Two icons we write about often at Fête Chinoise come together again in the name of basketball and a great cause for sports. Simu Liu and Jeremy Lin and their friends were in town for the CCYAA Celebrity Classic on July 9th. Benefitting the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletics Association and the Jeremy Lin Foundation for underprivileged AAPI youth in sports. ?

To illustrate the fact that creativity emerges from countless perspectives, Alexander McQueen invites a group of twelve artists to express their individual working practices inspired by the Autumn/Winter 2022 women’s pre-collection.

The Canadian Opera Company is proud to announce the Showcase Series, a new slate of programming that spotlights a variety of cultural identities through curating performance opportunities that comprise Toronto’s unique cultural landscape. In May, the company celebrates Asian Heritage Month with a month-long calendar of events that highlights the beauty of music, cultural identity, and language, and also support an understanding of the vast range of Asian communities throughout the city.

Many fans of TVB’s supernatural drama 金宵大廈 can still hear the tune of theme song 今宵多珍重 in their heads from the blockbuster in 2019. Drama creator Ruby Law was inspired by the song, originally in Mandarin, to pen a story about a man and a woman who see each other in their dreams, which was the basis of the romance of the first series. This was also the song that Selena performed in 2020 on the stage of our Fete Chinoise Signature Event at the Royal York Hotel. Selena Lee not only plays the main character in this sequel, she also released her new single 相愛萬年, her first individual solo piece which she also had a part in writing.

This long preamble is my way to wrap my brain around my stunned reaction after seeing EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE. In my perfect world, all I’d write is “Trust me. It’s brilliant. SEE IT”. But I can’t, so please bare with me as I discombobulate my addled brain cells and convince you to be first in line to see the most original and bombastic movie in decades without any spoilers!

My day begin with delicious Pho for lunch, then on to exciting wedding planning activities, which eventually brought me to Nordstrom for some suit shopping. After an hour of unsuccessful consulting, I found myself rummaging through the ready to wear clearance section hoping to find some gems. I end up next to another frantic asian man – I could tell based on the slightly sweaty forehead and furrowed brows, and of course the pace of his browsing from hanger to hanger. I almost instantly had a hunch, wow, is this RONNY CHIENG? He made a remark to the associate helping him and I knew it had to be him based on his distinct Asian-Australian accent. Then, finally it was confirmed, I caught a glimpse of his cyan blue printed Ronny Cheng socks, and there was no mistake!

After the Canadian Premiere of Turning Red, Disney and Pixar’s newest masterpiece, we stepped out of the TIFF Lightbox onto King Street, where the historic two-storey brick buildings sat as a backdrop to a passing streetcar, CN Tower lit up in red and purple to the left. It felt like the scenes from the movie continued into the sidewalk. This is the first Disney film to be situated in (and featuring) Toronto in the early 2000’s, a coming of age story about a 13 year old Chinese-Canadian girl whose emotions turn her into a giant red panda… as the poster suggests, “growing up is a beast!”

Harry Rosen wishes you a Happy Year of the Tiger. Every year, this Canadian company curates a line-up of great men’s gifting choices for the Lunar New Year. Visit Harry Rosen in-store or online to see the full selection.

A Chinese immigrant is caught up in an international crime ring of human smuggling while attempting to make a better life for her family in New York City. Based on the real life story of notorious criminal Sister Peng, from Chinatown, NYC. Directed by Evan Jackson Leong.

To illustrate the fact that creativity emerges from countless perspectives, Alexander McQueen invites a group of twelve artists to express their individual working practices inspired by the Autumn/Winter 2022 women’s pre-collection.

Currently 18 years of age, Sophia had an interest in the arts since childhood. It was, however, the pandemic that really pushed her into creating pieces when she was at home. In 2015, Sophia’s father gave her a Nikon D60 and lent her his camera gear. Prior to the pandemic, this camera was a constant companion, making an appearance everywhere on trips, hang-outs with friends, and neighbourhood walks.

Before getting dressed in the morning, I wade through the dresses, blouses, skirts, jackets, scarves, hats, shoes and handbags clogging my bedroom closet and still can’t find anything to wear. It’s become a daily ritual. My tastes change with the fashion. Or is that I expect too much from my clothes? One day I wear ruffles and feel pretty, and the next a camouflage print to channel my inner warrior. My friend has trouble packing her suitcase for overseas trips because she simply cannot anticipate what her mood might be on the road. “I dress to express what I feel,” she tells me. “Or what I want to make happen on a given day.”

