{{Short description|Singaporean-Hong Kong columnist, food critic and television host (1941–2025)}} {{No footnotes|date=March 2021}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{infobox person | name = Chua Lam | native_name = 蔡瀾 | native_name_lang = zh-HK | image = 蔡さん.jpg | alt = | caption = Chua in 2008 | birth_date = {{birth date|1941|8|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Singapore, Straits Settlements, British Malaya | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|06|25|1941|08|18|df=y}} | death_place = Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong | occupation = Columnist, food connoisseur, film producer, television presenter | spouse = Chang Chong-wen ({{lang|zh|張瓊文}}) | parents = Chua Boon-suan (1907 - 1995)<br>Hung Fong-ping (1909 - 2008) | children = Nil | module = {{Infobox Chinese |child=yes | t = {{linktext|蔡|瀾}} | s = {{linktext|蔡|澜}} | p = cài lán | j = {{kCantonese|蔡瀾}} }} }} {{family name hatnote|Chua|lang=Chinese}} '''Chua Lam''' ({{zh|s=蔡澜|t=蔡瀾}}, 18 August 1941 – 25 June 2025) was a Hong Kong columnist, food critic and occasional television host. He was also a film producer for the Hong Kong film studio Golden Harvest.

Chua Lam has built a reputation in the cultural world, with ties to esteemed individuals like Jin Yong, Ni Kuang, and James Wong Jim, who are collectively considered the "Four Great Talents of Hong Kong".<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Ruey Yan |date=27 June 2025 |title=Famous Singapore-born food critic and TV personality Chua Lam dies at 83 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/famous-singapore-born-food-critic-chua-lam-dies-at-83 |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> From 1989 to 1990, he co-hosted Asia Television's classic adult talk show "Celebrity Talk Show" with the latter two. The show was widely popular with audiences and earned the media accolades as one of "Hong Kong's Three Great Mouths."<ref>{{cite news |title=黃霑倪匡三大名咀 續約亞視機會甚大 |url=https://sls.hkpl.gov.hk/digital-collection/tc/contentcoverpage.html?catalogueId=2580a5289cb711ef9c2&mainKeyword=%E5%90%8D%E5%98%B4&currentPosition=1&searchId=962c15c4ef554fa4992f602112848cad |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=華僑日報 |date=6 December 1989 |page=22}}</ref>

== Early life == Chua was born in Singapore in 1941.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong cultural icon Chua Lam passes away at 83 |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/article/305652/Hong-Kong-cultural-icon-Chua-Lam-passes-away-at-83 |access-date=27 June 2025 |website=www.thestandard.com.hk |language=en}}</ref> His father originally named him {{lang|zh|蔡南}} (Teochew: {{lang|zh-Latn|Chùa Lâm}}; Pinyin: {{lang|zh-Latn|Cài Nán}}), meaning born in Nanyang ({{lang|zh|南洋}}). But when the name was sent back to the ancestral hall in the Teochew hometown, it was discovered that someone in the previous two generations already had the same name, so it could not be used. However, his birth certificate had already been registered as "Chua Lam", so his Chinese name was eventually changed.<ref>{{Cite news |author=蔡瀾 (Chua Lam) |date=17 February 1987 |title=名字的故事 |trans-title=The Story Behind the Name |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19840217-1.2.138.6.1 |work=联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao) |language=zh-sg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=潘星華 (Poon Sing Wah) |date=1 October 1997 |title=蔡澜原名蔡南 为了祖宗改名 |trans-title=Chua Lam was originally named Chua Nan, but changed it for his ancestors |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/lhwb19971001-1.1.9 |work=联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao) |language=zh-sg}}</ref>

Chua, had an elder sister and brother and one younger brother.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 May 1995 |title=Close relationship with the three showbiz brothers |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19950512-1.2.189.10.3 |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |pages=34 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref>

