Eric Chong | |
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| Born | December 27, 1991 |
| Nationality | Canadian Chinese |
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Eric Chong (born December 27, 1991) is a Canadian chef, former engineer, and a restaurateur who was winner of the first season of MasterChef Canada , winning at age 21.
He obtained a degree in chemical engineering from McMaster University and started working in the field, but quit when he heard the casting call for MasterChef Canada. [1] After winning the competition, he received an offer from Alvin Leung, one of the judges, to train with him and open a restaurant together. [2] Leung noted similarities between himself and Chong, such as their background in engineering and their families' initial disapproval of their choice of trade. They opened R&D in Toronto in 2015, [3] serving Asian fusion dishes such as lobster chow mein, inspired by his winning dish in the final round of MasterChef Canada. [4] Chong later made a cameo on MasterChef Canada season 3, where the two teams took over R&D's kitchen serving various alumni of the show and were judged on their performance. [5]
In 2025, Eric Chong's restaurant aKin in Toronto, Canada was awarded a prestigious Michelin Star. [6]