He Started Cooking In His 40s And Reached The Top Of Fine Dining

Send us Fan MailThis episode of the Chef JKP Podcast features Chef Alvin Leung, better known around the world as The Demon Chef, for a conversation about reinvention, ambition, creativity, and the unconventional road that took him from engineering into the highest levels of global gastronomy.Chef James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Alvin, founder of Demon Duck, three Michelin-starred restaurateur, chef and MasterChef Canada judge, to unpack his remarkable journey from growing up in Canada, to working for years as an engineer, to teaching himself how to cook and eventually building one of the most distinctive culinary careers in the world.At its core, this is a conversation about courage, self-belief, and building your own path even when it looks nothing like everyone else’s.WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Alvin’s childhood food memories and why bad home cooking pushed him to learn for himself• How he spent nearly two decades working as an engineer before becoming a chef• Why discovering Michelin-star dining in his forties changed everything• The story of opening his first restaurant during SARS in Hong Kong• How he found an unconventional shortcut into fine dining without classical culinary training• His thoughts on talent, passion, hard work, luck, and what really drives success• What MasterChef taught him about judging, potential, and mentoring future chefs• Why taste is still king, no matter the format, pressure, or platform• How he thinks about leadership, team culture, and getting the best out of people• His view on Michelin stars, legacy, and the evolving dining scene in DubaiCHAPTERS00:00 Alvin’s childhood food memory and the instant noodles that made him start cooking04:00 Engineering, family expectations, and why becoming a chef came much later10:00 Discovering Michelin dining for the first time and rethinking what was possible18:00 Opening his first restaurant in Hong Kong during SARS27:00 Success, failure, stubbornness, and what kept pushing him forward39:00 MasterChef, judging talent, and why he is tough but fair53:00 Building teams, leadership, and creating the right kitchen culture01:10:00 Michelin stars, losing and winning with grace, and what accolades really mean01:16:00 How he sees the growth of Dubai’s dining scene01:28:00 Quick fire round, food heroes, MasterChef advice, and why people need to season properlyFOLLOW THE GUESTChef Alvin LeungInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/chefalvinleung/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoPROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONAValrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.Website:https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-indiaSUPPORT THE SHOWStay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNSupport the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE