news 7/19 Book Fair, Apprentice Chef 2

Apprentice Chef hosted by Steven Ma garnered excellent result. He has invited Louisa Su Yuk-Wa* as his guest in his finale episode.  Both will have hands-on cooking.  Steven will even challenge himself to a 3-min cooking of a dish.  

Steven discloses that since Apprentice Chef aired, restaurateur friends have invited him to partnership in a food & drinks business, but unfortunately he does not have the time or energy to spare.  He believes that a business needs total commitment and hands-on involvement.  Moreover, he worries that if joint venture with friends, he may lose friendship over money should there be differences of opinions, and this he does not wish to see happen.

 ******************

Apprentice Chef hosted by Steven Ma garnered good feedback but what he most regrets is that he was unable to invite good friend, Linda Chung, to his program.

Steven: “Linda is busy in filming her new series. Had tried to accommodate her schedule three times but failed. I feel a bit disappointed.”

Steven will hold a discussion forum in the HK Book Fair, he candidly says that he worries he will be upstaged by leng mo. (young models) He reveals that he will talk about food and drinks and healthy attitude.   He jests: “I heard many leng mos will make an appearance at the site.  Worry people will ignore me.”

 Various sources: Tagung bao; singpao

Weibo 6/29 HSH news

Steven-ma.org 6/29  17:02   2011/06/29 Headline news: Steven Ma served milk tea for good friends. Steven attended the health products dinner health at Kwoloon last night disclosed that he was contracted as the spokesperson for a 7 figure fee for one year. And that he is very satisfied with the remuneration.  He laughs and says: "All the products have their uses, just like making milk tea, not right for me but can still benefit friends."

steven 17:21   Thank you  Mr. Pang and Carmankwan for their affection and support! This husband and wife couple is truly very very good to me!  Thank you! The court series produces the best ! ~Derivative

news 6/20 Apprentice Chef doing well

on.cc 6/20/2011 Hosting Apprentice Chef brought out Steven Ma's latent cooking talent.  Furthermore, the successive increases in the program's ratings made him very happy, hence, an extra episode is added to the show.  For  Father's Day that just passed, he spent two days in preparation, and personally cooked a feast for his father and family making his father very happy.

 

Apprentice Chef adds a special edition episode, Steven Ma thanks audience for their support.

Because of its novelty format plus its cash and award prizes amounting to over 3 million hkd, TVB program, Apprentice Chef, hosted by Steven Ma, not only attracted numerous chefs to compete but also the appreciation of the audience.  Because of its favorable ratings, TVB plans to add a special edition episode right before the final competition, Chef Ma will have an extra opportunity to show off his culinary skill, which makes him very happy. 

In the past, the average rating norm for the Saturday 9:30 pm timeslot was about 17 points, but since its debut, Apprentice Chef's rating has been gradually increasing to its present 23 points. (tn: AC debuted at 20 points)  Company is very satisfied, so has decided to add another episode to it.  Of course, Steven is very happy.  He says good ratings aside, he has benefited much from the show.  Since hosting the program, he has received  many cooking tips from numerous renowned chefs; his latent cooking talent is ascertained, making him more confident in his culinary skill.  On Father's Day, he personally cooked a feast for his father and family to enjoy his cooking.  His menu included eight dishes and a soup  such as Golden Prawns, stewed ox tail, and of course, his beloved snow fungus and pig's tendons soup. After partaking his food, Father Ma and family all unanimously praised his cooking.  Seeing the happiness on his father's face, Steven felt that the two days of preparation was totally worth it.

source: wenweipo

Apprentice Chef II Joyce Koi

2011/6/17 Joyce Koi complained about Steven Ma's Cooking Skill

The night before Joyce Koi was invited by good friend, Steven Ma, as the special guest in Apprentice Chef.  During the interview they opposed each other.  Steven revealed that he once invited Joyce to his house as guest.  He made a traditional stir fry tomatoes with eggs dish.  Who knew all he received from her was critique, and no praise. Steven said: "I used the traditional method to make this dish; used only sugar no ketchup.  But she insisted on me adding ketchup.  And also said my tomato eggs were not smooth enough.  So my face at that time turned black lo!  You requested me to cook so should respect my cooking style! "

After that Steven never cooked for her anymore.  Asked Joyce if she would cook for him, she laughed and said: "He will not eat my food!"  Steven admitted that he is quite chauvinistic as well as persistent and stubborn. But Joyce praised her good friend that though he is chauvinistic, Steven takes very good care of his female friends.  When Steven heard that, he laughed and said: "Right, I take very good care of the elderly and weak, the women and the children."

