Chef Norman Musa – A Malaysian masterchef
By Louis Mariette
One of the most pioneering and creative chefs championing and bringing Malaysian cuisine to our kitchens, Norman Musa brings culinary excitement to the Western world, encapsulating the culinary diversity of his country’s delectable cuisine.
An outstanding, award-winning chef with an exotic flair, Norman inspires through his breadth of talents under his chef’s belt.
He has opened several restaurants, has a range of five tantalising cookbooks (‘Amazing Malaysian’ being his bestseller), heads up cooking classes and is co-creator and tutor for the Wagamama Chef Academy, training and inspiring young Wagamama chefs into pan-Asian cuisine, alongside his role as founder of the Asian Cooking Academy in London.
From MasterChef & Sunday Brunch to Torode’s Malaysian Adventure
Born in Penang, Malaysia, Norman has dazzled us with his skills and personality on the screen, starring on shows such as ‘MasterChef Malaysia’, Tom Kerridge’s ‘Best Ever Dishes’ on BBC 2, Channel 4’s ‘Sunday Brunch’, and John Torode’s ‘Malaysian Adventure’ on the Good Food Channel. While as a TV presenter, he has hosted five seasons of his own cooking show on Malaysian TV, too.
Masterclasses for Leiths, Fortnum & Mason & more
As an award-winning chef, Norman’s accolades have brought him many exciting collaborations and projects, including running masterclasses for Leiths, Fortnum & Mason and Divertimenti.
Having moved to the United Kingdom in 1994, following 10 years in the construction industry he made a complete career switch, becoming a full-time chef and opening his first restaurant in Manchester, followed by another in York and two subsequent openings in Malaysia.
In 2022, Norman was appointed as the Executive Chef of Kuala Lumpur Restaurant in Leeds, a role he held for a year.
F1 Lotus Team race chef + Kuala Lumpur food ambassador
Being the best in his business, Norman is very much sought after. He has been the race chef for the Formula One Lotus Team and was the Kuala Lumpur Food Ambassador, promoting the city as a gastronomic destination to the European market.
Today, he teaches Malaysian and Southeast Asian cuisine at the top cookery schools in the UK and Netherlands and spends his days promoting Malaysian cuisine around the world.
The King & Co chef residency
London based and with Europe one of his main markets, Norman runs his chef residency twice yearly at The King & Co in Clapham and splits his time travelling to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Brussels to host cookery events.
However, his scope goes global with his events taking him to exciting new destinations such as the Indian Ocean Maldive islands.
A delectable feast
Norman is “one of Malaysia’s most famous exports” according to CNN, and I couldn’t agree more.
With an array of exciting dishes - some traditional, some created by himself and featured in his own published recipe books – infused with personally sourced spices, vegetables and herbs such as prawn curry Laksa (Kari Laksa Udang), Mee Goreng Mamak, Umai Sarawak and Cucur Badak, he also skilfully creates one of my personal favourites, a sweet potato-based savoury fritter/pastry.
One of Norman’s personal preferences is Ayam Bakar - a grilled chicken dish that brings back memories of buying food at Malaysian night markets and learning from his mother.
It is such a joy whenever I meet up with him. Norman’s future is bright, dynamic and innovative, and we are so excited to experience his next adventures!
Norman’s upcoming events:
Malaysian & Indonesian Pop-up 12-course menu, The Hague 28 & 29 Oct 26
Malaysian Chef Residency, Niyama Private Islands, Maldives 1-10 Nov 26
Malaysian Vegetarian Masterclass, The Garden Museum 15 Nov 26
Makan Makan Chef Residency, The King & Co, London 23 Nov-2 Jan 27
@chefnormanmusa
