Asian Food Channel's Chef Wan

The Asian Food Channel star talks about his new cooking show and his mission as celebrity chef.

Asian Food Channel star, Malaysian celebrity chef  Chef Wan talks about his culinary career, his mission as celebrity chef and his new show Best Wan. 


Why did you decide to leave a successful banking career for the culinary arts?

I was at a turning point in my life. I didn’t find counting other people’s money very fulfilling. I was going through a divorce. But what I did know was I had always loved cooking. I was always doing some entertaining for my clients. I was constantly going for cookery classes. In my spare time, I was preparing meals and reading cookbooks.

Why did take so long for you to make the switch?

My parents didn't want me to be a chef. Back in the day, parents wanted their kids to be doctors, lawyers or accountants. When you say your son is a chef, he's a cook. It's a blue-collar job. It wasn't really fantastic. Twenty years ago, you didn't hear about celebrity chefs making a name in the world. There was no Food Network. People didn’t know the importance of a chef in a community, in society and to the whole world.

How important are chefs in the community?

When I speak to the culinary schools, I always tell them about the power of the chef. We get people together to share a meal. We make them feel good. We bring love to the table. We bring peace. We bring friendship.

What about celebrity chefs?

A celebrity chef doesn’t merely cook. We share wonderful cuisines. For the past 26 years that I’ve been cooking and traveling, not only have I brought Malaysian food to the world, I have also brought the world to Malaysia. I have a love for other people’s culture, history and people and I would like to share that  in my shows.

Did you really want to be a celebrity chef?

I didn't go out there to be Jaime Oliver, Gordon Ramsey or Nigella Lawson. I went out there to be just Chef Wan.

How does one become a celebrity chef?

I keep telling the kids in the culinary schools that it's possible to be famous and build a brand as big as Chef Wan. You just need a bit of confidence, excellence, talent, perseverance, patience, dedication and motivation. We come from a part of the world that has so much to offer. Why should all the big stars come from the other countries? We should do it ourselves.

What is your new cooking show on AFC, Best Wan, all about?

Best Wan is about reaching out, connecting people across the region and the world. I’ll be cooking food representing the ASEAN region. I believe we should be united through food, understand each other’s cultures and respect each other. The whole region is a melting pot. We are a mix of all kinds of things.

It seems you’re no longer just a Malaysian food ambassador. You’ve become a spokesperson for the Southeast Asian region?

We have to learn to love each other and appreciate each other. We have to travel and build very close ties among the ASEAN countries. You see, a channel like AFC is not just about cooking. It teaches history and culture. It is important for people to learn more. That is why we have AFC, so we can bang the gong and tell the world "Hey, we are here! We are beautiful. We have so many cultures. Come visit us. Come see our country. Enjoy our food!"

Why is it you putter around your TV kitchen like a talkative grandmother?

(Laughter) That's very true! I was fascinated by grandmothers in the village when I was growing up. I was always watching them cook, talking to them and asking questions. I just love the older people. You learn so much from them.

Who is the best chef to you?

I think the best chefs are my mother and grandmother. I come from a big family and as the eldest I was always in the kitchen helping them prepare the family meals. They taught me a lot—from cooking rice to making kueh (Malaysian rice cakes). My Mom would always say, “Chef Wan not Chef One.  Chef Wan is Chef Two.”

Which food would best describe you?

Nasi Bungkus. It is a rice meal wrapped in banana leaf. I'm sure you have something similar in the Philippines. The rice comes with all these wonderful entrees like fried anchovies, peanuts, cucumber slices, sambal (a cooked chili paste) and wedges of hard-boiled egg around it. I’m the rice and the entrees represent my many talents.

You can catch Best Wan on the Asian Food Channel (Ch. 58) on SkyCable.  For the program schedule, check the AFC TV Guide.

To see a recipe by Chef Wan, click on this:   Chef Wan's Mee Rebus

• arumugan pallyan Oct 28 2010 @ 08:20pm Report Abuse

     

  need to get hold of your latest book, have tried all major bookstores but unsuccesfull, please help....tks.
• ct Oct 17 2010 @ 07:37pm Report Abuse

     

  i need some recipes to learnt how to cook!!..