11 Asian chefs who didn't start in the kitchen
2. Patrick Go (Philippines)
The youthful face behind Manila's Your Local didn't initially plan to be a chef. Patrick Go studied at De La Salle University and worked in banking before enrolling in Norbert Gandler's International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management. After working with local greats like Chefs Florabel Co, Jessie Sincioco and Colin McKay, Go rose through the ranks at Black Sheep, eventually transforming it into a progressive Chinese-Filipino concept. Today, he runs the popular Legaspi Village haunt Your Local and continues to collaborate with renowned chefs across Asia.
In case you missed it: The (Prudent) reemergence of Chef Patrick G as Makati restaurant Your Local's new chef 3. Alvin Leung (Hong Kong/Canada)
Alvin Leung is the poster child for second-act chefs. Before becoming a Michelin-starred restaurateur and judge on MasterChef Canada , he worked as an audio engineer. With no formal culinary training, Leung bought a speakeasy in Hong Kong on a whim and turned it into Bo Innovation—where foie gras meets xiao long bao in experimental, sometimes explosive ways. His trademark 'X-treme Chinese' cuisine combines science, swagger and tradition. No wonder he's known as the 'Demon Chef'.
See more: Chef Alvin Leung continues to remain the master of reinvention and deconstruction 4. Vicky Lau (Hong Kong)
Vicky Lau began her career as a graphic designer, discovering food through visual storytelling—but one pastry class was all it took to spark a transformation. Today, at Tate Dining Room, she creates poetic French-Chinese tasting menus, each dish imbued with emotion and elegance. Her design sensibility hasn't faded—it's simply been translated to a culinary canvas.
Don't miss: Chef Vicky Lau of Michelin-starred restaurant Tate Dining Room on the importance of adaptability and community in Hong Kong's fine-dining landscape 5. Malcolm Lee (Singapore)
Malcolm Lee once imagined a life in finance, having studied business at Singapore Management University. But homesickness and heritage led him to the kitchen. Without formal culinary education, he delved into his family's Peranakan recipes and founded Candlenut—the world's first Michelin-starred Nyonya restaurant. His refined take on traditional flavours has made him a powerful advocate for preserving Singapore's culinary culture. 6. Bee Satongun (Thailand)
Unlike other chefs who didn't start in the kitchen, Bee Satongun was already in the industry, albeit holding a secretarial job. However, she never set foot in a culinary school. She learned by absorbing her mother's cooking and poring through ancient Thai manuscripts. At Paste, she resurrects old royal Thai recipes with a modernist edge, earning critical recognition and global acclaim for dishes that are both scholarly and soul-stirring.
In case you missed it: Chef Bongkoch 'Bee' Satongun of Paste in Bangkok on preserving Thailand's traditional cuisine 7. Ming Tsai (USA/China)
Ming Tsai took the traditional route—at first. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Yale and a master's from Cornell. But summers at Le Cordon Bleu, pastry training in Paris and sushi apprenticeships in Osaka proved irresistible. He launched Blue Ginger in 1998, winning a James Beard Award for its East-West cuisine. Today, he heads Blue Dragon, champions plant-based eating through MingsBings, and stars in multiple Emmy-winning food shows. 8. Peter Cuong Franklin (Vietnam)
Peter Cuong Franklin's life reads like a novel. Born in Da Lat, he fled Vietnam in 1975, later earning a finance degree from Yale and working as an investment banker. A pivot to food brought him to Le Cordon Bleu and eventually to opening Chôm Chôm in Hong Kong. In 2017, he launched Anan Saigon, a bold Vietnamese dining concept that's made waves globally. His journey from Wall Street to world-class kitchens is both inspiring and deeply personal. 9. Anh Sung‑jae (South Korea)
After moving to California at 12, Anh Sung-jae joined the US Army as a mechanic, later deploying to Iraq. Post-service, he trained at Le Cordon Bleu and worked at elite kitchens including The French Laundry and Benu. In 2015, he opened Mosu in San Francisco, relocating it to Seoul in 2017 and opening a second location in Hong Kong in 2022. Eight years after it opened, Mosu Seoul earned its third Michelin star. Anh's journey from battlefield to fine dining is a testament to precision, creativity and discipline.