Joyce Koi and Steven are the best of friends for many years now since Better Halves. It was Joyce who fired up Steven's interest in the Cantonese Opera, and has over the years invited Steven numerous times as special guests in her concerts. Steven teasingly called Joyce his Gugu.

Source: singpao; steven-ma.org

Sudden Weekly: Steven Ma and his bike

[忽然一周vol.829]單車熱潮 踩車熱捲娛圈　馬浚偉平玩摺車

 The Bicycle new wave. Steven enjoying foldable bicycle.

news: re Steven Ma response towards Bosco Wong's nude pictures

Yesterday 6/16/2011 Louis Erard held a grand scale press conference at 4:30  to celebrate its 80th anniversary and especially invited artist, Steven Ma, as special guest. As to the incident of Bosco Wong and Myolie Wu been secretly photographed at home, and of a nude Bosco snapped walking around the apartment, Steven says: "If after a shower at home and nobody's home, after drying the body, I might not get dressed immediately when come out. I suggest that if one can greet the neighbors through the window to be more careful."  Steven says that his bedroom blinds have been down for more than 10 years.

He says: "If female then truly terrible; males, not so bad. Ultimately, will not cause too much harm. (The private part was photographed wo?) Got to have some self-confidence ma. Bosco is so fit, what's there to worry? Hope he won't be too unhappy".

 source: yahoo; singtao


 @ mingpao

As to Bosco Wong being secretly photographed, Steven was shocked: He says: "Wah! Actually after a shower at home, may not put on clothes immediately if there's nobody there.  At the most, will wear an underwear. So I suggest that everybody, not just artistes, to draw the curtains.  My bedroom blinds are never opened, now I may need to add another layer of sheers to them!  (Bosco was snapped in the nude?) He needs to have confidence in himself ma.  He's so fit, no need to worry.  Macho men (男人老狗 ), can get a bigger (tn: pixelated) square, don't be unhappy.  Just be more careful next time."

******************
TN: I love Steven's response about Bosco should have confidence in himself. lol! Of course, Steven can afford to be cavalier since he was not the one got caught in the nude.  But then I can't imagine Steven being that careless. 
  
Actually, Julian has about the same response to Bosco's photos, using flippancy to downplay the incident. I quite appreciate their response.  What else can Bosco do but suck it up like a man, and look to the positive side, which is like Steven and Julian have pointed out: Bosco has a fit body.   And now Wayne too trying to downplay the incident with humor.

It is despicable how HK tabloids violated Bosco's privacy with their invasive doggie shoots and stalking.  Undoubtedly, Bosco is victimized but should not let that incident bring him down, Julian, Steven and Wayne pointed the right direction to deal with that unfortunate incident: with high EQ, humor and flippancy.  What's done is done, and on weibo, most netizens are supporting Bosco and reviling the doggies.  

Julian Cheung:  bv_AJ4 gS I have confidence in his body.  Don't think he will collapse because of the photos.  Julian then batgua asked if Bosco's private part has been blocked out with a pixelated square?  

Wayne Lai: Was he presentable first? The most important thing is must be ok? I too roam my house in the nude everyday.  If photographed no problem, but wait till I took care of my potbelly first." 

8 Q +TE;

Steven Ma in watch anniversary ceremony

Steven Ma attended a swiss watch anniversary and was presented with a watch worth tens of thousands of dollars.  He has also a collection of 50 watches that he said quite frankly worth a house down payment.  Among the most valuable is worth 400,000 hkd.

news 2011/6/14 Steven Ma as Spiderman in Scaling Rocks.

2011/6/14 on.cc  Steven Ma visits Taiwan, imitates Spiderman scales rock.

click to enlarge pix.

REVISED article with added info from other news reports.

TVB's Book of Words and Apprentice Chef, tv programs both hosted by Steven Ma, have been very well received by the tv viewers.  Book of Words let the viewers see Steven Ma's extraordinary literacy ability, while Apprentice Chef incurred a group of sina's (housewives) excessive admiration for his cooking skill.  Apprentice Chef's last Saturday's broadcast garnered an average rating of 22 points, up by 5 points from the week before, making Steven very happy. 

Toward the end of July after wrapping up Apprentice Chef, Steven will return to tvb city to shoot Producer Miu Siu Ching's new series with Linda Chung, his co-star for the fifth time.  He will portray a masterful badminton player enthusiast. Though he is very busy Steven still managed to take time off to visit his friends in Taiwan.  Steven says: "This is my 5th time collaborating with Linda.  Siu Ching jie will tailor made the role  for me, a persona with lots of character who is also an avid badminton player. Wah! very happy!  And thank you to Siu Ching jie. " 

Steven also says:  Even though very busy, but I understand the importance of taking a break from the frenzy, so in early June I went over to Taiwan for a few days, resting at the same time visiting friends." 

