Jadine Loo-Dixon knows how to wield a wok.

The proprietor of Wok Magic, based in Mattapoisett, Loo-Dixon has made a business out of cooking Chinese cuisine and teaching others to do the same.

It’s not surprising that Loo-Dixon could make a success out of her Cantonese heritage. Loo-Dixon’s grandparents started the Chinese-American restaurant, Cathay Temple, in Mattapoisett in 1951. And when her parents got married in 1947, Loo-Dixon’s grandparents gifted them Charlie Wongs restaurant in New Bedford.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business all my life,” said Loo-Dixon. “We didn’t eat to live, we lived to eat.”

But when her parents retired in 1985, Loo-Dixon decided not to take over the family trade.

“We could only celebrate on holidays, not on Saturdays and Sundays. Mother’s Day was always on a Monday,” she said.

With two children of her own, Loo-Dixon decided to start her own catering company, which would give her more flexibility.

“I wanted to be independent of the restaurant. I wanted to attend soccer games,” she said.

With Wok Magic, Loo-Dixon takes her wok on the road. In addition to catering dinners for 10 to 200 people, she offers cooking classes in clients’ kitchens, and also takes take-out orders.

Unlike American Chinese fast food, Loo-Dixon cooks authentic, healthy Cantonese cuisine, made to order. She said her food is characterized by “a lot of vegetables and a little protein.” Rice and noodles are on the side.

“It’s a chance to experience more fresh vegetables,” said the stir-fry queen.

But don't mistake Loo-Dixon's dishes for diet food.

“The first three letters in diet are D-I-E,” she said.

Without using the “D” word, Loo-Dixon has built a steady clientele over the past 27 years, mostly from word of mouth.

And owning her own business has paid off for Loo-Dixon, literally.

“I paid my mortgage. I have no credit card debt,” she said.

After more than two decades in the kitchens of people from Mattapoisett to Boston, Loo-Dixon still enjoys firing up her portable wok for customers.

“I want to nourish people,” she said.

Loo-Dixon can be reached at 508-758-2106.