Christopher Lee & Li Nanxing Trying Each Other’s Cooking Is The Most Appetising Thing You’ll Watch All Week

Mediacorp cooking show LNX x Hawkers is one of those programmes that is best watched on a full stomach, but even then, we can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to avoid developing some major cravings for the fusion culinary delights Li Nanxing whips up with the help of local hawkers.

In the latest episode, the 56-year-old actor worked with a pizza stall owner to combine “Chinese-style sesame chicken with Western Pizza”. He then called up his friend — and fellow avid cook — Christopher Lee to swing by to try the rather odd-sounding concoction.

“I invited Christopher to this tasting ‘cos he's an honest person,” Nanxing later explained. “If something is good, he’ll say it’s good, but if not, he’ll say, ‘Eh, this is no good.’”

Chris, who showed up with a mystery dish of his own, looked skeptical at first when he found out what he’ll be eating, telling Nanxing: “I’ve had Chinese cuisine, Malay cuisine, and seafood at your house before, but I’m having trouble believing that you’re cooking a Western dish by yourself.”

While waiting for the pizza to bake in the oven, the two established Ah Ges had a little chat.

Chris, 49, admitted that while he knows little about pizza, his six-year-old son Zed loves it, although the kid only likes it with cheese, tomato sauce, and nothing else… and he only eats the crust while avoiding the middle with toppings.

Nanxing then let viewers in on a “secret”: “Christopher is the one who cooks all three meals at home, so he can easily take on your challenges by himself.”

Chris waved off the claim, but admitted that he does sometimes experiment in the kitchen at home.

The moment of truth came when LNX’s sesame oil chicken pizza came out of the oven and into Chris’ mouth. He looked unsure as he was chewing, but finally concluded that it was “acceptable” and “not weird”.

“I think the chicken can be a little lighter in flavour ‘cos cheese itself is already salty,” he suggested.

Hilarity ensued when Nanxing confessed that he didn’t know that cheese is salty (what!?), earning him a judgemental glare and playful kick to the butt by Chris. Nanxing said it’s ‘cos he’s “not familiar with western cooking”.

On a more serious note, Chris later rated Nanxing’s pizza seven points out of 10, with “room for improvement”.

While LNX’s pizza looked all right, it was Chris’ cooking that really had us turning into the drooling emoji.

The aluminum foil-covered package was unwrapped to reveal the most wonderful-looking Spanish style roast pork, and the impressive thing was, Chris said that he only learned the recipe from his wife Fann Wong’s brother-in-law (her sister’s husband, not Frederick Lee) the week before.

If we were told that it was prepared by a seasoned pro, we totally would’ve believed it.

We got a little ASMR action when Chris was carving the meat and when lucky Nanxing was chewing on a slice, with the perfectly crispy skin making the most delicious crackling sound.

“You are so talented,” a genuinely amazed Nanxing told his pal, giving the dish a very generous nine out of 10 rating. Wah, must have been damn tasty.

Although Chris’ roast pork ended up stealing the show, he still had praise for Nanxing’s pizza, saying that it was “quite delicious” and “good enough to be sold”, especially since many Singaporeans enjoy sesame oil chicken.

We don’t think he’s keen on the idea of Nanxing opening his own full-fledged chicken pizza place, though.

In his message to Nanxing at the end, which was delivered with mock annoyance, Chris said, “Take a break from cooking and go back to acting, okay? You’ve been in the kitchen long enough and everyone’s waiting for you to act again. Stop being cooped up in the kitchen every day.”

Watch this episode of LNX x Hawkers here.
All episodes are also available for free on meWATCH.

Photos: meWATCH, Christopher Lee/Instagram