In case you missed it: Meet Anh Sung-jae, the Korean chef behind Michelin three-star restaurant Mosu and judge on Netflix's hit show 'Culinary Class Wars' 10. Stephanie Wong (Hong Kong)
Stephanie Wong spent nearly a decade at HSBC before making the leap to culinary school in Paris. She trained at the Alain Ducasse culinary institute and gained experience at Hostellerie de Plaisance and Hong Kong's Amber. Now, she runs Roots Eatery, a delivery-focused concept rooted in local produce and simple, original fare. Who knew a ledger could be a creative springboard to the kitchen?
In case you missed it: Roots Eatery's Stephanie Wong on her Hong Kong street food memories 11. Angelo Comsti (Philippines)
Angelo Comsti's path to the kitchen included stints as a writer, editor and food stylist. After earning a marketing degree and studying at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, he formalised his culinary skills at Le Cordon Bleu Australia. Today, he's a champion of Filipino cuisine, leading restaurants and penning food columns that highlight local traditions and innovations. His multidisciplinary approach reflects a deep passion for storytelling through food.
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Tatler Asia
2 days ago
- Tatler Asia
11 Asian chefs who didn't start in the kitchen
2. Patrick Go (Philippines) The youthful face behind Manila's Your Local didn't initially plan to be a chef. Patrick Go studied at De La Salle University and worked in banking before enrolling in Norbert Gandler's International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management. After working with local greats like Chefs Florabel Co, Jessie Sincioco and Colin McKay, Go rose through the ranks at Black Sheep, eventually transforming it into a progressive Chinese-Filipino concept. Today, he runs the popular Legaspi Village haunt Your Local and continues to collaborate with renowned chefs across Asia. In case you missed it: The (Prudent) reemergence of Chef Patrick G as Makati restaurant Your Local's new chef 3. Alvin Leung (Hong Kong/Canada) Alvin Leung is the poster child for second-act chefs. Before becoming a Michelin-starred restaurateur and judge on MasterChef Canada , he worked as an audio engineer. With no formal culinary training, Leung bought a speakeasy in Hong Kong on a whim and turned it into Bo Innovation—where foie gras meets xiao long bao in experimental, sometimes explosive ways. His trademark 'X-treme Chinese' cuisine combines science, swagger and tradition. No wonder he's known as the 'Demon Chef'. See more: Chef Alvin Leung continues to remain the master of reinvention and deconstruction 4. Vicky Lau (Hong Kong) Vicky Lau began her career as a graphic designer, discovering food through visual storytelling—but one pastry class was all it took to spark a transformation. Today, at Tate Dining Room, she creates poetic French-Chinese tasting menus, each dish imbued with emotion and elegance. Her design sensibility hasn't faded—it's simply been translated to a culinary canvas. Don't miss: Chef Vicky Lau of Michelin-starred restaurant Tate Dining Room on the importance of adaptability and community in Hong Kong's fine-dining landscape 5. Malcolm Lee (Singapore) Malcolm Lee once imagined a life in finance, having studied business at Singapore Management University. But homesickness and heritage led him to the kitchen. Without formal culinary education, he delved into his family's Peranakan recipes and founded Candlenut—the world's first Michelin-starred Nyonya restaurant. His refined take on traditional flavours has made him a powerful advocate for preserving Singapore's culinary culture. 6. Bee Satongun (Thailand) Unlike other chefs who didn't start in the kitchen, Bee Satongun was already in the industry, albeit holding a secretarial job. However, she never set foot in a culinary school. She learned by absorbing her mother's cooking and poring through ancient Thai manuscripts. At Paste, she resurrects old royal Thai recipes with a modernist edge, earning critical recognition and global acclaim for dishes that are both scholarly and soul-stirring. In case you missed it: Chef Bongkoch 'Bee' Satongun of Paste in Bangkok on preserving Thailand's traditional cuisine 7. Ming Tsai (USA/China) Ming Tsai took the traditional route—at first. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Yale and a master's from Cornell. But summers at Le Cordon Bleu, pastry training in Paris and sushi apprenticeships in Osaka proved irresistible. He launched Blue Ginger in 1998, winning a James Beard Award for its East-West cuisine. Today, he heads Blue Dragon, champions plant-based eating through MingsBings, and stars in multiple Emmy-winning food shows. 