As a child, Chua lived above a cinema, always in sight of the screen, and his passion for movies grew.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cam |first=Lisa |date=30 June 2025 |title=Opinion {{!}} How Hong Kong culinary icon Chua Lam inspired a generation |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316338/how-hong-kong-culinary-icon-chua-lam-inspired-generation-explore-world-through-food |access-date=14 August 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Influenced by his father, he read extensively, publishing his first article in the Nanyang Siang Pau at the age of 14. Because he disliked studying, he attended several primary schools. For secondary school, he attended The Chinese High School in Bukit Timah, Singapore,<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 April 1972 |title=Producer from HK here to make filmlet |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19720407-1.2.16 |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=New Nation |pages=2 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref> studying Chinese in the mornings and English in the afternoons at another school. Chua originally hoped to study painting in France, but at 18 decided to study abroad in Japan.

Chua attended Nihon University in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan and enrolled in the Department of Film Directing of the College of Art.<ref name=":0" /> While studying, Chua worked part-time for Shaw Brothers Studio as a manager and translator in Japan.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==

=== Media career === In 1963, Chua moved to Hong Kong and continued to work at Shaw Brothers as its production manager.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=30 June 2025 |title=Opinion {{!}} How Hong Kong culinary icon Chua Lam inspired a generation |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316338/how-hong-kong-culinary-icon-chua-lam-inspired-generation-explore-world-through-food |access-date=14 August 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> After working at the studio for 20 years, Chua was approached by Hong Kong producer Raymond Chow, who had just founded the film studio Golden Harvest, to serve as the vice-president of film production which he accepted.<ref name=":02" /> While at Golden Harvest, Chua produced numerous films, including several films such as ''Armour Of God'' (1987), ''City Hunter'' (1993), ''Thunderbolt'' (1995) and ''Mr. Nice Guy'' (1997), for Jackie Chan.<ref name=":1" />

Beside producing films, Chua also hosted several food programmes such as ''{{Interlanguage link |Market Trotter|zh|蔡瀾逛菜欄}}'' (2007), {{Interlanguage link |Chua's Choice|zh|蔡瀾歎名菜}} (2008) and ''Be My Guest'' (2009)''.<ref name=":1" />''

Chua was primarily known in Japan as a judge on the Fuji TV series ''Iron Chef''.

=== Writing career === Chua was a columnist on ''Oriental Daily'' and ''Ming Pao'' in Hong Kong. Chua later switched to writing columns for the Next Media's publications, namely ''Next Magazine'' (on movies and a restaurant guide), ''Apple Daily'' and ''Eat and Travel Weekly''.<ref name=":0" />

Chua wrote a number of books and restaurant guides on Hong Kong in Japanese.

From 2013 to 2024, Malaysian travel agency Apple Vacations organised a total of six tours with Chua in Asia to taste the local food and experience the local hospitality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2025 |title=Chua Lam is the beacon in my life, says Apple Vacations Malaysia co-founder Lee San - News |url=https://mysinchew.sinchew.com.my/news/20250629/mysinchew/6654255 |access-date=14 August 2025 |website=MySinchew 星洲网 Sin Chew Daily Malaysia Latest News and Headlines |language=zh-CN}}</ref> Chua often wrote, in his newspaper columns, about the tours' organizing trips where he and others sample food from four or five restaurants per day in order to select the best restaurants.

Chua has authored more than 150 books on topics such as travel, personalities, food, humour, and his philosophy of life.''<ref name=":1" />''

In September 2023, Chua collaborated with ''Sin Chew Daily'' for a calligraphy exhibition where his calligraphy was exhibited and sold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=San |date=20 October 2023 |title=Before and after Chua Lam's calligraphy exhibition - Opinion |url=https://mysinchew.sinchew.com.my/news/20231020/mysinchew/5069969 |access-date=17 August 2025 |website=Sin Chew Daily |language=en}}</ref> Chua decided to sell his collection after his wife's death as not to be too burdened with his collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Ilsa |date=21 April 2024 |title=Famed Food Critic Chua Lam, 82, Spends S$87K A Month On Round-The-Clock Care After Suffering Fall |url=https://www.todayonline.com/8days/famed-food-critic-chua-lam-82-spends-s87k-month-round-clock-care-after-suffering-fall-2407921 |access-date=17 August 2025 |website=TODAY |language=en}}</ref> Proceeds from the sale went to charity.