In 2012, her megahit “You Exist In My Song” catapulted her to superstardom, earning her numerous awards such as Best New Artist, Best Music Composer and Best Song from many top Asian platforms. To date, the track’s official music video has over 170 million views on YouTube, a staggering figure that might not even fully reflect her extensive following in China. Capping off her meteoric rise, Wanting performed in front of a live television audience of close to one billion viewers at the 2013 annual Spring Festival Gala, sharing the stage with the legendary Celine Dion.

Lunar New Year is upon us on February 1st, and we welcome the Year of the Tiger with great anticipation. The Tiger is a strong, courageous and majestic animal, which brings about much forward momentum, spontaneity and resilience during a time when we need a fresh outlook. Celebrations may be kept to immediate families this year, due to this wave of the pandemic, but it doesn’t mean the celebration means any less! We have curated some unique ideas for you to help toast the new year with gifts and experiences for your family and friends to whom you may be dropping off some special packages. To new beginnings!

Four young applied artists reveal a glimpse of their dream world. Their imagination takes us on unique journeys of cultural exploration and craftsmanship.

We present the Children’s gift guide with this beautiful lion dance puzzle! Toys, fashion, and other great objects are now ready for you to browse. Check out our handpicked gift guide for the kids!

To mark the theme of the 7th Edition of our annual keepsake magazine: Perspective, we present the men’s gift guide with this first in-demand item of a drone. Gadgets, fashion, and other great objects are now ready for you to browse. Check out our handpicked gift guide for men!

The 2021 Holiday Season places us in what is hopefully the tail end of the world pandemic. In some communities, we will be celebrating with family and friends again, and delivering gifts when we visit! Our gift guide is presented in four chapters this year: home and hosting, men’s, women’s and children’s collections. Enjoy the products and the joy of giving!

The 2021 Holiday Season places us in what is hopefully the tail end of the world pandemic. In some communities, we will be celebrating with family and friends again, and delivering gifts when we visit! Our gift guide is presented in four chapters this year: home and hosting, men’s, women’s and children’s collections. Enjoy the products and the joy of giving!

From my series “The Quiet Spring,” the beginnings of the virus can be seen — at the time it wasn’t perceived as too serious and no one could predict that just two months later, it would become a global pandemic. The development of the epidemic inspired several series of large- and small-scale ink paintings with profound reflections.

My latest project Abundance opened as an online exhibition with Patel Gallery for the 2020 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Featuring new sculptural, photographic and installation-based works, Abundance is a cyclical reflection on two actions: my relatives bringing pieces of cut fruit in my youth, and me leaving fruit offerings at ancestral graves.

This long preamble is my way to wrap my brain around my stunned reaction after seeing EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE. In my perfect world, all I’d write is “Trust me. It’s brilliant. SEE IT”. But I can’t, so please bare with me as I discombobulate my addled brain cells and convince you to be first in line to see the most original and bombastic movie in decades without any spoilers!

My name is Justin Wu. My mother is a fine-art painter and my late father was a doctor. Both grew up in Hong Kong before emigrating to Canada to seek a better life. Typical of many first generation Chinese-Canadians, I felt obligated to attend university and enroll in sciences and business to satisfy my parents’ desire for me to follow in my father’s footsteps. However, much to their disappointment, I tore up my medical school application at the eleventh hour and chose to pursue my passion for the arts instead.

After the Canadian Premiere of Turning Red, Disney and Pixar’s newest masterpiece, we stepped out of the TIFF Lightbox onto King Street, where the historic two-storey brick buildings sat as a backdrop to a passing streetcar, CN Tower lit up in red and purple to the left. It felt like the scenes from the movie continued into the sidewalk. This is the first Disney film to be situated in (and featuring) Toronto in the early 2000’s, a coming of age story about a 13 year old Chinese-Canadian girl whose emotions turn her into a giant red panda… as the poster suggests, “growing up is a beast!”

Academy Award-Winning Director, Ruby Yang, talks about her journey, the idea of time and pace in her work, and COVID-19. Yang is currently the Project Director of the Hong Kong Documentary Initiative (HKDI) and was the recipient of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s Artist of the Year for Film in 2018. Our Fête Chinoise editors first met Ruby in December 2019 at the film screening of The Last Stitch (2019) directed by Alfred Sung, which Yang served as the Executive Producer. Later, Yang shared that she saw the wonderful events featuring Chinese Canadian culture that Fête Chinoise had designed. It is truly our pleasure to share her thoughts.

