Chef Wan In Person.
| I was born, Redzuawan Bin Ismail, in Singapore in 1958. I am the eldest in a family of seven children. I qualified as an accountant but due to my passion for cooking, I later became a professional chef. I have an associate degree in Professional Chef Training and Hotel Management from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, United States. I also have a Ritz Escoffeir Diploma (Ecole Ritz-Esscoffier De Gastronomie Francaise) from the Ritz Hotel in Paris, France. |
I am the author of several famous best selling cookbooks. I have won numerous book awards. Among them are:-
| • | Salon International Du Livre Gourmand 2000 Periguex, France, a Gold Medal for Presentation Of ‘The Royal Dining Etiquette Of The Palace Of Perak’ In The Century In Malaysia |
| • | Salon International Du Livre Gourmand 2000 – Prix La Mazille Special Prize for his career as Food Ambassador of Malaysia. |
| • | Salon International Du Livre Gourmand 2003 in Barcelona, Spain for the Best Malay Chef Book in Malaysia (‘Mengelilingi Dunia bersama Chef Wan’ by Times Edition) |
As a prolific writer, I also contributes articles for various publications such as:-
| • | Flavours, Star Publication (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd |
| • | Jelita, Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd |
| • | Malaysia Tatler Food and Restaurant Guide, Communication Management Ltd. |
| • | Marie Claire Malaysian Edition Guide to Eating in Malaysia/Singapore. |
In October 2002, I gave a seminar on “The Excitement and Enticement of Malaysian Cuisine’ at the IFCA / IFSA (International Inflight Catering Association) Asia Pacific Conference held in Kuala Lumpur on behalf of Malaysia Airlines. I received a standing ovation by the participants at the end of his speech. I was co-emcee at the Gala Dinner for the 9th Gourmand World Cook Book Awards 2003 held in Barcelona, Spain.
The best thing about being a chef is that I get to make people happy. Food makes people happy. No matter how big your problems are, you still have to eat. I believe that problems seem bigger on an empty stomach. Moreover, food has a way of cheering us up.
I am different from other chefs because I am not just a chef. Not only am I well-traveled, but I am also an entertainer, an actor, an author and a motivator. I believe that food is one way to make people happy. My dream is that through my position as food ambassador, I can bring peace to the world. I also believe that food can unite people from all walks of life and cultures. When we sit together and eat, we promote better understanding and harmony.
| Being a gregarious person, I love to entertain people and socialize. I enjoy watching movies and dancing. I also like to read and indulge in gardening whenever I can. I have simple tastes. Although I like fashion, I believe that the most important thing is comfort. To me, it is important that I feel confident and comfortable with the way I look. I love simple food and fruit juices. My favourite is Asian and Japanese food, followed closely by Thai, Mediterranean and Provance cuisine. I am very motivated. The simplest things motivate me. Once I understand a concept, I will do it. Being a perfectionist, I believe that if you do something, you should do it well. Life has brought me fame and fortune. I wish to give back part of what I have received. Thus, I support various charities. I generously donate time, effort and money for any worthwhile cause. |