Adam Liaw

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Adam Liaw
Adam Liaw.jpg
Liaw in 2012
Born (1978-09-08) 8 September 1978 (age 43)
Penang, Malaysia
NationalityAustralian
EducationBachelor of Science (Pharmacology),
Bachelor of Law
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide,
Prince Alfred College
OccupationChef, television presenter, author
Known forTelevision chef
PredecessorJulie Goodwin
SuccessorKate Bracks
Spouse(s)Asami Fujitsuka
Children3[1]
AwardsWinner, MasterChef Australia
Websiteadamliaw.com

Adam Liaw (born 8 September 1978) is a Malaysian Australian cook, television presenter and author. He was the winner of the second series of MasterChef Australia, defeating student Callum Hann in the final.[2]

Early life[]

Liaw was born in Penang, Malaysia[3] to a Malaysian Chinese father, Dr Siaw-Lin Liaw,[4] and a Singaporean-born English mother, Dr Joyce Hill AM.[5] He is the second of three children, with an older brother and younger sister The family moved to Adelaide when Liaw was aged 3.[3] After his parents divorced and his mother moved to New Zealand, Liaw lived with his paternal grandmother whom he credits with a huge influence on his cooking and his life.[6]

Liaw completed Year 11 at Prince Alfred College at age 14 and enrolled in university at 16. He graduated with a double degree in Science and Law from the University of Adelaide at 21.[7]

After graduation Liaw was employed by Kelly & Co Lawyers in Adelaide where he worked in technology, commercial/corporate law, business advisory and international trade. He was also a committee member, legal adviser and secretary of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association,[8] assisting South Australian companies to expand their business into Hong Kong and mainland China.[citation needed] In 2004, Liaw moved to Japan where he worked in media law for The Walt Disney Company.[9]

MasterChef[]

On 29 September 2009 Liaw announced via Twitter that he was considering auditioning for MasterChef.[10] In April 2010 he was announced as one of the top 24 finalists in MasterChef Australia, Season 2.[11] Despite winning a challenge cooking the dishes of celebrity chefs, Liaw doubted he had sufficient technique to win the title.[12]

On 22 July 2010 Liaw was the first challenger awarded a place in the grand finale.[13]

On Sunday, 25 July 2010 he was announced the winner of MasterChef Australia, Season 2, defeating Callum Hann 89–82 for the title.[2][14] His victory is still the most watched non-sporting television event in Australian history.[15]

Aside from his winner's book deal, Liaw is considering other business opportunities, including an izakaya restaurant with Tokyo-based Australian chef and friend Matthew Crabbe.[16] On 17 September 2010 it was confirmed that Liaw and Crabbe would be joined by a third business partner, Nathan Smith.

Books[]

As the winner of MasterChef Season 2, Liaw was given the opportunity to write his own cookbook. The book is called Two Asian Kitchens (ISBN 9781864711356), and was published by Random House Australia in April 2011. Split into two main sections - the Old Kitchen and the New Kitchen - Liaw explores recipes that he has grown up with, along with new creations.[17] The book has received positive reviews in the Australian media.[18][19][20]

Liaw has since published more cookbooks, Asian After Work (2013), Adam's Big Pot (2014), Asian Cookery School (2015) and The Zen Kitchen (2016). He also writes for Fairfax newspapers' Good Food, Sunday Life magazine and The Guardian.[21][22] He used to write for The Wall Street Journal's Scene Asia.[23]

Television[]

On 14 March 2012, it was announced that Liaw had landed his own travel/food TV show, Destination Flavour, which aired on the SBS network in late 2012.[24] In August 2012 Destination Flavour premiered. This series was also co-hosted by Renee Lim and Lily Serna. In September 2013, Destination Flavour: Japan had its official launch on SBS ONE with Adam as the sole host,[25] followed by Destination Flavour: Down Under in September 2014.[26] Destination Flavour: Scandinavia premiered on SBS Australia in 2016. "Destination Flavour: Singapore" premiered on SBS Australia in January 2017

In March 2017 "Hidden Japan with Adam Liaw" premiered on SBS Food Network.

On late 2020, Liaw hosted "Adam Liaw's Road Trip for Good" on SBS Food. In 2021, he hosted a nightly cook show on SBS Food titled "The Cook Up with Adam Liaw.

Others[]

Liaw is also UNICEF Australia's National Ambassador for Nutrition.[27]

He is prolific on social media. BuzzFeed Australia listed '19 Reasons You Need to Follow Aussie Chef Adam Liaw on Twitter and Instagram',[28] and '17 Times Aussie Chef Adam Liaw Nailed It on Social Media in 2015' in December 2015.[29]

Adam Liaw was named by All Nippon Airways as the Culinary Ambassador for ANA Australia.[30]

References[]

  1. ^ Cooper, Amy (2 December 2019). "How to bring the family together come Christmas time". Good Food.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Adam Liaw wins MasterChef Australia". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 25 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Celebrity chef Adam Liaw looks back on early life in Australia". SBS News.
  4. ^ "Siaw Lin Liaw". ahpra.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Queen's honours for orphanage founder". abc.net.au. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Adam Liaw wins MasterChef Australia". masterchef.com.au. 26 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Adam Liaw". masterchef.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Hong Kong Forum". hkfederation.org.hk. 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  9. ^ Marcus, Caroline; McWhirter, Fiona (4 July 2010). "Made-over Marion a hot favourite for Masterchef title". adelaidenow.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  10. ^ Liaw, Adam (29 September 2009). "Twitter post". twitter.com. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Top 24 MasterChef contestants". onfood.com.au. 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  12. ^ "I can't win, says MasterChef's Adam Liaw". news.com.au. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  13. ^ Leo, Jessica (22 July 2010). "Callum, Adam take South Australia into MasterChef finals". adelaidenow.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  14. ^ Idato, Michael (25 July 2010). "Adam wins MasterChef". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  15. ^ "MasterChef smashes ratings record". ABC News. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Adam Liaw beats Callum Hann in hot MasterChef do-or-die final". news.com.au. 26 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  17. ^ Adam Liaw (April 2011). "Two Asian Kitchens". Random House Australia. Archived from the original on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  18. ^ John Lethlean (5 March 2011). "MasterChef winner cooks up some folk Liaw". The Australian. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  19. ^ Helen Greenwood (12 April 2011). "He's a Liaw unto himself". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  20. ^ Peter Wilmoth (13 May 2011). "MasterChef to Mr Chef". The Weekly Review. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  21. ^ "About - adamliaw.com". adamliaw.com. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  22. ^ Adam Liaw, www.theguardian.com
  23. ^ Alessia. "Booktopia - Asian After Work, Simple Food for Every Day by Adam Liaw, 9780733630545. Buy this book online". Booktopia.
  24. ^ "MasterChef Australia's 2010 winner Adam Liaw finally has own TV show Destination Flavour on SBS". dailytelegraph.com.au. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  25. ^ "Destination Flavour". Food.
  26. ^ Commercial Development Unit. "Destination Flavour - Down Under". ABC Shop.
  27. ^ Corporation, Australian Broadcasting. "Adam Liaw: bringing Asian flavours to the mainstream". Conversations with Richard Fidler. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  28. ^ "19 Reasons You Need To Follow Aussie Chef Adam Liaw on Twitter And Instagram". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  29. ^ "17 Times Aussie Chef Adam Liaw Nailed It On Social Media In 2015". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  30. ^ "Introducing ANA Australia's Culinary Ambassador - Adam Liaw". YouTube. Retrieved 4 September 2017.

External links[]

Preceded by
Julie Goodwin 		MasterChef Australia
Winner
2010 		Succeeded by
Kate Bracks
Retrieved from ""