When I retire or pass away, I will be able to look back and say that this has been an exciting life. That's all that matters.

He also appeared as a guest judge on the season 10 finale of Top Chef. Career
Yan began teaching Chinese cooking for a college extension program and appearing on a Canadian Calgary talk show in 1978 (on CFAC-TV now CICT-TV). He has hosted over 1500 episodes of the PBS cooking shows Yan Can Cook since 1982.