Who doesn’t recognise Chef Wan? He’s one of the most famous chefs in the world. He has been marking his name in the food industry since 1980. This celebrity chef is not only talented in cooking spectacular dishes but also a great emcee, actor and impromptu comedian!
He has been working in the food business for so long. And it’s proven how successful he is with the number of De.Wan 1958 restaurants there are in Malaysia.
A few days ago, Michelin Guide awarded four local restaurants a Michelin star. Two restaurants are from Kuala Lumpur, and the other two are Penang-made. We all know it’s not easy to obtain the award as many aspects are considered before making the decision.
But due to Chef Wan’s successful career, we collectively agree that he deserves a Michelin star. Therefore, some Malaysians asked him: doesn’t he want a Michelin Guide award too?
Chef Wan says, “I’m just a cook on TV”
The amazing chef shared a few posts on his Instagram to address and answer the questions from the public.
Firstly, he explained that Michelin-star chefs or restaurants are a hassle and challenge to handle and maintain. Since a Michelin star winner has a reputation to preserve, many chefs fall into depression and other mental health illnesses. Also, some couldn’t handle the pressure and lost the star they earned with every sweat and tear.
Secondly, Chef Wan’s De.Wan 1958 receives over 800-1000 customers on busy days, especially during big events. He states it’s hard to maintain the food quality to cater to big groups of customers that come to his restaurants. Imagine if he’s a Michelin star chef: it will be double the pressure!
He’s more comfortable with what he is right now. The chef says, “I’m just a cook on TV. So I don’t expect much in life. Everything that Allah has given me is sufficient to hire and house many workers as we support each other.”
Although Chef Wan isn’t a Michelin star winner, he’s still a star in our hearts!
Sources: Instagram Chef Wan, The Vocket