Chef Wan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chef Wan
PMW DSAP
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Chef Wan in 2019
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| Born |
Redzuawan bin Ismail
6 January 1958 Singapore
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| Citizenship | Malaysia |
| Education | California Culinary Academy |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1990–present |
| Television |
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| Spouse(s) | Norhayati binti Ayub |
| Children | Serina Redzuawan Muhammad Zainudin Redzuawan (Chef Riz) |
| Parents |
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Redzuawan bin Ismail (born 6 January 1958), known to many as Chef Wan, is a famous Malaysian chef. He is also a television host, an actor, a restaurant owner, and a business person. He is well-known for sharing delicious Malaysian and Southeast Asian food with the world.
Contents
Chef Wan's Early Life
Chef Wan grew up in a place called Sungai Koyan Felda in Pahang, Malaysia. His family was not rich, and they were part of a program that helped people get land for farming. He often talks about his humble beginnings.
Family and Heritage
Chef Wan has a mixed background. His father's family came from Indonesia, and his mother's family had Chinese and Japanese roots. He has two children who are also in the public eye. His daughter, Serina Redzuawan, is an actress. His son, Muhammad Nazri Redzuawan, who is known as Chef Riz, has followed in his father's footsteps and become a chef too!
Chef Wan's Journey to Becoming a Chef
Before becoming a chef, Chef Wan actually worked as an accountant. He noticed how popular Asian food was becoming in Western countries. This made him want to show off the amazing food from Malaysia and other South East Asian countries to a wider audience.
Learning to Cook
To become a professional chef, Chef Wan studied at the California Culinary Academy. He also earned a special diploma from the Ritz Escoffier in Paris, France. These schools helped him learn many cooking skills.
Awards and Recognition
In 2009, Chef Wan won an important award: Best Celebrity Television Chef at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. This showed how much people loved his cooking shows. He has also been a special ambassador for Tourism Malaysia, helping to promote Malaysian food and culture. Currently, he is a brand ambassador for AirAsia, a well-known airline.
Appearing on TV Shows
Chef Wan has appeared on many television shows around the world. In 2005, a famous American chef named Anthony Bourdain introduced Chef Wan to American viewers on his show No Reservations. Chef Wan also appeared on the BBC show Far Eastern Odyssey with British chef Rick Stein in 2009.
Restaurant Challenges
In 2018, Chef Wan's Kitchen restaurant in Singapore closed down. Chef Wan explained that the food was not being made exactly to his recipes. He felt it was better to close the restaurant than to disappoint customers who expected his special cooking.
Recent Activities
In 2019, Chef Wan received the Felda Icon Award. This award recognized his achievements and his connection to the Felda community where he grew up. In March 2021, a popular YouTube comedian, Uncle Roger, visited Chef Wan's restaurant for a video. Chef Wan was also asked to be on a stand-up comedy show, but he decided not to, saying he preferred to be funny in a natural way rather than performing comedy on stage.
Chef Wan in Movies
Chef Wan has also acted in a few movies. Here are some of them:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Lurah Dendam | Rizal | His first movie role |
| 1997 | Baginda | Teacher Ismail | |
| 2000 | Soal Hati | Naza | |
| 2005 | Senario XX | Dad Siti | |
| 2011 | Karipap-Karipap Cinta | Himself | |
| 2015 | Gangsterrock Kasi Sengat | Himself | A special appearance |
Honours and Titles
Chef Wan has received special honours and titles from Malaysia. These titles are given to people who have contributed a lot to their country.
- From the Federal Territory of Malaysia:
* In 2010, he was given the title Datuk as a Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (PMW).
- From the state of Pahang:
* In 2016, he received the title Dato' as a Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP).
