Red star

Beets add color and nutrition to creative plates as brilliant as summer itself, Mike Peters reports.

The humble beet probably never imagined itself as anybody's secret weapon, but that's what culinary student James Chan thinks he has in the brilliant red root.

"I always knew I wanted to be a chef in a fine dining restaurant," says the Guangzhou native now working as a kitchen intern in Shanghai. "I was sure I could learn to create tasty dishes, but I was nervous about presentation. I have always loved good food, but making a pretty plate is so important, too."