Oct. 29, 2024
Culinary Excellence Meets Entrepreneurial Ambition.
Bangkok, Thailand — AR Asia
Production is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest TV show, The
Maverick Academy. This
groundbreaking culinary competition series, brought to life by the renowned
Demon Chef Alvin Leung, will debut on Friday, 8th November 2024, on Netflix.
The series will showcase a blend of high-stakes cooking challenges and business
acumen.
We are proud to highlight Lexus as an important
partner in making this show a reality, alongside esteemed sponsors such as
Dusit Thani International, MasterCard, Makro, Lubuds, CPF (Charoen Pokphand
Foods Public Company Limited), and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This
collaboration marks a spectacular fusion of gastronomy, luxury, and innovation,
promising an unforgettable viewing experience.
The Maverick Academy is more than
just a cooking competition—it's a quest for the next culinary prodigy and
business partner. Hosted by The Demon Chef Alvin Leung, a celebrated figure in
the culinary world known for his avant-garde approach and Michelin-starred
establishments, the series seeks to discover a promising apprentice who will
join him in shaping the future of the culinary landscape.
Chef Alvin will
mentor and evaluate a diverse group of aspiring chefs in a dynamic format that
blends culinary prowess with business acumen. The stakes are high as
contestants face rigorous challenges designed to test their cooking skills,
creativity, and entrepreneurial potential. The winner will earn a coveted
position as Chef Alvin's apprentice and business partner, setting the stage for
a transformative journey in fine dining.
The Demon Chef, Alvin Leung is an English-born Hong
Kong-Canadian chef and television personality. He holds two Michelin stars at
his Hong Kong-based restaurant Bo Innovation and one Michelin star at Bo
London. Nicknamed ‘The Demon Chef’, he invented his cuisine named X-Treme
Chinese, which has modernized Chinese cuisine and single-handedly created new
taste sensations that give diners a unique experience with every visit. A
self-taught chef who draws from his training as an engineer, Leung is constantly
pushing the limits and unveiling surprises with his X-Treme Chinese cuisine. In
addition to the many restaurants opened under his guidance, Leung has risen to
fame through an illustrious television career including judging MasterChef
Canada.
Let’s meet Chef Eric Chong, the first apprentice of
Chef Alvin Leung. Chef Chong is a Canadian chef, former engineer, and
restaurateur who won the inaugural season of MasterChef Canada at just 21 years
old. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from McMaster University and
initially worked in that field before deciding to pursue cooking after hearing
about the MasterChef Canada casting call. Following his victory, he received an
opportunity from Chef Alvin Leung to train under him and collaborate on a restaurant.
Leung recognized parallels between their experiences, including their
engineering backgrounds and the initial disapproval from their families
regarding their career choices. In 2015, they launched R&D in Toronto,
featuring Asian fusion dishes like lobster chow mein, inspired by the dish
Chong created to win the MasterChef Canada finale.