Steven says:  "I love Taiwan, whenever I had free time I would go there. Besides Taipei, this time also visited Keelung and Hoping. They are beautiful tourist resorts.  Big pieces of of granite boulders encompassed by blue sky and white clouds.  That's where I did the rock climbing and snapped lots of photos.  So unbelievably happy!" 

He even imitated spiderman scaling the rocks every which way, enjoying himself to the fullest.

Steven says: "Lately I fell in love with sports, playing badminton as well as biking and becoming quite agile in the process.  Rock climbing was only for fun, not arduous at all. " 

Steven says candidly that over the years his attitude has slowly changed so he now chooses to see the positive side of things, consequently his mood has become more relaxed.

**********************************************

TN: Glad Steven set aside some quality time for himself away from work and from weibo.  His absence from weibo was definitely felt by his regulars.  For those who don't know, Steven's girlfriend, Vivien, is from Taiwan so he most probably spent time with her and her family in Taiwan.

weibo 6/13 counting blessings, giving thanks.

6/13 17:43  Lately truly has been very happy!  Incredibly relaxed! Incredibly comfortable!  As previously stated, learn how to let go only then can receive more!  Thank you to all friends for giving me the opportunity, thank you to those of you who quietly support me.  Thank you, and even more, grateful!

related picture  
 Turn out this photo was taken when Steven went rock climbing in Taiwan when he was on a break from work. 


最近真的很愉快！無比的輕鬆、無比的舒暢！如之前所言，學會放下，才能得到更多！感激所有給予我機會的朋友、感謝所有默默支持我的你們。感謝、更感恩！

Maggie Cheung as Steven Ma's Apprentice Chef Special Guest

2011/06/09   { ? 1 mY"   on.cc Steven Ma is recording his Apprentice Chef.  He says candidly that he has used up his friendship cards for his program.  Today he has invited Maggie Cheung to be his special guest.  But later he will return the favor to her by being  her special guest in her own program.  He also reveals he has invited Charmaine Sheh as the finale anchor guest.

For the remaining episodes in AC, Steven will invite Sharon Chan, Liu Xuan, Linda Chung and Cao Chung (Jojo) who has just given birth.  To close the show, he will invite Charmaine Sheh as the finale guest.

TN: There are 13 episodes in all, so far Steven has invited Tavia, Myolie, Fala, Aimee Chan, Joyce Tang, Maggie Cheung, Sharon Chan, Liu Xuan, Linda Chung, Cao Chung and Charmaine Sheh as guests, which made 9 in all, who will be the remaining  3?

credit: steven-ma.org  

Credit pix to: HKChannel

Apprentice Chef - Intense and Exciting

2011 6/9 Macao Daily
Apprentice Chef - Intense and Exciting

If there's a culinary tv program that has 'substance', this writer will not miss it.  TVB's whole new season of Apprentice Chef is among one of the better programs that should not be missed.  This program uses the culinary competition among the master chefs from eateries as a selling point. Speed, taste and cooking creativity etc are the elements on which to judge for superiority.  In the show the contestants demonstrate their cooking skills impromptu in situ, which will then be judged by some stellar adjudicators renowned in the culinary world. It could even be said the show has muscles, not bad. The program is not only entertaining but as the host, Steven Ma's performance is outstanding; not only does he participate in hands-on cooking, but also holds the show together very well.  Praiseworthy!

 

Credit: Steven-ma.org

TN: Steven has been getting good reports from Macao Daily lately, his hosting ability in both Book of Words and Apprentice Chef must have impressed its reporters, which used to bash him in the past. I bet people are most impressed by Steven's on-hands participation, his confidence and gutsiness to take on new challenges, and of course, his cooking ability.

Steven Ma Shares his work experiences with AIA employees

2011 June 2nd – After Steven Ma started hosting Book of Words II and Apprentice Chef, and because both tv programs garnered favorable ratings and feedback, and that Steven is well-versed in both literatures and martial arts  (文武双全) , as well as having a well established upright and healthy image, he has been invited by both the insurance and the education sectors as guest speaker to share his working experiences with the people in the industry.

Recently, Steven accepted AIA’s invitation as guest speaker for its 《AIA MDRT 1299》(tn: American International Assurance Million Dollar Round Table 1299 - HK) and shared his work experiences with thousands of AIA elite employees.