Fête Chinoise contributor Jasmine Chen shares an up-close and personal interview with Samantha Wan, whom you may know from the award-winning series Second Jen. She worked with Andrew Phung in this new and intriguing series and has so much warmth and heart to share. “Being an actor, a writer, a producer, all of those things make the directing way easier.”

A Chinese immigrant is caught up in an international crime ring of human smuggling while attempting to make a better life for her family in New York City. Based on the real life story of notorious criminal Sister Peng, from Chinatown, NYC. Directed by Evan Jackson Leong.

After a year of delay due to the pandemic, Marvel Studios’ Eternals was finally unveiled at the world premiere this Monday, at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. Guests and critics who got a sneak peek of the film before its official release on November 5th, came back with generally glowing reviews, such as describing the work as evocative, emotional, and extraordinary, especially as a superhero film.

Come behind the scenes with a Marvel film insider and Canadian, Alvin Keung. As a Lead Compositor for many Marvel films including Doctor Strange, Captain America and Black Panther, he has a special view on Shang-Chi and shares a glimpse of what it is like behind the scenes of movie-making in our generation.

Have you watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Not only has it been the number one movie at box offices for two straight weekends, breaking records along its path and surpassing revenue expectations, it has also collected some of the highest praise and reviews! The audience approval is at an astounding 98% audience score and a 92% on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes.

How many of us can stop ourselves at the height of our careers or pursuits, and put the work into transforming ourselves? The introspective journey of self actualization may bring many of us to a point of realization and reflection, of self-awareness and authenticity. Then it requires action and change, the hard part. Fala Chen, a name that many American and Canadian-Chinese households have watched for over a decade via Hong Kong Television, is an inspiration for her dedication to her own journey and development as a person, as an artist.

A global icon through his many unforgettable performances in Hong Kong cinema, Tony Leung stars as Wenwu in Marvel’s Shang-Chi. Are you excited to watch his first Hollywood production? We are! Read on to reminisce the work of this highly acclaimed and decorated superstar, as well as our discussion on why his appearance in Shang-Chi holds utmost significance for so many Chinese-Canadians and North American diasporas. Two Canadians also had the privilege of acting opposite this industry giant — who were they?

It is the week of Marvel’s Shang-Chi! In theatres September 3rd. Be sure to book your tickets to support this milestone moment of representation in movie culture. Read about why our editor-in-chief, Deborah Lau-Yu, is particularly excited for and proud of fellow Canadian, Simu Liu, our country’s newly minted superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We appreciate his journey, his voice and his leadership as a cultural advocate.

Chinese bakeries are famous around the world for their unique selection of ‘Chinese Western Pastries’: buns, cakes and tarts that are best described as a combination of Chinese bakers’ imaginations and Western-style baked goods. Colonial life in Hong Kong brought together different ethnicities and demographics whose cultures and ideas inevitably co-mingled over time. Egg tarts, pineapple buns and coconut cocktail buns are perfect examples of this gastronomic mélange and can be credited to the legions of bakers colloquially referred to as ‘beng lou’ or ‘min baau lou’ — this literally translates to ‘bakery men’ or ‘bread men.’

After returning to Canada from years of working at groundbreaking restaurants like the Michelin 3 Starred The Fat Duck in England and Liberty Private Works in Hong Kong, Chef Ken Yau launched k.Dinners, a pop-up supper club concept in Toronto. These were multi-course, experiential tasting dinners for just 16 guests in a different location every week. Those lively evenings of great food and convivial conversations around a communal table came to an abrupt stop when the pandemic hit. Suddenly, Ken was left scrambling to think of another source of revenue.

We caught up with Chef Craig Wong, the Toronto-based owner of the award-winning restaurant Patois and upcoming Bar Mignonette, to explore his views on sustainability. We wanted to know what the actual practice of this word versus lip service means to him as a chef, restaurateur and cultural champion. During the pandemic, he was a part of a collaboration with IKEA that focused on cooking with scraps. That exercise, in turn, inspired the images in our feature. In this special conversation, we examine the concept of sustainability through three lenses: first as a culinary philosophy, then towards the preservation of culture and, finally, the conservation of the restaurant industry.

