CookSmart (3rd Issue) Page4

EatSmart Restaurants Snaps

Tai Hing Roast Restaurant

Healthy Roast Restaurant

Roast meat, a.k.a. siu mei, is one of the all times favourites of Hong Kong people. Siu Mei dishes are often oily and come with little vegetables on the side. Tai Hing Roast Restaurant and Tai Hing New Century, however, take the lead in Siu Mei Restaurants by joining the EatSmart force and offer healthier food options.

Reward, Recognition and Penalty

According to Mr. Bosco HO, Deputy General Manager of Tai Hing Worldwide Development Ltd. said, Tai Hing was no different from other Siu Mei restaurants when it was established in 1989. Since then, the restaurant has introduced a series of reform in diversifying their products, standardizing the production process and modernizing the management system. Most importantly, the chain restaurant has adopted a "person-centred" management approach which emphasized staff training, reward and recognition of good performances rather than penalizing them for mistakes made.

More Vegetables and Less Sugar are the Modern Trends

As customers are demanding more vegetables in their meals, the chain restaurant started to offer more vegetable-rich dishes a few years ago. Dishes like hot pot with Chinese kale and fried vegetables with meats are well received by customers.

Siu Mei is usually high in fat content. Mr. HO said, "This can be reduced if you choose to eat chicken breast or skinless chicken. Our restaurant would cater to customers’ need for lean meat by deskinning the chicken."

The restaurant, moreover, has reduced the sugar content of their drinks by 20%.

EatSmart Recipes - Delicious and Healthy

Mr. HO said the company stressed on communicating the concept of healthy eating with their staff. With a comprehensive staff training programme, Tai Hing’s employees understand and live the group’s mission. The company has been providing "3 Less" and "More Fruit and Vegetables" dishes in 6 of their branches. It is hoped that more and more people ask for healthy food.

He said, "With the right mix of ingredients, we can cook very delicious and healthy dishes."