Bangkok, Thailand, 25 October 20024 — AR Asia Production is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest TV show, “The Maverick Academy. ” This groundbreaking culinary competition series, brought to life by the renowned Demon Chef Alvin Leung, will debut on Friday, 8th November 2024, on Netflix. The series will showcase a blend of high-stakes cooking challenges and business acumen.
We are proud to highlight Lexus as an important partner in making this show a reality, alongside esteemed sponsors such as Dusit Thani International, MasterCard, Makro, Lubuds, CPF (Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited), and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This collaboration marks a spectacular fusion of gastronomy, luxury, and innovation, promising an unforgettable viewing experience.
A Quest for Culinary Mastery and Entrepreneurial Brilliance
“The Maverick Academy” is more than just a cooking competition—it’s a quest for the next culinary prodigy and business partner. Hosted by The Demon Chef Alvin Leung, a celebrated figure in the culinary world known for his avant-garde approach and Michelin-starred establishments, the series seeks to discover a promising apprentice who will join him in shaping the future of the culinary landscape.
Chef Alvin will mentor and evaluate a diverse group of aspiring chefs in a dynamic format that blends culinary prowess with business acumen. The stakes are high as contestants face rigorous challenges designed to test their cooking skills, creativity, and entrepreneurial potential. The winner will earn a coveted position as Chef Alvin’s apprentice and business partner, setting the stage for a transformative journey in fine dining.
The Demon Chef, Alvin Leung is an English-born Hong Kong-Canadian chef and television personality. He holds two Michelin stars at his Hong Kong-based restaurant Bo Innovation and one Michelin star at Bo London. Nicknamed ‘The Demon Chef’, he invented his cuisine named X-Treme Chinese, which has modernized Chinese cuisine and single-handedly created new taste sensations that give diners a unique experience with every visit. A self-taught chef who draws from his training as an engineer, Leung is constantly pushing the limits and unveiling surprises with his X-Treme Chinese cuisine. In addition to the many restaurants opened under his guidance, Leung has risen to fame through an illustrious television career including judging MasterChef Canada.
Let’s meet Chef Eric Chong, the first apprentice of Chef Alvin Leung. Chef Chong is a Canadian chef, former engineer, and restaurateur who won the inaugural season of MasterChef Canada at just 21 years old. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from McMaster University and initially worked in that field before deciding to pursue cooking after hearing about the MasterChef Canada casting call. Following his victory, he received an opportunity from Chef Alvin Leung to train under him and collaborate on a restaurant. Leung recognized parallels between their experiences, including their engineering backgrounds and the initial disapproval from their families regarding their career choices. In 2015, they launched R&D in Toronto, featuring Asian fusion dishes like lobster chow mein, inspired by the dish Chong created to win the MasterChef Canada finale.
Meet the Mentors
The show will feature a distinguished panel of mentors, each an icon in the culinary world:
Chef Pam Soontornyanakij: Recognized as the First and Youngest Michelin Star recipient and honoured with the “Opening The Year” Award, Chef Pam’s innovative approach and commitment to excellence will provide invaluable insights and guidance. Celebrated for its progressive Thai-Chinese cuisine, Potong masterfully blends Thai ingredients and innovative techniques with traditional Chinese cooking methods. She was also crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam: The First Winner of Top Chef Thailand and recipient of the Michelin Guide Young Chef Award in 2024, Chef Tam is renowned for her inventive dishes and exceptional skill. Her restaurant, Baan Tepa, showcases Thai ingredients and prides itself on authenticity in its resources, cooking, and food. Chef Tam sources her ingredients locally, grows her own produce, and is committed to zero food waste.
Chef Ton Tassanakajohn: Awarded a Michelin Star for five consecutive years since 2019, Chef Ton’s consistent excellence and culinary expertise will play a crucial role in evaluating the contestants. His passion for cooking was largely influenced by the delicious home-cooked meals prepared by his mother and grandmother during his childhood. Named after the Thai word for ‘season’, Le Du boasts an innovative rotating menu that highlights Thai ingredients according to the season. Chef Tonn is the only Thai chef to have had 2 restaurants featured on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
Chef Chalee Kader: A Michelin Star Chef with a reputation for culinary brilliance, Chef Kader brings a wealth of experience and a discerning palate to the judging panel. Renowned for his dedication to showcasing Thai cuisine, ingredients, and flavours, Chef Chalee is committed to sustainable practices, including root-to-fruit and nose-to-tail cooking. He leads Wana Yook, a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its innovative seasonal tasting menu inspired by ‘Khao Gaeng’ or ‘rice topped with curry.’ Chef Chalee also helms 100 Mahaseth, which has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its excellence.
Chef Michael Bonacini: Renowned for his culinary innovation and dedication, Chef Michael Bonacini will lend his expertise and insights to evaluate the contestants’ performances. Celebrated globally for his high-end restaurants, Chef Bonacini is a familiar face on popular cooking shows such as MasterChef Canada and proudly owns over 100 distinguished restaurants nationwide.
