Datuk Redzuawan Ismail (Malaysia)
The man, the myth, the legend; Chef Wan has gone down in local history as a prominent figurehead in the local culinary arena.
An award-winning culinary pioneer and founder of De.Wan 1958 restaurant, he has been heralded as a key person in bringing Malaysian cuisine to the international stage.
An associate degree graduate in Professional Chef Training and Hotel Management from the California Culinary Academy, Chef Wan’s eccentric personality and passion for cooking has seen him travel to all walks of life on a gastronomic journey, rubbing shoulders with famed personalities such as Anthony Bourdain.
Chef Eric Teo (Singapore)
With 30 years of experience in Singapore's F&B industry, Chef Eric Teo has made a name for himself as a celebrated culinary figure and renowned TV personality, having made numerous guest appearances in a slew of cooking shows.
Over the years, he has been the recipient of numerous award titles, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Gourmet Summit 2017 and 3-time winner of World Gourmet Summit Executive Chef of the Year.
From 2005 - 2013, he was president of the Singapore Chefs Association, making history as the first Singaporean to helm the position, and even lent his expertise as one of the mentors of Singapore’s Culinary Team, the champions of the prestigious Culinary Olympics 2016 competition that was held in Erfurt, Germany.
Chef Florence Tan (Malaysia)
When it comes to Nyonya cuisine, who better than Florence Tan, the pioneering veteran of Nyonya cooking, to show you the ropes. Coming from a Straits Chinese household, Chef Tan’s recipes are a work of heart that has garnered her a reputation that spans more than 25 years in the business.
Early in her career, she has worked as a Nyonya chef in five-star hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca. Since then, her recipes have graced numerous popular women’s magazines throughout Asia since the 90’s and lead her very own show on TV3 dubbed, Dapur Nyonya. Her cookbook, Florence Tan’s Best Nyonya Recipes, has been considered something of a treasure among household hooked on the beauty of Nyonya cuisine.
Chef Sam Leong (Singapore)
A multi award-winning forerunner of modern Chinese cuisine in Singapore, Chef Sam Leong got his start working with his father, a renowned chef himself.
His journey has seen him expand on his culinary skills at the Hilton Kuching and Novotel in Bangkok before becoming the executive chef of Jiang Nan Chun at Singapore’s Four Seasons Hotel in his 20’s.
With a career spanning three decades, he’s had a place hold in Singapore’s F&B industry that only grew as the years went by, most famously having helmed the kitchen at Forest 森, the highly-acclaimed celebrity chef restaurant at Resorts World Sentosa. A force to be reckoned with, he’s always working to push the boundaries of Chinese fine dining.
Chef Ili Sulaiman (Malaysia)
Armed with a bubbly personality and bright smile, Ili Sulaiman is a familiar face to avid watchers of the Asian Food Channel (AFC) as the host to a slew of programmes dedicated to her culinary repertoire such as ‘Diari Mangkuk Tingkat Bersama Ili’, ‘Home Cooked: Malaysia’, ‘Family Feast with Ili’ and ‘By the Sea with Ili.’
Coming from a diverse heritage, she’s been passionate about food since she was little, having been given the opportunity to gain professional experience at one of London’s most prestigious fine dining restaurants, Mosimann’s, at just nineteen.
Now busy as a foodpreneur, she founded Dish by Ili, a platform where all can share in their love for good home cooked food, and social enterprise Agak Agak Initiative.