E&O and AFC in search of celebrity chef

The programme, called ‘E&O Search for AFC’s next celebrity chef’, is also the broadcaster’s first reality television series.

The entire show will be shot at E&O numerous properties such as Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Lone Pine Hotel, Martinique seafront villa and Straits Quay Retail Marina in Penang; the St. Mary Residences in Kuala Lumpur; as well as Delicious restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

The eight-part series  is open for contestants from across Asia and auditions will be held in five countries – Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore – from 3 to 16 August.  

Shortlisted contestants will be put through a series of intense cooking tests and trials, and the winning chef will also be signed to an exclusive one-year contract as an AFC celebrity chef with AFC.

The winner will also be awarded the opportunity of a year-long employment contract with the E&O Group, taking on the mantle of creative director and head of R&D for the E&O Gourmet Group.

Top 12 finalists will unveiled in the premiere episode, and one or more participants will be eliminated from the running, based on the decisions made by the panel of judges.

The panel of judges is made of Bruce Lim, AFC celebrity chef and star of TV series Tablescapes, and Michael Saxon, director of group hospitality & lifestyle of E&O Group.

International celebrity chefs will also be invited to selected episodes throughout the series as guest celebrity chef judges.

Eric Chan, deputy managing director at E&O Group, commented, “With their production expertise, and the range of challenges we can offer across our different properties and businesses, we are confident we can inspire aspiring chefs across the region to become AFC’s next celebrity chef and be a part of the E&O team.”

Maria Brown, co-founder and managing director of the Asian Food Channel, said, “We are so proud and honoured to be able to create our own show to discover a celebrity chef in Asia. It has been something we have been planning for a long time and as Asia's premier Food Channel we are delighted to be able to develop talent from across the region."