Year of Champions: Diana Chan, the Malaysian food hero

Diana Chan was an accountant in Melbourne before winning MasterChef Australia. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

The Malaysian love of food – and a deep-rooted love of the country’s cuisine itself – runs in the veins of the latest MasterChef Australia winner, Diana Chan. She took the title in mid-July, to much enthusiastic applause from fellow Malaysians and Australians alike.

Her entire journey on the competitive cooking show was significantly signposted by the flavours and ingredients of her home country. She spiked steamed coral perch with spicy tamarind and emperor fish with sambal sauce, cooked fragrant oatmeal prawns, and served morsels of deep-fried barramundi on betel leaves with glutinous rice and palm sugar sauce.