8. Peter Cuong Franklin (Vietnam) Peter Cuong Franklin's life reads like a novel. Born in Da Lat, he fled Vietnam in 1975, later earning a finance degree from Yale and working as an investment banker. A pivot to food brought him to Le Cordon Bleu and eventually to opening Chôm Chôm in Hong Kong. In 2017, he launched Anan Saigon, a bold Vietnamese dining concept that's made waves globally. His journey from Wall Street to world-class kitchens is both inspiring and deeply personal. 9. Anh Sung‑jae (South Korea) After moving to California at 12, Anh Sung-jae joined the US Army as a mechanic, later deploying to Iraq. Post-service, he trained at Le Cordon Bleu and worked at elite kitchens including The French Laundry and Benu. In 2015, he opened Mosu in San Francisco, relocating it to Seoul in 2017 and opening a second location in Hong Kong in 2022. Eight years after it opened, Mosu Seoul earned its third Michelin star. Anh's journey from battlefield to fine dining is a testament to precision, creativity and discipline. In case you missed it: Meet Anh Sung-jae, the Korean chef behind Michelin three-star restaurant Mosu and judge on Netflix's hit show 'Culinary Class Wars' 10. Stephanie Wong (Hong Kong) Stephanie Wong spent nearly a decade at HSBC before making the leap to culinary school in Paris. She trained at the Alain Ducasse culinary institute and gained experience at Hostellerie de Plaisance and Hong Kong's Amber. Now, she runs Roots Eatery, a delivery-focused concept rooted in local produce and simple, original fare. Who knew a ledger could be a creative springboard to the kitchen? In case you missed it: Roots Eatery's Stephanie Wong on her Hong Kong street food memories 11. Angelo Comsti (Philippines) Angelo Comsti's path to the kitchen included stints as a writer, editor and food stylist. After earning a marketing degree and studying at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, he formalised his culinary skills at Le Cordon Bleu Australia. Today, he's a champion of Filipino cuisine, leading restaurants and penning food columns that highlight local traditions and innovations. His multidisciplinary approach reflects a deep passion for storytelling through food.
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Culinary aunties of Asia: 5 famous female cooks who fed a region
2. Gaik Lean Beh (Penang, Malaysia) In Penang, a city revered for its diverse food culture, Auntie Gaik Lean Beh is a steadfast guardian of Peranakan cuisine. At her restaurant, Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery, every dish is a family heirloom served with a side of nostalgia: her Nyonya gulai tumis and assam hae are made following closely guarded family recipes, full of painstakingly hand-prepped spices and soul. Like others on this list, Auntie Gaik Lean holds a Michelin star—a testament to the enduring power of tradition when prepared with precision and soul. 3. Mdm Leong Yuet Meng (Singapore) Leong Yuet Meng, the late matriarch of Singapore's beloved Koka Wanton Noodle, passed away in February 2024 at the age of 94. Yet her influence on the hawker scene remains indelible. She began her wanton mee stall in 1957, offering a version of the dish that stood out for its light, nuanced sauce—a departure from the heavier variants common at the time. For decades, she hand-rolled wantons and prepared egg noodles from scratch at her stall in North Bridge Road Market. Today, her grandson continues the business, guided by her values of craftsmanship, humility and enduring flavour. Read more: Blood, sweat and tears: Young hawkers preserving Singapore's food heritage and legacy 4. Cho Yon-soon (Seoul, South Korea) Known as 'Grandma Jo,' Cho Yoon-soon (sometimes spelled Jo Yeon-soon) is a fixture at Seoul's Gwangjang Market. Once a stay-at-home mother, Cho started her culinary journey after her husband incurred a massive debt that forced her to work. She first took her cue from her mother's recipes, but she improved on them, turning her stall, Gohyang Kalguksu, into a certified hit. She specialises not only in the eponymous hand-cut noodles but also kimchi mandu (dumplings). Grandma Jo has been featured often in food tours and TV shows, including Netflix's Street Food: Asia in 2019, but she hasn't changed a thing—she cooks for her regulars, not the cameras. 5. Mbah Satinem (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) A living legend of traditional Javanese sweets, Mbah Satinem has been waking up before the roosters could even think about it for decades to prepare jajan pasar. Her lupis—glutinous rice cakes served with palm sugar syrup and coconut—is pure childhood in a bite for many Indonesians. Mbah Satinem became a breakout star on Netflix's Street Food: Asia , but she still serves from her same roadside spot. The only difference is that the lines just keep getting longer.
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Soul-warming Asian desserts to cure any rainy-day blues
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