Dick Yui-Kwan Ho was born in Hong Kong and raised by parents originally from China’s Guangdong Province—the origin of Cantonese cuisine. Dick remembers his childhood fondly, with food at the heart of his memories. His mother, a phenomenal cook and primary influence on food as a symbol of love would cook multiple courses of delicious Cantonese dishes during family gatherings and holidays. Sunday brunch with aunts and uncles consisted of dim sum dishes filling up an entire restaurant’s table. Through these early events, the authentic Cantonese cuisine’s tastes were imprinted into Dick’s taste buds, and the sights and sounds of family gatherings were forever carved into his memories.
Upon completing his bachelor’s degree in Hong Kong in 1978, Dick came to America and worked as a Chinese restaurant waiter while finishing his graduate degree. Dick’s own culinary journey began after he was exposed to the secrets of these Chinese chefs. Throughout his various graduate studies, Dick often got invited to friends’ homes for holidays. His offer to cook an authentic Chinese meal for his hosts was always a welcome gift and a guarantee for a return invitation.
During his thirty-two years working as an executive at several financial institutions, Dick never forgot his cultural identity. Cooking Chinese food at home became a de-stressor after a hard day at work, a bonding tool with his family at dinner time, and a way to share and celebrate his culture with his colleagues, friends, and neighbors.
In July 2018, Dick went into retirement and focused his energy on his health, hobbies (fishing, cooking, gardening, and photography), and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. During the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020, Dick took on a personal challenge to master one Chinese dish every week of the year by researching, testing, fine-tuning, and perfecting his recipes. With his family’s endorsement, he decided to assemble his recipes into a cookbook to share with his family, friends, and neighbors. In Dick’s experience, food has the ultimate power to connect people. His wish is for you to utilize these recipes to create happy memories with your loved ones.