After thousands of applications from hopeful home-cooks across Asia, 15 talented contenders, and 15 weeks of intense culinary competition, it all boiled down to last night’s grand finale of the inaugural MasterChef Asia on A+E Networks’ Lifetime (Astro Ch 709). Woo Wai Leong flew the Singapore flag high as he clinched the coveted title over his competitor from across the causeway, Marcus Low. 

Leong was a strong contender from the get-go; he delighted the judges with his “Chili Crab Pâte à Choux Gnocchi”, which fused Asian and Italian cooking styles to present a bold European twist to Singapore’s national dish.

Leong walks away with his very own cookbook, USD$50,000 cash prize, USD$10,000 worth of unique leisure experiences in Singapore, USD$15,000 worth of Panasonic home appliances, a one-year paid internship at one of Carlton Hotel Singapore’s restaurants and a one week stay at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. 

And of course, Leong has the bragging rights to the coveted title of being Asia’s first MasterChef.

For more information, please visit masterchefasia.com.