Nelson Wang
Encyclopedia
Nelson Wang is a restaurateur in India, founder of the famous China Garden restaurant in Mumbai
's Kemps Corner
neighbourhood. Various sources credit him with the invention of the popular Indian/Chinese dish
"Chicken Manchurian".
. He is the son of a Chinese immigrant. However, within a few days of his birth, his father died, and he was sent to live with a foster family by his mother. His foster father was a chef, to which Wang attributes his own love of cooking.
in 1974, with just Rs
27 in his pocket. His first job there was in a small eatery in Colaba
. He also worked a variety of other odd jobs, including as a limbo dancer
, at which he claims to have been very skilled. According to Wang himself, he was a cook at the Cricket Club of India
when, in 1975, a customer asked him to create a new dish, different from what was available on the menu. He started by taking the basic ingredients of an Indian dish, namely chopped garlic, ginger, and green chilis, but next, instead of adding garam masala
, he put in soy sauce
instead, followed by cornstarch
and the chicken itself; the result was the now-famous Chicken Manchurian.
, Hyderabad, Bangalore
, Pune
, and Goa
. The China Garden ran into trouble in 1999, when a court ordered him to shut it down for violating Coastal Regulation Zone rules about building floor area, in a case that took more than fourteen years. His building was located more than half a kilometre inland, as compared to other businesses such as the Natraj Hotel on Marine Drive
which also allegedly violated regulations but were left untouched; a Rediff columnist criticised the ruling as making "no sense". However, China Garden reopened at the Crossroads Mall in August 2000. It has now moved back to the original location at Kemps Corner.
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
's Kemps Corner
Kemps Corner
Kemps Corner is a neighbourhood in South Mumbai. It lies at the crossroads of Breach Candy and Peddar Road....
neighbourhood. Various sources credit him with the invention of the popular Indian/Chinese dish
Indian Chinese cuisine
Indian Chinese cuisine is the adaptation of Chinese seasoning and cooking techniques to Indian tastes. It is said to have been developed by the small Chinese community that has lived in Kolkata for over a century...
"Chicken Manchurian".
Personal life
Wang was born in KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. He is the son of a Chinese immigrant. However, within a few days of his birth, his father died, and he was sent to live with a foster family by his mother. His foster father was a chef, to which Wang attributes his own love of cooking.
Early career
Wang came to MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in 1974, with just Rs
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
27 in his pocket. His first job there was in a small eatery in Colaba
Colaba
Colaba is a part of the city of Mumbai, India, and also a Lok Sabha constituency. During Portuguese rule in the 16th century, the island was known as Candil...
. He also worked a variety of other odd jobs, including as a limbo dancer
Limbo (dance)
Limbo is a popular form of dance that originated on the island of Trinidad. The dancer moves to a Caribbean rhythm, then leans backward and dances under a horizontal pole without touching it. Upon touching it or falling backwards, the dancer is "out"...
, at which he claims to have been very skilled. According to Wang himself, he was a cook at the Cricket Club of India
Cricket Club of India
Cricket Club of India is located on Dinsha Wacha Road, near Churchgate in Mumbai, India. It is one of the oldest and most well known cricket clubs in India...
when, in 1975, a customer asked him to create a new dish, different from what was available on the menu. He started by taking the basic ingredients of an Indian dish, namely chopped garlic, ginger, and green chilis, but next, instead of adding garam masala
Garam masala
Garam masala is a blend of ground spices common in North Indian and other South Asian cuisines. It is used alone or with other seasonings. The word garam refers to intensity of the spices rather than capsaicin content...
, he put in soy sauce
Soy sauce
Soy sauce is a condiment produced by fermenting soybeans with Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds, along with water and salt...
instead, followed by cornstarch
Cornstarch
Corn starch, cornstarch, cornflour or maize starch is the starch of the corn grain obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel.-History:...
and the chicken itself; the result was the now-famous Chicken Manchurian.
China Garden
Wang branched out from his job at the CCI in 1983 to start his own restaurant, the China Garden. His restaurant gained popularity among Mumbai's elite, and won various awards proclaiming it "India's best restaurant". He and his son Eddie would go on to open several restaurants in various parts of India, including DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Hyderabad, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, and Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. The China Garden ran into trouble in 1999, when a court ordered him to shut it down for violating Coastal Regulation Zone rules about building floor area, in a case that took more than fourteen years. His building was located more than half a kilometre inland, as compared to other businesses such as the Natraj Hotel on Marine Drive
Marine Drive
Marine Drive is a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west...
which also allegedly violated regulations but were left untouched; a Rediff columnist criticised the ruling as making "no sense". However, China Garden reopened at the Crossroads Mall in August 2000. It has now moved back to the original location at Kemps Corner.
External links
- China Garden, Wang's restaurant