FIRST-year culinary student Vincent Chin, 19, has always admired celebrity chef Datuk Redzuawan Ismail from afar.
The Berjaya University College student from Sandakan, Sabah, has finally got his chance to meet the man, better known as Chef Wan in a new cookery reality show, Raja Sawit, on TV3. Chin is one of the student-contestants in the show.
"Chef Wan is not only very knowledgeable but also a witty, playful master of his craft. But he's also got a terrifying side; he's that no-nonsense teacher who ‘slams’ me for my bad cooking. That hurts me quite a bit," he said at the launch of Raja Sawit in Seri Pentas, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya recently.
Vincent's team mate, third-year culinary student Tunku Farah Tunku Mohamad Zulkifli, 24, agreed.
"Chef Wan brooks no nonsense. If our weekly assignment is lousy to him, he will give us the Simon Cowell treatment!" she said.
"But then, you've got to be cruel to be kind, and the best teachers rotan (whip) us nicely; he's one of them!"
UCSI University team mates Hui Sea Siow, 21, and Siti Hajar Badrul Hisham, 20, have been treated "nicer" by Chef Wan. "He does berate all student-contestants if he thinks we were generally not up to mark in a weekly cookery task. But both of us are rather lucky not to have received a tongue lashing from him," said third-year student Hui.
"He's quite a gentleman with me, I must say," said third-year student Siti Hajar. "Instead of ‘hammering’ me, he pointed out my mistakes step by step and showed how I could have done things differently."
Universiti Teknologi Mara team mates Nurul Atirah Karimudin and Shamsul Iqmar Shafiq Shamsul Hairi, both 23, were both "terrified and entertained" by Chef Wan.
"He has his days, sometimes he's the sweetest master we know, while on other days he scolds us harshly," said third-year student Nurul.
Second-year student Shamsul added, "I've expected this from the start, every good teacher will expect the best from you, so I've learnt to grin and bear it if he berates us, because at the end of the day, he apologises and praises us for our hard work."
WORKING WITH YAN
Raja Sawit, a production of P&U Victory and directed by Chew Han Tah, is 61-year-old Chef Wan's first reality show and he is delighted to be guiding its 16 contestants from eight universities and colleges.
"I've always wanted to share my lifelong culinary knowledge with youngsters who are prepared to work hard to pursue their dreams. I'm out to discover the next big Malaysian chefs, but to groom them I have to ‘crack the whip’ and not compromise on standards," he said. Chef Wan is teaming up with American celebrity chef Martin Yan in judging the contestants.
"Martin and I have been friends for 25 years, and we first met in San Francisco when I was still learning to become a chef. We've appeared together in cookery shows on television but this is the first time we're judging and mentoring students. We're playing good cop and bad cop to the youngsters, he is the good cop, I am the bad cop!"
Yan, 70, had always been fascinated with Malaysia's "rich culinary landscape" and Chef Wan has been his "food tour guide" to every Malaysian state over the last two decades.
"Malaysia's food heritage is superb, one of the richest I've seen, and it's a fusion of so many Asian as well as Western traditions. I'm most honoured to mentor Malaysian students for the first time. Yhey're very disciplined, dedicated, adventurous and knowledgeable." Yan admitted that at first he was "not a spicy food fan" but with a little persuasion from Chef Wan, he acquired the taste for it.
"Malaysian curries are rich in tropical herbs, and over the years I've set up my own herb garden, just as Chef Wan has.
"Every time I visit Kuala Lumpur, I get to cook for Chef Wan and vice-versa and we share lots of original culinary ideas."
He described Chef Wan as the "man who put Malaysian food on the world map". "It's always a joy and an honour to work with him."
PALM OIL
The eight colleges and universities participating in Raja Sawit are Segi University, Unitar International University, YTL International College of Hotel Management, Help College of Art and Technology, Inti International College Subang, UCSI, UiTM and Berjaya University.
In every weekly episode of Raja Sawit, the 16 student-contestants are given the task of preparing dishes with specified ingredients by Chef Wan and Yan.
The two chefs judge the contestants, and the team with the lowest marks for the week is eliminated. Only three teams will make it to the finals. Media Prima Television Networks Chief Executive Officer Johan Ishak said Raja Sawit is aimed at supporting the government's campaign to use palm oil for cooking.
"Raja Sawit endorses and supports the ongoing Sayangi Sawitku campaign. Both Chef Wan and Martin have always been supportive of palm oil, and they are going all out to discover the next big chefs and perhaps, celebrity chefs of Malaysia," he said.
"Chef Wan and Martin are widely respected masters in their craft and their perfectionism at work will make sure that Raja Sawit's contestants are guided by the ‘best of the best’ in the global culinary sector."
In every weekly episode, the student-contestants will travel with Chef Wan and Yan in a special Raja Sawit bus to various destinations for their assignments. These include Felda Residence Hot Springs in Sungkai, Perak, James Fish Farm in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, and The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat in Tambun, Ipoh, Perak.
The winning team will receive a three-day and two-night stay at The Banjaran worth RM20,000, practical training at Chef Wan's restaurant De.Wan 1958 and a special knife autographed by Yan.
Raja Sawit is sponsored by Minyak Cap Buruh and co-sponsored by A1 Bihun Beras and Kawan Food. It is supported by the Primary Industries Ministry, Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Air Asia, Tefal and FGV Holdings.
The six-episode show was launched by Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.
Raja Sawit will be screened at 6pm on TV3 on Saturdays, beginning June 8.