Sponsored by LOUIS XIII Cognac. Whether you are celebrating Lunar New Year with family virtually, or live under one roof, one thing we can still enjoy is a time of gifting and receiving! Whether it's lucky red pockets of money or a red-wrapped gift, all are delivered with auspicious wishes of fortune, good health, and longevity.

The Macallan has unveiled A Night On Earth In Scotland single malt whisky, which reveals the story of Scotland’s world-famous Hogmanay festivities and captures the universal joy of celebrating the change of year. This global annual limited edition crafted by world-famous whisky maker, The Macallan, has a soft and velvety mouthfeel. Whether for yourself, or as a gift to family, friends, or business partners, it is an ideal expression to celebrate the new year.

10,000 camphor trees and 50 historical buildings were replanted and reconstructed in Minhang District, just outside of Shanghai under the direction of Mr. Dadong Ma. Why? He wanted to stop these cultural artifacts and places from being forever lost. The businessman then searched out Aman Resorts as an operator and many years later, Amanyangyun was born.

Which of the many colours best represents Chinese culture? Readers might say, the answer is obvious: Red! Indeed, the ancient Chinese people also appreciated colours other than red: colours such as purple. In this article, our contributor, Christina Han, shared the cultural history of purple in China. “From a much stigmatized colour, to technological wonder, a manifestation of Daoist spirituality, and finally a symbol of imperial authority, the colour purple evolved through China’s long history and eventually became an important part of Chinese visual culture. The story of purple reminds us of the rich diversity within Chinese culture that often gets overshadowed by simplified and exoticized representations of China inspired by popular consumerism and Orientalism. So next time you celebrate the Spring Festival, add a bit of purple in the sea of red and gold, and welcome the purple air coming from the east!”

For a world that values culture and tradition far less than materialism and other commodities, one designer has managed to set a foundation for his company by capturing the charming vernacular and local spirit of his city, Hong Kong. Douglas Young, a local celebrity who has appeared on one of Anthony Bourdain’s last episodes of Parts Unknown and lectured at universities in Singapore about his passion for culture, is making a difference in helping this generation remember the unique culture of Hong Kong’s ever-changing identity. Douglas co-founded G.O.D. with Benjamin Lau in 1996, fulfilling a long-term vision to build a Hong Kong brand that is both forward-looking and proud of its cultural origins. G.O.D. retails contemporary furniture, homeware and lifestyle accessories with a contemporary Chinese twist, designed in-house by a multidisciplinary design team led by Douglas.

Silence and refuge in a world of hustle and bustle is hard to find. Our editorial team had the pleasure of visiting @tszshanmonastery , where we experienced the most breathtaking views and Chinese architecture in a serene setting. Located on the green slopes of Mt. Pat Sin Leng in Hong Kong, Tsz Shan sits majestically on the hillside above the waters of Plover Cove, surrounded by lushly-forested hills away from the global city’s dense core. Its tranquillity is foreign — unfamiliar to the intensity of Hong Kong’s pace, and a serene reminder to calm the heart. Visit our website to read more details on this incredible place that is a must visit once we can travel again! ?

Even though this year we aren’t able to see the annual Dragon Boat races in Toronto, we look forward to it activities in the Fall of 2021 and the return of the Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival in 2022! Learn more about this tradition and our Canadian national team members who shared their story with us in Edition 3, Luck & Ritual. We have utmost respect for these highly experienced and decorated athletes in our community.

Food brings back fond cultural memories for all of us, no matter what age we are living in! Renowned culinary instructor Ann shares with us a childhood favourite of hers — rice dumplings (in Taiwanese style). Not only delicious, this traditional staple is also simple to make. This recipe is from history that dates back centuries ago, and is now rooted in our modern culture through the home kitchens of millions around the world.
暖心的食物是記載歷史的秘訣。知名烹飪老師Ann 與我們分享她與丈夫兒時最愛的台灣棕子食譜，不僅易做，還帶回了美好的回憶。

Join Billy as he cooks with his Po Po (Grandma) and shares their family recipes and personal stories of culture, this time, let’s sample their special braised pork belly!

Born in Harbin, China, and raised in Toronto, Emily had a traditional Asian upbringing. This included parents who, naturally, encouraged her to pursue a livelihood that would be financially sound. She dutifully fulfilled her parents’ expectations, studying business and starting a stable career. They were pleased.

Artistic soul Emma or “FYi” Khoo has straddled many mediums, including modelling, makeup and photography. She also is an accomplished singer, is pursuing a PhD and has an architecture background. Proudly showcasing her culture, Emma’s content includes stories that she grew up with, including anime, Ancient Egypt, Greek myths to Chinese legends and novels Journey to the West and the Three Kingdoms.

