Mathew Leong

As the Norway-based Singaporean chef celebrates a milestone year both personally and professionally, he opens up about the toughest moments of his career and why failing is not an option

- Chong Seow Wei

Mathew Leong turns 30 next month, but it is not the only milestone that makes this year particularly significant for the 2024 Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow.

Earlier this year, the Singaporean chef married his girlfriend of three years, Jolynn Chan. In May, Re‑naa, the seafood‑based restaurant in Stavanger where Leong has been executive chef since 2022, received its third Michelin star. This comes four years after the restaurant received its second star, and eight years after it became the first establishment outside of Norway’s capital of Oslo to receive a star.

Leong also announced that he will be part of a star‑studded culinary team representing Singapore at Bocuse d’Or 2025, with the Grand Final set to take place in Lyon, France, next January. He first competed in the biennial championship—known as the Olympics for cooking—in 2021 at age 26, which made him Singapore’s youngest‑ever representative.

“Turning 30 for me means a new year to push myself harder,” says Leong.

LEARNING THE ROPES

As a child, Leong would help his mother out in the kitchen, and enjoyed the hands‑on process of prepping the ingredients and cooking. At 13, his Norwegian salmon dish earned him first place in a cooking contest at school. This victory caught the eye of renowned chef Jimmy Chok, formerly of Salt and Coriander Leaf.