysia?". CNA Insider. 12 April 2023. Event occurs at Event occurs at 19:05. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  4. Schneider-Mayerson, Matthew (2022). Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene. p. 32. ISBN 9789811459634.
  5. "Chilli Crab". Singapore Tourism Board. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  6. Teo, Pau Lin (18 February 2007). "He's a founding father of yusheng". The Straits Times. p. 69.
  7. "亚洲食尊美食盛会头炮 名厨冼良与许国威 古早婚宴菜上桌". Lianhe Zaobao. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2023.


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