A+E Networks® Asia recently announced a line-up of judges for the inaugural season of MasterChef Asia. The panel includes Hong Kong-born, culinary genius Susur Lee; 3-Michelin Starred chef Bruno Ménard; and culinary TV personality and Singapore-born, Audra Morrice, a MasterChef Australia finalist.
Susur Lee has been referred to as the “Father of Fusion” and has won numerous culinary awards including Food and Wine magazine’s “Ten Chefs of the Millenium” and the 5-Star Diamond award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. He is the owner-chef of four highly-rated restaurants in Canada including LEE, Luckee, Bent and LEE Kitchen in Toronto, as well as TungLok Heen in Singapore. For 20 years, he has been the Executive Consulting Chef for the TungLok Group, which owns over 40 restaurants in Asia.
Chef Bruno Ménard earned 3 Michelin Stars at L’Osier, a Tokyo-based restaurant that has been voted one of the top French restaurants outside of France. Bruno has spent 20 years establishing some of the best restaurants in Asia and currently runs a top-tier culinary consulting firm in Singapore. He was born in France to a chocolatier father and a patissier grandfather. He brings to the show deep culinary expertise and an unparalleled passion and energy for gastronomy.
Audra Morrice has been described as the next Martha Stewart of Asia. Her success on MasterChef Australia cemented her career in food and launched her into the world of culinary TV. Audra owns a successful catering business, hosts pop-up restaurant events and conducts South East Asian cooking classes. She will publish her highly anticipated cookbook and launch her own range of artisanal food products. Born in Singapore of Indian and Chinese descent, Audra is currently based in Australia.
“MasterChef Asia underlines our commitment to creating world-class programming on Lifetime for audiences across Asia,” said Prem Kamath, Deputy Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, A+E Networks Asia. “We’re thrilled to align with such an accomplished and celebrated team of chef judges who also have deep Asian roots.”
MasterChef Asia’s 15-episode series will feature aspiring home-cooks from China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
“We considered many chefs from around Asia and overseas to find the right combination of knowledge, passion, charisma and warmth,” said Michele Schofield, Senior Vice President, Programming & Production, A+E Networks Asia. “Susur brings stellar Asian food expertise and extensive technical knowledge, while Bruno has undisputed Michelin-rated credentials based in classic French cuisine. Audra’s cooking is rooted in South Asian cuisine as well as pastry; she has a unique relatability to the contestants and is testament to the opportunity that MasterChef offers home cooks.”
MasterChef Asia is being produced in Singapore and is set to air in 2015 on Lifetime (Astro Ch 709). Season 1 is presented by the Singapore Tourism Board and Knorr, in association with Panasonic, Changi Airport Group and Carlton Hotel Singapore.
Based on an original format by Franc Roddam and represented internationally by Endemol Shine Group, MasterChef is the most travelled food format in the world having sold to 52 territories and counting.