Sage Gastronomy Presents
Edition 01 | Chef of China x NGV Garden Restaurant
The Master Series:
A Unique Journey,
Crafted Across Six Plates.
Award-Winning Australian Culinary Champion | Hospitality Leader | Culinary Educator With more than 25 years of experience spanning Australia and Hong Kong, Chef Leslie Chan is one of Australia’s most respected culinary professionals. Blending classical technique with contemporary Asian and Western influences, he has built an exceptional career as an executive chef, educator, culinary consultant, competition champion, and industry leader. After beginning his career at Hong Kong’s prestigious Peninsula Hotel, Leslie moved to Australia to further his education, earning a Diploma of Hospitality from Holmesglen Institute and a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from La Trobe University. His career has included senior roles with Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Sofitel Melbourne, RACV City Club, Sushi Sushi, and Comcater, while also teaching at Holmesglen TAFE, where he received the Outstanding Staff Award for Teaching and Educational Excellence. A decorated competition chef, Leslie has earned more than 21 international and national Gold Medals, twice receiving the title of Most Outstanding Chef of the Year at the Australian Culinary Challenge. He represented Australia as a member of the Australian National Culinary Team, finished 3rd in Australia’s Bocuse d’Or selection, and won the 2025 Global Chefs Challenge – Pacific Rim Semi-Final, qualifying for the Global Chef Challenge Finals in Wales. Beyond competition, Leslie is a passionate mentor and ambassador for Australian gastronomy. He has served as President of the Australian Culinary Federation (Victoria), appears regularly as a culinary judge and television presenter, and continues to inspire the next generation of chefs through innovation, education, and international collaboration.
Chef Eddy Leung Wai Ho is one of Hong Kong’s most respected chefs, bringing over 33 years of culinary excellence to the world of fine dining. Founder of Chef Studio by Eddy (用心梁廚), he is celebrated for his refined French cuisine and innovative East-meets-West culinary philosophy. Chef Eddy began his career at the iconic Gaddi’s at The Peninsula Hong Kong, before holding executive leadership positions at some of Hong Kong’s most prestigious hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, EAST Hong Kong, Royal Plaza Hotel, and Harbour Plaza Hotel. Chef Eddy pioneered French private dining Poison Ivy in Hong Kong, attracting a distinguished clientele that includes renowned celebrities such as Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Aaron Kwok. President of The Hong Kong Chefs Association, he has represented Hong Kong at international culinary competitions, earning multiple medals and prestigious honors, including the Hong Kong Food Festival Culinary Award and the American Culinary Classic Award. He also one of the White Chef for Tencent TV show “Chef of China”. Today, Chef Eddy continues to inspire through his elegant culinary creations, seamlessly blending classical French techniques with contemporary Asian influences.
Champion of Chef of China 2025 - Chef Rain (Qu Yuyu) is one of China’s most exciting new culinary talents, celebrated for her imaginative approach to modern gastronomy and artistic storytelling through food. Crowned Champion of Chef of China 2025, she has rapidly earned recognition as a rising force in contemporary Chinese fine dining. Guided by the philosophy that “creation comes before perfection,” Chef Rain crafts immersive dining experiences inspired by seasonality, nature and cultural heritage. Blending feminine sensitivity with technical precision, she transforms premium ingredients into elegant, thought-provoking cuisine that balances innovation with exceptional flavour. Her achievements include winning the 2021 National Molecular Gastronomy Competition, and serving as a Judge of the 10th National Modern Creative Culinary Competition (2024–2025). Beyond competition, Chef Rain has curated exclusive gastronomic experiences for prestigious luxury brands including Maybach, Bentley, Porsche, Louis XIII, Steinway & Sons, BMW, Wuliangye and Moutai, showcasing her ability to merge haute cuisine with luxury lifestyle experiences. With an ever-growing following across Chinese social media and a reputation for redefining contemporary Chinese gastronomy, Chef Rain continues to inspire a new generation of chefs through creativity, craftsmanship and an unwavering pursuit of culinary excellence.
Wine Collaborators
Dr Sergio Carlei –
Presenting Organic and Biodynamic Wine Stories
Dr Sergio Carlei is one of Australia’s most respected winemakers and the founder of Carlei Estate in Victoria. Originally trained as a chemist and later qualifying as a Doctor of Chiropractic, he also earned a professional degree in oenology, combining science, health and craftsmanship in his unique approach to winemaking.
A pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Australia, Dr Carlei is renowned for producing terroir-driven wines with minimal intervention, allowing each vineyard to express its authentic character. His philosophy centres on sustainability, environmental stewardship and creating what he describes as “Real Wines” that reflect a true sense of place.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr Carlei has received widespread recognition from leading wine critics, including James Halliday, and has helped establish several of Australia’s highest-rated wineries. Today, he continues to inspire the Australian wine industry through his commitment to innovation, biodynamic farming and exceptional craftsmanship.
Dr. Sergio Carlei
Specials:
Creative Visionary Hikaru Matsubara
Hikaru Matsubara is a Japanese contemporary artist celebrated for his distinctive visual language of bold graphic forms, minimal lines, and playful humour. His signature double-eye motif creates a sense of double vision, inviting audiences to see familiar subjects from new perspectives.
Having grown up across Japan, the United States, and Hong Kong before settling in Kobe, Matsubara draws inspiration from diverse cultures and everyday experiences. His philosophy is to achieve the greatest expression with the fewest elements, transforming simple forms into thought-provoking works.
In 2018, he received both the Jeon Woochi Award and the Makoto Ikeda Jury Award at UNKNOWN ASIA. His unmistakable style has led to collaborations with renowned brands including BEAMS, LACOSTE, adidas Originals Tokyo, POPEYE, and JOURNAL STANDARD FURNITURE, as well as creating artwork for Hong Kong superstar Eason Chan’s FEARS and DREAMS Concert Tour.
