Many thanks to Nina for the link! The link is in the blog roll.
There is a Chinese article that details Keanu’s special dinner prepared by Chef Louis that was arranged by Michael Tong.
Note: This is my interpretation based on the google translation. It is not a word for word translation, just a version of what I think they are saying. Everyone is free to come up with their own version. The translation follows:
The 48 year old handsome Hollywood star, Keanu Reeves, has always been the focus of attention. Last month, he made a whirlwind visit to Hong Kong for about a week to do post-production work for his new drama Man of Tai Chi. While in Hong Kong, Keanu did not have any dates (as in no love life). His close friends wanted to introduce him to a beauty but he SAID NO. His old friend Michael Tong and Brian sighed that his interest in private kitchens (? specially prepared meals in restaurants) and in his diet is much greater than his interest in the girl (they found for him). Who is the chef that cooked for Keanu?
Eastern culture has always been in love with Keanu. He has been photographed during his past mysterious appearances (? scouting location trips) in Hong Kong and while he personally directed Man of Tai Chi. On the night of January 31, he was not in a hurry like in the past. He went to a mystery dinner for more than three hours with friend Michael Tong and allowed reporters to take his picture and told them the meal was ‘Lovely’ when they asked.
Keanu (third from left), Michael Tong (right), Brian (second from right, Chef Louis (second from left) and his wife Lisa (fourth from left). There is no mention of the lady on the far left.
A photograph of Keanu and Michael Tong carrying a diet book on the night of the dinner appeared in newspapers. The book cover was very familiar and a reporter traced it. It turned out to be old friend Louis’, now publisher of Gormet Magazine, copy of cook book ‘Open Flame Chefs’.
Louis was honored to personally cook for Keanu. He said that Keanu was very easygoing, sounded soft and gentle and was very polite and learned many things from the consult (exchange of conversation). In addition to cooking the meal, Louis and his wife Lisa joined Keanu for the dinner. They ate and spoke about Hong Kong anecdotes and food culture.
This meal was arranged by Michael Tong and was held in Causeway Bay at Li’s boss VIP private dining restaurant. Michael Tong, involved in the film industry in recent years, moved to the mainland earlier. He appreciated that Keanu gave him a role in Man of Tai Chi and as a Chinese actor was honored and praised Keanu’s professional work. Michael Tong took advantage of Keanu’s time in Hong Kong and wanted to treat him to a true gourmet meal prepared by the famous chef Louis.
Louis, who is only 44 years old, studied in the UK. As a result of his love of food and more than twenty years in the food and beverage industry, he now is engaged in the catering sector in Hong Kong.Louis said that he got a urgent telegram five hours before the dinner date that claimed he must cook a meal for a mystery guest. Louis was aware that Keanu was in town but he did not believe it could be him. His wife Lisa also thought it was a joke. He did not expect Keanu was really coming out at 19:00.
Keanu, Michael Tong, Brian from Hip Hop group and two assistants joined Louis and his wife for dinner for a total of seven people. They had nine dishes that included honeydew melon Sir soup, fresh crab meat baked in crab shells, Huadiao protein steamed giant grouper ball, Japan 36 Junper abalone with goose feet, scallion beef cubes. olive oil tangerine peel bone (lam kok refers to soft meat on a bone and olive oil indicates fried) as well as vegetarian fried rice and desserts that included a selection of bird nest and papaya custard (protein stew milk). They also had a few bottles of red wine and the whole meal was worth about eight thousand dollars.
The fresh crab stuffed in the crab shell – sweet crab meet, coupled with dried scallop, fried onion,stuffed crab covered with baked crumbs, crunchy and fragrant.
Louis was very considerate of Westerns who are accustomed to eating one separate serving at a time (it’s not clear how this differs from how they would normally eat in Hong Kong). Keanu was very satisfied and ate each dish with relish. Keanu praised the Japan 36 Junper Abalone with Goose feet ( they specify goose here but elsewhere in the article they say chicken feet) which was a personal specialty of Chef Louis.
Top: Japan 36 Yoshihama Abalone with chicken feet, the most appreciated by Keanu
Bottom: Shundle Lam Kok Bone – fried meat on a bone flavored with dried tangerineLouis was very happy that Keanu like the abalone. He was very proud to say that how they prepare the abalone is their exclusive secret recipe. The dish requires two and a half days to prepare including boiling the Maw (google says this can mean mouth parts or pig stomach), old chicken, pig, ham and abalone soup. they do not add any seasonings to thicken it and purely rely on the natural juices for the seasoning (flavor). The abalone which has a strong flavor is a memorable try.
Louis said that a lot of westerns do not eat chicken feet. He specifically asked Keanu before cooking it and Keanu said yes he would try it. The assistant said that Keanu likes to try everything and likes delicious food.
Lisa (Louis’ wife) praised Keanu, who is one quarter Chinese, for ‘really understanding the Eastern culture’. He uses the standard chopsticks and was very interested in Chinese Mahjong. He wanted to know more about mahjong and what are the better basic combinations.
Keanu, who in recent years has spent time in Hong Kong, was very interested in the status of Hong Kong society and he asked many questions about it. The dinner guests each elaborated on their political views of Hong Kong. Louis, who studied in the UK shared his story about the British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. Oliver provides some youth with the opportunity to work in his restaurant and learn the cooking craft. We heard Keanu enjoyed the whole dinner.
Keanu gained fame with the release of Speed in 1994. With his innate elegance, he became the idol of many movie goers across the United States and Asia. In 1999 with the release of The Matrix and his role as the mysterious hacker Neo, his career reached a pinnacle. His father, Samuel Nowlin Reeves, who is a geologist, is half Chinese and half Hawaiian.
After almost twenty years of fame, he has lived ‘a prodigal son like’ life. Although he has earned hundreds of millions of dollars, he never bought a house to lead a stable life (in one place) but instead led a wandering life. Keanu has not started dating since the death of his girlfriend Jennifer Syme in 2001. He is indifferent to fame and fortune and often appears raunchy and with a beard (I think they are saying he has that homeless or sloppily dressed look).
Keanu has always been at the edge (forefront or favorite) of Hong Kong fans. He is also a rarity in show business as he has insulated himself well from scandal (kept his private life private) and keeps the focus on his famous professional work. In recent years, he has begun to work behind the scenes both as a director and a producer.
This month, Keanu Reeves’ movie Side by Side, which he was also the executive producer of, will be released in Hong Kong. In the film, Keanu visited a lot of heavyweight directors and producers including George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and David Lynch. The film has been described as a brief history of the modern movie.