Typeface or font designers are a rare breed. And Chinese typeface designers are even more scarce, which one can understand given this context: The average Western/Latin typeface is comprised of about 200 glyphs (the symbols that make up a writing system, including letters, numerals, punctuation, accents, etc. ) to create a functional set, whereas the average font used for Traditional Chinese in Hong Kong or Taiwan requires over 13,000 glyphs for basic usage. That number jumps up to a staggering 20,000 glyphs for when you add other Chinese dialects and regions, such as the characters in Simplified Chinese!

The Hong Kong Arts Exhibition aim to showcase how Hong Kong artists adopt traditional craft to create culturally-rich contemporary artworks including mini cheongsam dummies, lion head crafts, galvanized iron coffee sets and letter boxes for home deco or use in daily life. The making of these artworks are considered an intangible part of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage and craftsmanship.

You may recognize Ishie Wang’s face immediately: she is one of the prominent Asian models in Canadian advertisements for Roots, Hudson’s Bay, Sporting Life, and The Shopping Channel. From an early age, her family clearly envisioned a cultivated life of aesthetics and artistic appreciation for her. Ishie began learning piano at the age of 3 1/2, studied calligraphy and Chinese painting at the age of 4, and learned erhu at 6 and percussion instruments at 8. By the age of 11, she had completed her Grade 9 Piano certification and was recognized in numerous musical competitions.

Currently 18 years of age, Sophia had an interest in the arts since childhood. It was, however, the pandemic that really pushed her into creating pieces when she was at home. In 2015, Sophia’s father gave her a Nikon D60 and lent her his camera gear. Prior to the pandemic, this camera was a constant companion, making an appearance everywhere on trips, hang-outs with friends, and neighbourhood walks.

On May 25th, in celebration of Jewish and Asian Heritage month, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto hosted the TRIBUTE TO FRIENDSHIP EXHIBITION.

Opening night highlighted the cross cultural experiences of the two cultures, and featured the works of over 25 Jewish and Chinese artists who explored the 1000 year historical legacy of the Jewish and Chinese communities.

Art reflects our ever-changing culture and has the ability to shift society's values and views. Racism and injustice have been a huge topics during the pandemic, magnified by the heartbreaking discovery of thousands of unmarked childrenís graves at Indigenous residential school sites, the Black Lives Matter movement, and anti-Asian racism, discrimination and violence in North America.

Art reflects our ever-changing culture and has the ability to shift society's values and views. Racism and injustice have been a huge topics during the pandemic, magnified by the heartbreaking discovery of thousands of unmarked childrenís graves at Indigenous residential school sites, the Black Lives Matter movement, and anti-Asian racism, discrimination and violence in North America.

In 2008 my mother Isabel Sun Chao and I began a decade-long journey digging into our family’s past, which we recounted in our family memoir Remembering Shanghai. My maternal grandfather Sun Bosheng was born in China in 1894, a year whose cosmological confluences portended conflict, instability and disaster. Two months before his birth, a great fire in Shanghai destroyed over one thousand buildings, and the First Sino-Japanese War broke out shortly after. By all accounts he was born with silver chopsticks; yet war, famine and political upheaval dogged him throughout his life.

I am often too focussed on how the world sees me that I sometimes forget to see myself. As a Chinese woman, one of my defining features are my eyes. These are the same eyes that were ridiculed when I was a child. I still remember the chant about them which made me feel ugly. It resides in my mind as the first time I realised I looked different from everyone else. Yet, I now love these imaginative eyes that, when closed, take me to faraway lands and places I never thought I would see. Now, I am proud of these almond eyes, eyes that guide me to paint, draw and create. I cherish them for the beauty that they let me see, in others and over the years, in myself and my journey.

Before getting dressed in the morning, I wade through the dresses, blouses, skirts, jackets, scarves, hats, shoes and handbags clogging my bedroom closet and still can’t find anything to wear. It’s become a daily ritual. My tastes change with the fashion. Or is that I expect too much from my clothes? One day I wear ruffles and feel pretty, and the next a camouflage print to channel my inner warrior. My friend has trouble packing her suitcase for overseas trips because she simply cannot anticipate what her mood might be on the road. “I dress to express what I feel,” she tells me. “Or what I want to make happen on a given day.”