ASIA Records is proud to officially recognise Chef Martin Yan Man-daat, host of Yan Can Cook, for achieving a significant continental milestone as the:
Longest-Running Culinary Television and Travel Series by a Single Chef Host
(48-year continuous run since 1978; 3,668 episodes produced; broadcast in 50+ countries; 37 authored culinary titles).
This recognition honours Chef Martin Yan’s enduring contribution to promoting Asian cuisine and culture to a global audience through nearly five decades of uninterrupted television broadcasting, extensive on-location filming across Asia, and lifelong culinary education.
A Series That Has Never Stopped Since 1978
In 1978, Chef Martin Yan appeared on a Canadian daytime programme to demonstrate Chinese cooking. He was subsequently invited back before being offered his own daily series. Forty-eight years later, that programme remains in production.
Yan Can Cook has run continuously since 1978, spanning 3,668 episodes hosted personally by Chef Yan across studio and on-location productions. Over that period, the series has been distributed to audiences in more than 50 countries.
What distinguishes this achievement is the uninterrupted continuity of the series under the same host for nearly five decades.
Across the arrival of cable television, the growth of dedicated food networks, the streaming era, and the rise of short-form video, the series has continued to evolve while remaining anchored by the same chef, educator, and cultural storyteller.
Carrying Asian Culinary Heritage Across the Continent
Beyond studio production, Chef Yan has filmed extensively on location throughout Asia, producing dedicated series across Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, and China.
These productions extend beyond recipes to explore regional heritage, history, and culture, presenting Asian cuisine within the communities and traditions that shaped it.
Approximately two-thirds of the programme’s content has been filmed on location, bringing viewers directly into the regions, traditions, and communities behind Asian cuisine.
Through this approach, the series has served as a long-running window into Asian food culture for international audiences, introducing regional cuisines to viewers who may previously have had little exposure to them.
A Body of Work Beyond the Screen
Chef Yan has authored 37 culinary titles to date, with three further volumes currently in development.
In 1985, he founded the Yan Can International Cooking School and has served as a guest instructor at leading culinary institutions worldwide.
His accolades include the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, a Daytime Emmy Award in 1998, the James Beard Award for Best TV Cooking Show in 1994, the James Beard Award for Best TV Food Journalism in 1996, and designation as a Certified Master Chef by the American Culinary Federation.
Together, these achievements reflect a career that extends far beyond television, encompassing culinary education, publishing, cultural exchange, and public engagement.
ASIA Records’ First Individual Record Holder
This recognition marks a historic first for the platform.
Chef Martin Yan is the first individual to be listed in ASIA Records, joining an official register that has, to date, recognised corporations, institutions, organisations, and government bodies across the continent.
His listing establishes a benchmark for documenting exceptional personal achievements at the continental level through primary source review, independent corroboration, and competitive benchmarking across Asia.
At the time of certification, no publicly documented equivalent was identified across all eleven ASEAN member states and the major markets of China, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
His recognition also reflects ASIA Records’ commitment to documenting extraordinary individual achievements that have created lasting impact across the continent and beyond.
A Milestone Moment of Acknowledgement
The ASIA Records certificate was officially presented on 23 July 2026 at Star Cafe KL, Taman Desa, marking the official acknowledgement of Chef Martin Yan’s continental achievement.
The recognition was received on stage by Chef Martin Yan Man-daat, host of Yan Can Cook, representing nearly five decades of culinary broadcasting, education, and cultural storytelling.
Voices of Leadership
Reflecting on the recognition, Chef Martin Yan shared:
“I am truly honoured to receive this recognition from ASIA Records and even more grateful to celebrate it among so many good friends. Looking around this room, I see the cream of the crop—people who have dedicated themselves to excellence and who continue to make meaningful contributions to society.
This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs to everyone who has supported Yan Can Cook over the past 48 years—our viewers, our production team, our partners, and everyone who believes that food has the power to bring people together across cultures.
And last but not least, if Yan can cook, so can you! If Yan cannot, don’t even try!”
About Chef Martin Yan
Chef Martin Yan Man-daat is a chef, television host, culinary educator, and author, best known as the host of Yan Can Cook.
Born in Guangzhou and professionally trained in Hong Kong from the age of thirteen, Chef Yan holds a diploma from the Overseas Institute of Cookery, Hong Kong, and a Master of Science in Food Science from the University of California, Davis.
Over a career spanning nearly five decades, he has hosted one of the world’s longest-running culinary television and travel series, authored 37 culinary titles, founded the Yan Can International Cooking School, and inspired generations of home cooks through his passion for Asian cuisine and cultural exchange.
For more information, please visit: https://yancancook.com/
