Taiwanese Stars Undergo 'Devil Training' for New York Banquet Challenge

A group of Taiwanese celebrities, including actors Lan Cheng-lung and Sonia Sui, and comedian Hao Tzu, are undergoing intense "devil training" in Taitung to prepare for a daunting banquet challenge in New York. Guided by the renowned master chef Ah Chan, known as the "Banquet Grandpa" with over 40 years of experience, the team faces a comprehensive regimen designed to test their mettle.

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Cooking is about conscience being more important than culinary skill.

The training goes far beyond the kitchen, encompassing physical conditioning, ingredient sourcing, and on-the-spot culinary problem-solving. A key exercise involves a mountain climb to build stamina, essential for the long hours of banquet service. Upon reaching the summit, each participant draws a tea cup containing a specific ingredient, which they must then use to create a dish. Hao Tzu drew "quinoa," tasked with making quinoa fried rice, while Sonia Sui, drawing "swordfish," was considered lucky due to the availability of fresh fish in the local harbor.

Humor and challenges marked the ingredient-sourcing phase. Lan Cheng-lung and Ah Chan's shopping trip for eel and pork was met with Ah Chan's playful critique of Lan's quiet demeanor compared to Hao Tzu's lively personality. Meanwhile, Sonia Sui, Hao Tzu, Chen Sui-yi, and Chien Chien seized a moment to sample Taitung's famous rice noodles, a spontaneous act Hao Tzu humorously called "being willful for once."

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You can't use ginger and scallions to cover up the taste of food that's about to spoil; the sweetness is gone, and it's even more dangerous to eat.

Master Chef Ah Chan emphasized that the training's core purpose is to simulate unpredictable situations, akin to sourcing ingredients in New York when local options are unavailable. The emphasis is on adaptability and adjusting recipes based on available ingredients, a true test of a chef's real-time problem-solving skills. Sonia Sui admitted the biggest challenge was the lack of precise measurements, relying solely on intuition. Hao Tzu's initial cooking attempts provided much comic relief, while Chen Sui-yi earned the nickname "Culinary Wikipedia" for his extensive knowledge.

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He tells jokes to his wife every night before bed.

Amidst the grueling heat and demanding tasks, the team found moments of camaraderie. Sonia Sui even revealed Hao Tzu's sweet bedtime routine with his wife, describing their 16-year marriage as still being like a passionate romance. The rigorous training in Taitung not only hones their culinary skills but also strengthens their teamwork, preparing the "Banquet Taiwan Team" for their most challenging mission abroad.

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He's very good in the back (kitchen).