Master Chef Joseph Poon is known for the Asian Fusion restaurants he has owned in Philadelphia, his Wok 'N Walk Tours of Philadelphia Chinatown, hands-on cooking classes, and autobiographical cookbook, Life is Short…Cooking is Fun!.
Chef Poon’s legendary energy seems to leap from the pages of his self-published book: Life is Short…Cooking is Fun! In the book, he tells his inspirational life story and the secrets to his success, weaving in Asian Fusion recipes, step-by-step instructions for carving produce into animals and information about the history and culture of Chinatown. The vibrant 100+ page book features color photos of Philadelphia Chinatown, Chef Poon and step-by-step photos of his carvings and recipes.

Chef Poon’s popular “Wok ‘N Walk Tours of Philadelphia Chinatown” was called one of the best culinary tours in the country by TV Food Network’s “The Best Of…” and featured in the Group Tour Leader and Group Tour Magazine. The tour is designed to teach people about the history, culture and foods of the Asian community.

His warmth and exuberance have kept national TV audiences entertained and earned him appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and TV Food Network’s “The Best of…” A half page personality profile in The New York Times, said "In the last three decades, the 55-year-old Mr. Poon has risen from impoverished immigrant to national culinary fame, known for his Asian fusion fare, his ability to carve bulbous watermelons and pumpkins into delicate swans, and his role in opening the center of the region's Asian community to the outside world."

Chef Poon spends a significant amount of his time actively pursuing opportunities to give back to the community through charity and volunteer work. He has been recognized for the time and energy he devotes to charitable organizations. He received the March of Dimes Guy Przybycien Award for commitment to the community through volunteerism and excellence in culinary arts in 2004, as well as the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relation’s Human Rights Award for Community Service.