Before becoming an artiste, Steven worked in the publishing, and in the commerce sectors, therefore, he fully understands that the biggest problem encountered by the insurance employees has got to do with rejections from customers provoking both frustrations and stress.  During his speech, he candidly admitted that he himself has participated 44 times in singing competition, and that the earlier 43 times all failed, not until his 44 attempt did he clinch the championship. He said: “I like to sing and act, so I didn’t place much importance on winning and losing, only wanted to enjoy the competition process. Every time I lost, I would see it as the beginning of success for my next attempt. This perseverance on ideals, this never-give-up spirit, has not changed even till today.”

Steven believes that the road to success is full of thorns; en route will encounter many setbacks; must not fear failures but continue to endeavor and work hard; willing to persevere; willing to do self re-examination; willing to advance; in the end will sure to succeed. Steven’s positive attitude had a group of AIA employees enrapt and happy. After the talk, a Macao AIA employee immediately invited Steven as guest speaker for the Macao branch. Steven says: “I won't presume that my sharing was for sure motivational for the audience, but as a self retrospection, I did indeed benefit enormously from it!" (tn: Steven's weibo)

Having work in the entertainment circle for so many year, Steven has experienced both the high and the low, the rise and the fall, and has tasted all flavors of the sweet and the sour, the bitter and the spicy. However, he rejoices he possesses such experiences. He says that people must continue to add value to their self-worth so as to create choices for themselves.  If people lose the power to choose, that will be the most painful. Good image brings Steven many opportunities. Working hard at the job will bring forth good returns; Steven believes tomorrow will be even better.

source: http://www.east38.com/article/id_9493.html



 related material: AIA guest speaker; 
steven's memoir

Recall Steven's words on his singing competition:

Luckily, I discovered something quite early in life: I like to sing. From a young age, I joined and participated in all kinds of singing and reciting extra-curriculum. If there’s music, I would be like a happy birdie, singing non stop; worries would be summarily cast aside. Music became my childhood favorite pastime.

4. ~~Crowned Champion~~
Fortunately, it was through my 40 odd early failures that I got to really know my own personality. I’m not an obstinate person by nature, but of perseverance, I do have some. If my mind is made up on something, I will carry it through, regardless. The repeated failures did not deter or crush me. They were only a temporary setback; opportunities still abound. I was not at all disheartened or heart stricken by my failures. “I don’t believe I can’t even be a champion for at least one time.” It was this self-belief that sustained me time and again to join the singing competitions. I admit, in my quest to achieve my objective, I was extremely single-minded and persistent.

Actually, there were lots of young people like me in Hong Kong who simply refused to accept failures at face value. As my singing contest participations increased, I noticed a group of people who also did not know the meaning of defeat. Although we were contenders in different contests, there was no enmity among us; in fact, we constantly encouraged each other. The outcome of these numerous competitions, besides tasting success, was that I made some good friends. As to that championship, its accomplishment happened through self-critiques and subsequent improvements from these trials. My repeated failures and tenacious forging ahead had me thinking that blind emulation of a singer’s style and skills just wouldn’t cut it. I decided to learn singing from a teacher. My initiation teacher was Ms. Liang Yue Ling. From her, I learned the basic vocal techniques. She was the one who taught me how to integrate fake and true voices as one. She was also the one who recommended Jacky Cheung’s 李香蘭 as my entry song, thus garnering points on the degree of difficulty. Naturally, I was most thankful to Teacher Liang for my win on this competition.

weibo 6/1 AIA speaker

Steven reposting this article from steven-ma.org weibo

Failed 43 times Steven Ma finally clinched the singing championship on his 44th time

6/1/2011 on.cc news:  Lately, Steven Ma has nonstop doing hosting job, the returns have been fruitful.  Earlier on, he was invited by an insurance company (AIA) as guest speaker in which he shared his work experiences.  He expressed that before entering the entertainment industry he has also worked in the publishing as well as the commerce industry, so he understands the frustration of being rejected by the customers.  He also revealed that he has participated 44 times in singing competition, and failed 43 times before becoming the champion on his 44^th attempt.  He said: “I love singing and acting, as such I don’t place too much of an importance on the win or lose outcome of a competition, rather I value the competition process more.  This perseverance of aspiration, this never give up spirit remains unchanged today.”   

Steven weibo: 6/1  18:29 43 times failures in exchange for 1 success, I consider that as being very lucky! To put in efforts for one's ideal is definitely worth it!  Everybody, let's all work hard!  四十三次失敗換來一次成功，我認為已很幸運！為理想付出，絕對值得！大家一起努力！