First-ever AFC's Next Celebrity Chef Winner!

It was an all-Filipino final between Diane and Dino. Click to find out!

                                                                                                                                 Dino Ferrari, 22, wins it!
                                            

On Wednesday, 21 December 2011, the Asian Food Channel (AFC) and Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) crowned the first-ever winner of the AFC Original Production, E&O Search for AFC's Next Celebrity Chef.

Starting from humble beginnings in August 2011, AFC conducted a region-wide search for Asia's next celebrity chef. Audition rounds were held in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Manila, and Jakarta, where over one thousand applicants turned up to compete. Contestants underwent grueling tests and various culinary challenges under the scrutiny of not just the judges on the show, but the cameras, too. After six weeks of elimination rounds, only Diane Montecillo and Dino Ferrari—both Filipinos!—remained to compete in the grand finale.

Diane learned her cooking skills in a male dominated kitchen environment, which explains her "spunky girl with an attitude" persona. However, when it comes to her family and daughter, she is just as soft spoken as the girl-next-door! Her dad and siblings are the main reasons why she started cooking, and have been her pillar of support ever since.

Dino initially studied Business in school, until he told his parents that he really wanted to try his hand at cooking. When he was 22 years old, Dino finally had his first cooking experience in a kitchen in France, where he apprenticed for eight months. Since then, his parents have supported him in every way possible, allowing him to cultivate and grow his craft. Dino's all time favourite cooking hero is Michael Chiarello, who doesn’t just cook, but is also capable of great showmanship.

Though both contestants proved they had what it took to be AFC’s Next Celebrity Chef, only one could be victorious! After much deliberation from the featured celebrity judges, Chef Bruce Lim, Chef Emmanuel Stroobant and Mr. Michael Saxon, Dino Ferrari was finally crowned as the winner in front of 45 million AFC viewers. Dino will be signed to an exclusive one-year contract, with a year-long employment contract with the E&O Group, taking on the mantle of Creative Chef, E&O Hospitality and Lifestyle Divison. They will also be AFC’s next Celebrity Chef.

• Pissed Off Chick 5 months ago Report Abuse

     

  Dino wins on an Original Recipe copied from Richard Blais from Top Chef!!rnrnhttp://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23935392/ns/today-food/t/top-chef-richards-winning-smoked-salmon/
• Pissed Off Chick 5 months ago Report Abuse

     

  Dino wins on an Original Recipe copied from Richard Blais from Top Chef!!
  
  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23935392/ns/today-food/t/top-chef-richards-winning-smoked-salmon/