Chef Wan
Malaysian chef, television host and entrepreneur
Biography
Redzuawan bin Ismail, known as Chef Wan, is a Malaysian chef, television host, actor and entrepreneur. He is best known for bringing the cooking of Malaysia and Southeast Asia to television, and for presenting these traditions to audiences beyond the region.
Born on 6 January 1958 in Sungai Koyan Felda, in Lipis, Pahang, he grew up in a settlement of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda). He first worked as an accountant. After noticing how popular many Asian cuisines had become in Western countries, he decided to promote the food of his own country and its neighbours. He trained at the California Culinary Academy and earned a Ritz Escoffier diploma at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris. Over time he became known as a cooking show presenter and restaurateur.
His legacy is closely tied to television and tourism. He serves as a culinary ambassador for Tourism Malaysia and a brand ambassador for AirAsia. His son, Chef Riz, also works as a chef. His public life has included controversies, notably remarks about the Felda agency and some jokes that drew criticism. He received the title of Datuk in 2010 and Dato in 2016.
Key contributions
- Television programmes that introduced Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking to audiences outside the region.
- Professional training that combined a California culinary academy with the Ritz Escoffier diploma in Paris.
- Restaurants under his name, including Chef Wan's Kitchen at Esplanade Mall, which closed in 2018 after about a year.
- A role as culinary ambassador for Tourism Malaysia, linking food with the country's tourism promotion.
- International exposure through Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey.