2016.037.010 Oral History Interview with Jeff Gao, 2015/11/14
Jeff Gao was born in 1976 in Shandong, China. He grew up during the end of the Cultural Revolution, thus he did not have an abundant amount of food to eat or experience. From a young age, he talks of his fondness of hand-pulled noodles and his determination to learn how to make the noodles from a chef he knew. Later, he went on to study in Beijing and eventually travel the world to learn about food internationally. His first restaurant Little Yunnan in Beijing was a huge success and the restaurant brought him success and fame in the food industry and was named one of the best restaurants in China. After the success of his initial restaurant, Gao eventually opened another restaurant in Boulder, Colorado in the United States. In his interview, Gao recounts his experience with food as he emphasizes the importance of high quality ingredients, cooking techniques, and cooking with serious passion.

0:00 - Gao was born in 1976 in the Shandong province, at the end of the cultural revolution, was not much food, staple food corn, Chinese crepe, steamed bun mantou, hand pulled noodle favorite dish 高先生1976年出生于山东省,文革末期,食物不多,主食玉米、可丽饼、馒头、手拉面是最爱吃的菜

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

8:19 - Noodle and broth most important, Ashburn helps make dough stretchable, Studied at Beijing, Perspective of food changed from survival to happiness, Opened his own restaurant 面条和肉汤最重要,Ashburn帮助做可拉抻的面团,在北京学习,看待食物的视角从满足生存需要上升到幸福,开了自己的餐厅

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

16:23 - Asked for advice from customers, first restaurant called Little Yunnan restaurant in Beijing, near Forbidden City, Famous fish in sour and spicy broth, Spends a lot of time on broth 征求顾客意见,北京第一家餐馆叫小云南,在故宫附近,酸辣汤名鱼,在汤上花很多功夫

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

21:46 - Working at different kitchens, Went to cooking school, Marinating is very important, Slow cooking and steaming prominent in Gao’s recipes, Does not stir-fry 在不同的厨房工作,上过烹饪学校,腌制非常重要,慢煮和蒸在高先生的食谱中出类拔萃,不翻炒

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

29:05 - Criticizes Chinese line cooks and greasy food, Importance of ingredients, Hard to get good quality ingredients in China, Uses high quality ingredients even for street food in the States 评论中国一线厨师和油腻的食物,食材的重要性,在中国很难买到优质食材,在美国即使是街头食品也使用优质食材

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

35:02 - Ingredients are the key, One meal he remembers forever, Signature dish is pork belly over rice, Popular with Chinese students, Both Chinese and Americans like this dish 配料是关键,他永远记得的一顿饭,招牌菜是五花肉盖饭,很受中国学生欢迎,中国人和美国人都喜欢这道菜

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

41:28 - Essential ingredients are flower pepper, star anise, cilantro or basil, Been in the States since 2009, tried a lot of Chinese American food, was not impressed, Emphasizes health 主要成分是花椒、八角、香菜或九层塔,2009年来美国,尝试了很多中美食物,没有留下深刻印象,注重健康

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

49:20 - Food legacy, Vegetable dishes promote health, Few vegetable choices at Whole Foods and American supermarkets, Want to combine east and west food 食物传承,蔬菜菜肴促进健康,Whole Foods和美国超市的蔬菜选择很少,想要结合东西方食物

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

54:20 - Biggest culinary influence, joked Gordon Ramsey, Teacher Wong, Three foods Gao cannot live without, Hot pot as social food, Spicy and sweet potato noodle, Mala crawfish is Gao’s comfort food 最大的烹饪影响,开戈登拉姆齐的玩笑,还有黄老师,高先生不能没有的三种食物,火锅是社交食品,甜辣土豆面,麻辣小龙虾是高的开心食品

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

61:12 - To Chinese, food is for social purposes, Dinner lasts for hours, People sit around a table and talk, Authentic Chinese food through migration 对中国人来说,食物是为了社交目的,晚餐持续数小时,人们围坐在桌子旁交谈,移民中的正宗中国菜

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

67:57 - Hope that Americans will learn about the diversity in Chinese food, Sesame chicken is not Chinese food 希望美国人了解中国菜的多样性,芝麻鸡不是中国菜

Play segment Segment link

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

Search This Index
Search Clear