SYMPHONY HONORS CECILIA CHIANG
The phrase “puttin’ on the dog” took on elevated meaning this Lunar New Year as the San Francisco Symphony celebrated renowned chef Cecilia
Chiang at its Chinese New Year Concert and Imperial Dinner. A week later, festivities continued when the Asian Art Museum heralded architect Kulapat
Yantrasast, designer of the museum’s $90 million expansion that breaks ground this spring.
“We celebrate the legacy of our dear friend and mentor, Cecilia Chiang,” toasted gala chairwoman
Xiaojun Lee at the Feb. 24 Symphony fete. “She disrupted the notion of fast, cheap Chinese food at her iconic restaurant, the Mandarin, by creating a sophisticated cuisine that awakens the entire palate.”
During a preparty hosted by gala sponsor Tiffany (where deep-pocketed donors were gifted with gorgeous porcelain boxes decorated with a Tiffany-blue dog), Lee recalled meeting Chiang in 2016 when she produced the PBS series “The Kitchen Wisdom of Cecilia Chiang.”
Now a vibrant 98, Chiang describes herself as a happy person who’s more than a chef with a diverse interest in art, food and fashion. She loves whatever she’s doing — from restaurant consulting or working with the Chinese American International School in San Francisco to planting roses and spending time with an array of friends.
“When I arrived here, I didn’t know much English and it was difficult. So now I have the chance to help new immigrants who don’t know the language but want to open a restaurant. It keeps me young,” says Chiang. “The United States welcomed me, allowing me to introduce Chinese food and culture here. And for that, I’m very grateful.”
The Symphony dedicated its all-Eastern music concert, led by conductor Xian Zhang, to the late Mayor Ed Lee. He was a fan of this annual fete benefiting the Symphony’s community and education programs, including Adventures in Music, now in its 30th year of providing music experiences to all San Francisco public-school students in firstthrough fifth-grades.
“Mayor Lee was a staunch supporter of the Symphony,” said Symphony trustee Margaret Lui
Collins. “And we’re honored to have his wife, Anita Lee, and their daughters, Brianna and Tania, here to celebrate his life and love of music.”
Post-concert Imperial Dinner guests, many accessorized with red or swathed in traditional cheongsams, strolled to Sound Box where Blue Print Studios set an elegant scene — a perfect pairing for McCalls Catering’s delicious Chianginspired menu (crab salad with pickled lotus, soybraised beef and black cod, and lilikoi meringue tart) that was introduced by a dramatic parade of roasted duck.
Raising her glass, Lee sang praise to Chiang: “Cecilia is an amazing woman, and her story is an immigrant tale. Her family was torn apart by war. She was defrauded; she endured prejudice and hate. But through hard work and determination, Cecilia fulfilled her dreams. And inspires all of us.”
New chapter: Pant suits defined a new wave March 1 at the Asian Art Museum’s Transformation gala led by architect Kulapat Yantrasast and Lucy Sun.
“Kulapat always wears a jumpsuit,” said Sun, decked in a glam, beaded version of the traditional work suit, with a joking aside: “He says with this style, you can eat as much as you want.”
And 425 guests feasted on an exquisite, Asianinspired McCalls meal in a tent tricked out by Kulapat, whose signature monochrome style was expressed by black linens adorned with white orchids.
Asian Art Museum Director Jay Xu toasted the museum’s 15th year in its Civic Center home and paid tribute to gala donors whose support benefits the museum’s education programs serving 35,000 students and educators every year.
“But this year marks a new chapter, a chapter of transformation: expanded facilities for art with much richer and more diverse content to transform the visitor’s experience,” he enthused. “Our mission is to make Asian art and culture essential for everyone.”
After the Hiplet Ballerinas wowed the crowd by rocking out in toe shoes, 450 more guests landed back at the museum for a post-party starring a silent disco and old-school rocking-out to the Spazmatics. Specialty drinks were whipped up by sponsor Kikori Whiskey, as well as soothing miniboba teas by the Boba Guys.
In fact, it was sort of a test run for Boba cofounders Bin Chen and Andrew Chau, who are collaborating with chef Deuki Hong on a new cafe concept at the museum.
Chau is a UC Berkeley grad who grew up in South City. His father, Danny Chau, a Chinese native, is a retired Muni driver who was honored by Mayor Lee for never missing a day of work as he guided bus lines 22, 10 and 12 all over San Francisco.
“As the child of an immigrant, to do a museum project, especially in this museum,” marveled Chau, “it’s just amazing.”