Chef introduces Suzhou style to Rototuna
Residents of one of Hamilton’s newest suburbs have the benefit of one man’s culinary skills…
For more than 10 years, Xiaochen Hou was a chef in China – now he works in a Hamilton restaurant where he specializes in cooking wheat foods such as fried dumplings, steamed buns and roasted wheat.
Xiaochen, who comes from Suzhou, China, grew up with his mother after his parents divorced.
He learned early on to be independent, tried to cook, and began to take care of his hard-working mother when he was very young.
“My mother taught me that what happens in life is God’s choice, how to face it, that my attitude to life is my choice,” Xiaochen said with a smile.
After he graduated from his high school, he signed up for a chef’s course, and began to learn to cook formally.
Perhaps because of his family environment and hard life experience, Xiaochen had the perseverance, seriousness, and patience to become a chef.
He graduated to work as an assistant chef in a restaurant kitchen at the age of 20.
Xiaochen said: “Of course, at first everything was difficult, but as long as you stick to it and get used to the busy pace of the kitchen, everything becomes easy.”
After years of shared experience, a friend invited him to come to New Zealand. In 2015, he decided to emigrate with his family and start a new life as a cook in this country.
For Xiaochen, who never knew his father, his family life is paramount.
Xiaochen said he left China to make a better life for his family and to practise his cooking in a different country.
He hopes to introduce his new countrymen to authentic Chinese food. Although he admits this reason is idealistic, he still believes he has chance given to him by fate to attempt this.
This belief strengthened when he came to New Zealand and found that many people enjoyed Chinese food.
“I think you will encounter all kinds of opportunities in your life. If you try to seize them, you will probably realize your dream. But, if you don’t, chances will slip away from you.”
Now, Xiaochen is doing what he enjoys, is fulfilling his dream to bring authentic Chinese cuisine to the people of Hamilton, and is building a better life for his family.
