Embracing heritage to innovate

Chef Wen Si En is one of the most highly acclaimed chefs specializing in Chinese cuisine in Guangzhou. Having spent many years honing his culinary craft in the kitchens of various Chinese restaurants, it was a dream come true for chef Wen when he was placed in charge of Chinese cuisine at the LN Garden Hotel in Guangzhou and tasked with elevating the culinary standards of Peach Blossom and Laiwan.

Under the leadership of the award-winning chef, who has been awarded the Gold Medal at the International Gourmet Cooking Competition, and the title of International Five-Star Chef at the 2018 International Chef Competition, Peach Blossom and Laiwan entered Guangzhou’s culinary hall of fame when they won the prestigious Michelin Guide Plate Award in 2019. This serves as a testament to Wen’s philosophy of constant innovation in the realm of the culinary art.

In order to create innovative recipes and dishes, Wen believes that one must first understand and embrace the past. For him, innovation does not mean forsaking one’s roots and history. Rather, the chef must retain the essence of the recipes from the past and then find ways to innovate on the traditional recipes. With this innovative approach, his dishes and culinary creations have come to be recognized for their exquisite fusion of traditional and modern culinary elements, and several of his innovative culinary creations and dishes have won awards at competitions across China.

Although Peach Blossom and Laiwan have already tasted success in 2019, Wen is never one to rest on his laurels. For him, the culinary world is a lifelong journey and one must continuously seek to innovate and find ways to improve their culinary craft. This can only be music to the ears of food connoisseurs in Guangzhou.