=== Business career === Chua had also opened restaurants, such as Chua Lam's Pho, his first restaurant serving Vietnamese pho.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Martin |date=26 December 2018 |title=Vietnamese pho for under US$12 at new Hong Kong restaurant |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2179373/vietnamese-pho-under-us12-hong-kong-food-critics-first |access-date=14 August 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

== Gastronomic philosophy == One of Chua's most beloved dishes was stir-fried bean sprout with fried tofu and fish sauce.

Chua was famous for advocating the use of pork drippings in food preparation and as a condiment. He cited and promoted the usage of pork fat in most of his TV shows.

In 2019, Chua criticised hotpot, describing it as a cooking method "totally lacking in cultural significance", and liked it to go extinct.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 January 2019 |title=Food critic Chua Lam in hot water over hotpot criticism |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/food-critic-chua-lam-slammed-over-hotpot-criticism?xtor=CS9-111 |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> Chua, in his writings, later clarified that while he is not interested in hotpot, he is not against hotpot but against poorly done hotpot using dipping sauces to attract customers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=27 June 2025 |title=蔡瀾逝世｜回顧一代食家10大飲食軼聞&nbsp;不吃三文魚? 討厭火鍋? 與餐廳合照笑容有啟示? |url=https://www.stheadline.com/food/3468514/%E8%94%A1%E7%80%BE%E9%80%9D%E4%B8%96%E5%9B%9E%E9%A1%A7%E4%B8%80%E4%BB%A3%E9%A3%9F%E5%AE%B610%E5%A4%A7%E9%A3%B2%E9%A3%9F%E8%BB%BC%E8%81%9E%E4%B8%8D%E5%90%83%E4%B8%89%E6%96%87%E9%AD%9A-%E8%A8%8E%E5%8E%AD%E7%81%AB%E9%8D%8B-%E8%88%87%E9%A4%90%E5%BB%B3%E5%90%88%E7%85%A7%E7%AC%91%E5%AE%B9%E6%9C%89%E5%95%9F%E7%A4%BA |access-date=19 August 2025 |website=星島頭條 |language=zh-HK}}</ref> He especially appreciates Sichuan's hotpot.<ref name=":2" />

In 2022, he also criticised omakase, a Japanese restaurant order where the choice of food is up to the chef, citing that the order only helped the restaurant and would not show the essence of Japanese cuisine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cai |first=Candice |date=8 September 2022 |title=Singapore-born food critic Chua Lam slammed for saying that Japanese omakase 'treats diners like idiots' |url=https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/singapore-born-food-critic-chua-lam-slammed-saying-japanese-omakase-treats-diners-idiots |access-date=14 August 2025 |website=AsiaOne |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life and death== Chua's father, Chua Boon-hean ({{lang|zh|蔡文玄}}), was a native of the Jio Mung Chua ({{lang|zh|蔡門石}}) village in Chaozhou who immigrated to Singapore. His father worked in a high-ranking post at the Shaw Brothers Studio and died in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chua Boon-hean |url=https://www.hkmemory.hk/en/collections-shaw_brothers_movies-behind_the_screen-backstage_crew-chua_boon_hean.html |access-date=13 Feb 2026 |website=www.hkmemory.hk |language=en}}</ref>

