The chef of Yuan Shou-chien, who was Chen's paternal uncle, would always go to the home of former president Chiang Ching-kuo every year on the second day of the New Year holiday to prepare a meal, so you can tell that his was no ordinary skill. After coming to Taiwan, as the youngest son Chen followed his father to all of the most famous restaurants.
姑父袁守謙的廚子，以往在每年農曆初二，都到蔣經國先生府上做菜，可知其手藝之不凡。到台灣以後，身為么兒的他，跟著父親吃遍當時的名店「都一處」、「致美樓」、「同慶樓」等。