Meet the Contestants
The show features an exceptional lineup of contestants from across Asia, each bringing their unique culinary perspective and talent:
Chef Jarupol Petpaesri is a distinguished Thai chef celebrated for his mastery of traditional Thai cuisine and innovative culinary techniques. Renowned for blending classic Thai flavours with modern approaches, Jarupol is driven by a deeply personal mission: to fulfil his late grandmother’s dreams. She was a culinary graduate who aspired to be a chef, but the gender norms of her generation held her back. Jarupol is determined to honour her memory by establishing a restaurant and earning a Michelin star. To pursue this dream, he made the bold decision to leave his stable job and join this exciting show.
Chef Yuda Bustara is a renowned Indonesian chef and culinary personality celebrated for his innovative approach to traditional Indonesian cuisine. Known for blending modern techniques with classic recipes, Yuda has made a significant impact through his appearances on Indonesian cooking shows and his engaging media presence. In addition to his television work, Yuda is eager to prove his culinary skills on a larger stage. He is determined to show that a celebrity chef and host of Iron Chef Indonesia can compete head-to-head with any professional chef. His YouTube channel, which boasts 567K subscribers, further showcases his culinary prowess and engaging personality.
Chef Janessa Wong is a respected figure in culinary arts, known for her innovative approach to both traditional and contemporary cuisines. As the youngest contestant to graduate from Le Cordon Bleu, she has a feisty personality and isn’t afraid to stand her ground. With an impressive career spanning prestigious kitchens in Hong Kong and Toronto, she has earned recognition for her exceptional cooking techniques and creativity. Despite her extensive experience with French, Italian, Japanese, and Korean cuisines, Janessa finds Cantonese cuisine particularly challenging—a fact she openly acknowledges. Known for her engaging presence, she is confident in her appeal and uses it to her advantage when appropriate. Her work continues to bridge culinary influences between Hong Kong and Toronto.
Chef Woody Simhong is an established culinary expert renowned for his innovative approach to blending traditional flavours with modern techniques. With a notable presence in the restaurant industry, he has earned acclaim for his high-quality dining experiences and exceptional culinary concepts. As TMA’s oldest contestant, Woody became an educator due to what he considers deplorable kitchen standards in Thailand. Keen to challenge the adage “those who can’t, teach,” he is determined to demonstrate his skills and show younger chefs a thing or two.
Chef Carl “CJ” Dy is a renowned culinary expert from the Philippines who is celebrated for his innovative approach to traditional and contemporary Filipino cuisine. Known for his exceptional dining experiences and creative twists on classic dishes, CJ has garnered acclaim in the restaurant industry, earning various awards for his culinary excellence. CJ takes great pride in his roots and is eager to showcase his Pinoy-Chinoy cuisine to the world. His ultimate goal is to become the first Michelin-starred chef from the Philippines.
Chef Goo Goo Cyn is a prominent culinary expert from Myanmar who is celebrated for her mastery of traditional Myanmar cuisine and innovative cooking techniques. Renowned for her unique approach to enhancing classic dishes, she has made a significant impact in the Myanmar restaurant industry. A self-trained chef, Chef Goo Goo gained widespread recognition on Instagram with her insider knowledge of exotic Burmese cuisine. “Forced” into cooking due to Myanmar’s closure and the pandemic, she has faced challenges, including discrimination in professional kitchens, but remains determined to prove her worth.
Chef Stefan Poyet is a former executive chef for Mr and Mrs Fox and currently owns a restaurant in Bali. He is a renowned culinary expert making significant strides in Indonesia’s food scene. Celebrated for his innovative approach, Chef Poyet expertly blends traditional and contemporary cuisines, emphasizing local ingredients with a global flair. Stefan is leaving behind the security of his restaurants in the idyllic setting of Bali to compete. While he already enjoys recognition from an adoring Indonesian public, he is eager for the rest of the world to catch up. Armed with finely honed techniques and experience from Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, he is more than ready for the challenge.
Chef Pattayah Chaimongkol is a distinguished Thai culinary expert celebrated for her mastery of traditional Thai cuisine and innovative cooking techniques. Known for elevating classic dishes while preserving their authentic essence, Chef Pattayah has made a significant impact through her acclaimed restaurant ventures in Thailand. She was handpicked to be the chief assistant to Iron Chef Thailand’s Martin Blunos and has never lost a match since. Despite her extensive education and experience, which often disqualified her from most Thai competitions, this is finally her chance to compete on her own terms.
“During Covid, the regional culinary scene suffered a big setback with many restaurants closed. The show was created to inspire chefs in the region to be their own Entrepreneurs while equipping them with the best learning from the trade. That’s why, in addition to chefs Alvin and Eric, we have five renowned chefs in the region to serve as their mentors. We’re also thankful to our seven regional sponsors for their support of this initiative, and we hope the IP and spirit can continue.”, said Anne Chan, Executive Producer.
