Page 239 - WGA 2019 BOOKLET-AWARD-RECIPIENT

WORLD GOURMET A W ARDS 2019

Sam Leong is no stranger to the media as 26 years of culinary expertise and
innovation has honed him to be Singapore’s very own celebrity chef. Having been
trained in culinary arts by his father, a Malaysian Chef well known for his shark’s
fin dishes, Chef Leong has come a long way. From becoming the executive chef
of Jiang Nan Chun at Four Seasons Hotel at the age of 28 to being appointed as
the director of kitchens/corporate chef for the Tung Lok Group, Chef Leong has
also collected multiple accolades. A trend-setter in modern Chinese Cuisine,
Sam has represented Singapore at some of the world’s prestigious culinary
events, including the annual James Beard Foundation Awards (1999); Friends
of James Beard Gala Dinner (2000); Master of Food & Wine, Australia (2002);
Annual St Moritz Gourmet Festival, Switzerland (2002); and the Flavours of
Asia event at Napa Valley,California (2004).

His list of accolades includes being named Best Asian Ethnic Chef of the Year
at World Gourmet Summit Awards of Excellence in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and
Executive Chef of the Year and Chef of the Year in 2005. He was also named
Chef of the Year at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Award (HAPA) in 2006 and
2007. In 2008, Chef Leong was awarded the Five Star Diamond Award and
was recognised as one of the finest chefs worldwide in the American Academy
of Hospitality Sciences and another award in 2009 – Asian Cuisine Chef of the
Year “regional” by the World Gourmet Summit, Singapore. Leong has had the
honour of serving world famous public figures such as Minister Mentor Lee
Kuan Yew, former US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and Queen
Elizabeth II of England. He became the first Singaporean chef to join Singapore
Airline’s International Culinary Panel of world-renowned chefs. In that same
year, he made his first appearance on Singapore television, in a Chinese
language cooking programme, King of the Kitchens. A year later, he was invited
to be chef-mentor for a television cooking competition, Star Chefs 1 in 2006,
Star Chef 2 in 2007 and Good Food Fun Cook in 2008. His success progressed
into the publishing world when he released his cookbook A Wok Through Time,
followed by Sensations, and A Taste of Home.