Chef Wan is an icon in the Malaysian culinary scene, having made a name for himself as a celebrity chef and restaurateur. However, he recently revealed that the journey to be one of the best in his field wasn’t easy.
The chef, whose real name is Redzuawan Ismail, recently appeared on the Studio Sembang podcast, where he chatted with host Amelia Henderson about his life and career. One of the topics the two discussed was Chef Wan’s early beginnings and how he got into cooking as a young boy. During this discussion, the chef opened up about the criticism he faced for enjoying cooking.
@studiosembang nak tahu best atau tak episode ni korang kena lah judge sendiri ok? #jomsembang with Datuk @chefwan later 10pm on @YouTube @Spotify or @Apple Podcasts ! #studiosembang
Chef Wan said he received backlash for enjoying cooking as a boy, since many people with traditional beliefs see cooking as a woman’s role. The 68-year-old said even his own father shamed him for helping out his mother in the kitchen. Chef Wan said his father’s words deeply affected him, but he said he wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he continued to improve his cooking skills with his mother’s help.
Surprisingly, Chef Wan’s mother also faced criticism for her son’s love for cooking. The television personality lamented that many people gave his mother a hard time for allowing her son to help her with cooking and household chores. Thankfully, a few neighbourhood aunties saw his skills as a positive trait, even quipping that they wanted him as their son-in-law. Chef Wan also noted that the same neighbours would also teach him new recipes.
@studiosembang guys, kita nak sembang dengan @chefwan pulak ni. korang rasa akan ada segment masak² ke tak?? #jomsembang #studiosembang
Despite the criticism, Chef Wan defends his interest in cooking and household chores, arguing that it’s important to embed these skills into children, regardless of gender. He explains that learning to cook teaches children how to survive, take care of themselves and be responsible, among other things. He also noted that honing his cooking skills led him to where he is now, a respected figure in Malaysia.
In the comments section, many netizens echoed Chef Wan’s sentiments. They also praised him for not letting criticism get in the way of his interests. Check out the full “Studio Sembang” episode below:
