Dato’ Chef Ismail Ahmad was born on December 6th, 1960, in Singapore – when it was still part of Tanah Melayu. Growing up in a traditional Negeri Sembilan household in Rembau, he was raised by his grandparents and is the third child among five siblings. He received his formal education in Rembau and then continued his studies in hospitality, culinary, and hotel school at ITM Shah Alam. Dato’ Chef Ismail began his career as a lecturer at a private university college before deciding to pursue his passion for cooking. He went on to have stints at several notable hotels and restaurants. These days, he finds himself occupied as the owner…

Chef Ammar Al Ali was born and raised in Palestine and is a Malaysian at heart. He is well-known in Malaysia for his strong influence on Mediterranean cuisine. He first came to Malaysia in 1989 and began his education journey at Kolej University Taylor and Stanford College, Penang, earning a double diploma in Hospitality & Food Production and Kitchen Planning. Chef Ammar kicked off his career at Universal Enterprise Maldives as a head chef from 1993 to 1996. In 1997, he joined the education field as a Food and Beverage Lecturer at Olympia College. Shortly after, he returned to Jordan and joined venture in the family business for the next…

It has been a record-breaking season for the Lexis Hotel Group, with a slew of awe-inspiring awards, two world records and impressive market growth all-round. President Mandy Chew Siok Cheng reveals to ‘Asean Food & Travel’ the secrets of the Group’s success. Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson (Lexis Hibiscus) opened its doors in 2015 amid much fanfare. Targeted at the young, eclectic crowd, it was unlike anything they have seen before. The iconic hotel designed after the national flower, clinched two Guinness World Records™ titles for “Most Swimming Pools In A Resort” and “Most Overwater Villas At A Single Resort” on 14 October 2016. These achievements come in the wake of…

Annette Isaac is a chef, food stylist, and cookbook author who is passionate about creating delicious and accessible meals for everyone. Her debut cookbook, What to Cook Laaa…, is a celebration of the diverse and flavourful cuisine of Malaysia, with a focus on simple, easy-to-make dishes that anyone can enjoy. Isaac’s love for cooking began in childhood, when she was left to prepare her own meals while her parents were at work. She quickly became an inventive cook, combining ingredients to create new and exciting dishes that she loved to eat. This passion for food continued throughout her university years in the UK, where she became the designated cook among…

Sherson Lian is an accomplished chef, host, presenter, entrepreneur, and even has quite the set of pipes on him. With such an impressive range of skills, it’s no wonder he’s endeared himself so much to the Malaysian public.  One of his most notable roles is as the host of “5 Rencah 5 Rasa” on TV3. Presenting in this role for a decade now, the long-running show is currently entering its 24th season. In addition to hosting “5 Rencah 5 Rasa,” Sherson has also hosted multiple TV shows on Asian Food Channel and Asian Food Network. One of his most exciting roles was as a feature chef for 22 sessions of…