AFTER winning so many accolades for his culinary expertise, celebrity Chef Wan added another two more awards. This from the prestigious National Critics Choice award in Singapore.

He received "The Life Time Achievement - South East Asia Cuisine" under the Hospitality and Dining Awards 2011/2012 category and the Best Editor's Choice Award for his best-selling cook book, "The Best of Chef Wan Taste of Malaysia".

The award was presented by the National Critics Choice editor-in-chief of the Robin Stienberg in conjunction with the Asian Masters, Culture and Lifestyle of Singapore food festival in Singapore recently.

"This is the highest award in South East Asia. I feel so honoured and deeply humbled by such recognition. At least this shows all my effort as food ambassador for the Malaysian cuisine has been noticed by some quarters," said Chef Wan. The star chef was speaking during an interview from The Straits Cafe at the Grand Hyatt Singapore where the week-long Asian Masters Food promotions was held.

The internationally acclaimed chef said he was touched by the overwhelming response at the food festival.

"I was interviewed by several international television stations including Channel News Asia and was featured on a talk show which was telecast all over the world including the United Kingdom and the United States.

They asked me about my experience as a celebrity chef, the presence of reality MasterChef programme and my role as a food ambassador of Malaysian cuisine," said the 53-year-old chef who is also known as Datuk Redzuawan Chef Wan Ismail.

The flamboyant chef who is a also an author, actor, TV host and philanthropist said he enjoyed his one-week stint teaching the chefs at The Straits Café.

He also took the opportunity to prepare Opor Daging Pekan, Kerutup Ayam Trengganu, Kuzi Kambing, Nasi Kebawah Duli, a special rice famous in Kuala Lipis and Pekan and other recipes during the festival.

The Star/ANN