What does it take to be a top chef in Malaysia? Jack Weldie of Chipta11A tells us his story

Weldie has become well-known for his inventive take on Japanese omakase fused with local ingredients and flavours. — Filepic

Slowly, this perception has changed of course. The advent of reality television and cooking shows like MasterChef have given rise to the notion that being a chef is a glamorous pursuit that requires intelligence, creativity, a strong business mind and so much more (all completely true, by the way).

These days, even on the local front, there has been a growing appreciation for talented homegrown chefs – from fledgling young ‘uns to more established names who have set the blueprint for success on home ground.