Although Chua was based in Hong Kong from 1963, he held Singapore citizenship.<ref name=spore>{{cite news |last1=Na |first1=Guo |title=蔡澜:怎样煮一个完美的鸡蛋？|trans-title=Chua Lam: How to Cook a Perfect Egg? |url=http://www.lifeweek.com.cn/2006/0122/14468.shtml |work=www.lifeweek.com.cn |language=Chinese}}</ref>

In March 2023, Chua's wife slipped and fell at home and died shortly after. While rushing over to his wife when she fell, Chua fell also and fractured his pelvic bone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Ilsa |date=21 April 2024 |title=Famed Food Critic Chua Lam, 82, Spends S$87K A Month On Round-The-Clock Care After Suffering Fall |url=https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/asian/chua-lam-round-clock-care-87k-month-829276 |access-date=27 June 2025 |website=8days |language=en}}</ref>

On 25 June 2025, Chua Lam died at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. He was 83, and later cremated.<ref name="BBC-obit">{{Cite web |date=27 June 2025 |title=Renowned food critic Chua Lam dies at 83 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2ezwweje43o |access-date=27 June 2025 |website=BBC World News}}</ref> It was initially reported on Chua's Facebook page on 27 June 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiang |first=Chuqin |date=27 June 2025 |title=Renowned Hong Kong-based food critic Chua Lam dies at age 83 |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316090/renowned-hong-kong-based-food-critic-chua-lam-dies-age-83 |access-date=27 June 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography==

=== Film === Chua Lam worked in the 1980s and up to the end of the 1990s in the Hongkong film business as executive producer or producer. {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Year ! Title |- |1985||''Heart of Dragon'' |- |1986||''Dr. Yuen and Wisely'' |- |1987||''Armour of God'' |- |1987||''Born to Gamble'' |- |1987||''Killer's Nocturne'' |- |1987||''Erotic Ghost Story'' |- |1988||''Profiles of Pleasure'' |- |1988||''Peacock King'' |- |1989||''Four Loves'' |- |1990||''A Sau-loh'' |- |1991||''Robotrix'' |- |1991||''Erotic Ghost Story II'' |- |1991||''Au revoir, mon amour'' |- |1991||''Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky'' |- |1992||''Erotic Ghost Story III'' |- |1992||''The Cat'' |- |1993||''City Hunter'' |- |1993||''Crime Story'' |- |1994||''Girls Unbutton'' |- |1994||''Chinese Torture Chamber'' |- |1994||''Spirit of Love'' |- |1995||''Trilogy of Love'' |- |1995||''Thunderbolt'' |- |1995||''The Christ Of Nanjing'' |- |1996||''The Imp'' |- |1997||''Mr. Nice Guy'' |- |1998||''Extreme Crisis'' |}

=== Television === In the 2000s and 2010s he was working as general consultant and TV presenter for Japanese and other TV series as he had become "one of the most authoritative voices on Chinese cuisine".<ref name="BBC-obit" /> * 2007: ''{{Interlanguage link|Market Trotter|zh|蔡瀾逛菜欄}}''<ref name=":1" /> * 2007: ''{{Interlanguage link|Ten Years After (TV series)|lt=Ten Years After|zh|拾年}}'' * 2008: {{Interlanguage link|Chua's Choice|zh|蔡瀾歎名菜}}<ref name=":1" /> * 2009: ''Be My Guest<ref name=":1" />''

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.bobofanclub.com/|Chua Lam's official website}} * {{IMDb name|0482585}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050130075650/http://movie.goo.ne.jp/cast/51589/ Goo Movies (Japan)] * [http://www.cinemasie.com/fiche/personne/chualam/fiche.html Cinemasie] * [http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=204170 ''The New York Times'' entry] * [http://www.chualambooks.com/ Chua Lam's ebook website]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chua, Lam}} Category:1941 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Hong Kong columnists Category:Hong Kong film producers Category:Hong Kong food writers Category:Hong Kong television presenters Category:Nihon University alumni Category:Singaporean people of Teochew descent Category: Singaporean expatriates in Hong Kong Category:Ming Pao people