Adam Liaw
Encyclopedia
Adam Liaw is an Australia
n lawyer and television chef. He was the winner of the second series of MasterChef Australia
, defeating student Callum Hann in the final.
father, Dr Siaw-Lin Liaw, and a Singapore
an-born English
mother, Dr Joyce Hill AM
. He is the second of three children, with an older brother Aron, and younger sister Amber Dawn. After his parents divorced and his mother moved to New Zealand, Liaw lived with his paternal grandmother Kwei-Eng Chew, whom he credits with a huge influence on his cooking and his life.
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.
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, assisting South Australian companies to expand their business into Hong Kong and mainland China.
In 2004 Liaw moved to Japan where he worked in media law for The Walt Disney Company.
. Despite winning a challenge cooking the dishes of celebrity chefs, Liaw doubted he had sufficient technique to win the title.
On 22 July 2010 Liaw was the first challenger awarded a place in the grand finale.
On Sunday, 25 July 2010 he was announced the winner of MasterChef Australia, Season 2
, defeating Callum Hann 89–82 for the title.
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. On 17 September 2010 it was confirmed that Liaw and Crabbe would be joined by a third business partner, Nathan Smith.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n lawyer and television chef. He was the winner of the second series of MasterChef Australia
MasterChef Australia (season 2)
Season 2 of the Australian cookery game show MasterChef Australia premiered on 19 April 2010 on Network Ten, concluding on 25 July 2010 when Adam Liaw was named the winner....
, defeating student Callum Hann in the final.
Early life
Liaw is the son of a Malaysian-born ChineseMalaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
father, Dr Siaw-Lin Liaw, and a Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an-born English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
mother, Dr Joyce Hill AM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
. He is the second of three children, with an older brother Aron, and younger sister Amber Dawn. After his parents divorced and his mother moved to New Zealand, Liaw lived with his paternal grandmother Kwei-Eng Chew, whom he credits with a huge influence on his cooking and his life.
Liaw completed Year 11 at Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia...
at age 14 and enrolled in university at 16. He graduated with a double degree in Science and Law from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
at 21.
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, assisting South Australian companies to expand their business into Hong Kong and mainland China.
In 2004 Liaw moved to Japan where he worked in media law for The Walt Disney Company.
MasterChef
On 29 September 2009 Liaw announced via Twitter that he was considering auditioning for MasterChef. In April 2010 he was announced as one of the top 24 finalists in MasterChef Australia, Season 2MasterChef Australia (season 2)
Season 2 of the Australian cookery game show MasterChef Australia premiered on 19 April 2010 on Network Ten, concluding on 25 July 2010 when Adam Liaw was named the winner....
. Despite winning a challenge cooking the dishes of celebrity chefs, Liaw doubted he had sufficient technique to win the title.
On 22 July 2010 Liaw was the first challenger awarded a place in the grand finale.
On Sunday, 25 July 2010 he was announced the winner of MasterChef Australia, Season 2
MasterChef Australia (season 2)
Season 2 of the Australian cookery game show MasterChef Australia premiered on 19 April 2010 on Network Ten, concluding on 25 July 2010 when Adam Liaw was named the winner....
, defeating Callum Hann 89–82 for the title.
Aside from his winner's book deal, Liaw is considering other business opportunities, including an izakaya
Izakaya
An is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are popular, casual places for after-work drinking.-Name:...
restaurant with Tokyo-based Australian chef and friend Matthew Crabbe. On 17 September 2010 it was confirmed that Liaw and Crabbe would be joined by a third business partner, Nathan Smith.