Business Daily Media

The Times


.

Lexus Partners with the Maverick Academy to Drive Culinary Excellence in Latest Cooking Competition

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 28 October 2024 - This October, Lexus Asia announces their partnership with AR Asia Production to launch an exciting gastronomy series The Maverick Academy on Netflix.

The Maverick Academy is an innovative culinary competition that champions gastronomic talent in craft, and entrepreneurial spirit of aspiring chefs from across Asia. This marks the first partnership of its kind, where Lexus' promise of creating amazing experiences meets the artistry of culinary mastery, elevating luxury beyond vehicles.

Photo Credit: AR Asia Production
Photo Credit: AR Asia Production

On the show, the contestants will be put to the ultimate test with exciting cooking challenges, fierce eliminations to showcase their cooking prowess, creativity, entrepreneurial potential and grit to survive The Maverick Academy. Each episode aims to uncover the sophistication of culinary craft that can transform a simple dish into an epicurean experience.

Led by The Demon Chef, Alvin Leung, The Maverick Academy will see 8 contestants from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Hong Kong vie for the top spot in the competition. The winner of The Maverick Academy will be granted an invaluable opportunity as Chef Alvin's apprentice and business partner.

The highly acclaimed Chef Alvin Leung, is a Canadian chef and television personality. He is the chef owner of Bo Innovation, Hong Kong, a 2 Michelin-starred restaurant, which serves up redefined Chinese flavours, also known as X-treme Chinese cuisine, and has been a judge on Masterchef Canada.

The show will also star the hottest and most successful chef entrepreneurs in Thailand as judges like Chef Tam who received the 2024 MICHELIN Guide Young Chef Award, and Chef Ton who runs one of the most exciting kitchens in Bangkok, Le Du. Also joining the lineup is celebrity chef Michael Bonacini, co-founder of one of Canada's leading fine dining restaurant companies Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants.

Underpinned by the dedication to craftsmanship and its human-centred mindset, Lexus has always been driven by the commitment to provide amazing experiences. The very essence of these values are mirrored in The Maverick Academy, which advocates the continuous refinement of skills, the boldness to defy culinary norms, and the determination to stay true to one's cultural and inspirational roots.

Throughout the programme, viewers will be able to catch Lexus' latest models in action as they seamlessly blend into the high-energy environment of the 5-episode series. The winner would also have limited-time ownership of a Lexus LBX.

Lexus is proud to be the first automotive brand to partner with AR Asia Production for The Maverick Academy. This collaboration is a unique opportunity to showcase how Lexus' commitment to craft translates across different fields.

"This partnership is a celebration of craftsmanship and excellence, and we're excited to be a part of The Maverick Academy. The show aptly demonstrates the ethos of Lexus - the blending of passion, innovation, and exceptional customer-centric focus to create unforgettable elevated experiences," said Preston Tan, Vice President of Lexus Asia. "Just as Lexus crafts exceptional experiences, the chefs are creating amazing sensory experiences."

"We believe that this series not only celebrates and supports aspiring chefs but also inspires chefs and viewers alike, to embark on their own culinary journeys."

Lexus is an automotive company that strives to bring experiences that resonate with those who seek more than just mobility, weaving customers' lifestyle interest in its outreach. Stay tuned as Lexus continues to push the boundaries and redefines the craft of dining by bringing bespoke dining activations to Asia.

The Maverick Academy will air on Netflix on 08 November 2024. Fans can expect a season of culinary adventures, driven by the unparalleled performance and style of Lexus.

To know more about Lexus and The Maverick Academy, please go to lexusasia.com/culinary/maverickacademy .

Hashtag: #Lexus #MaverickAcademy

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Lexus

Lexus launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry. In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world's first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 2.66 million hybrid vehicles including HEVs, PHEVs, and BEVs. (as of the end of August 2023)

A global luxury automotive brand with an unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of the next generation of global luxury guests and is currently available in over 90 countries/regions worldwide.

Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world.

About The Maverick Academy

"The Maverick Academy" is an innovative culinary competition series created by Anne Chan and Demon Chef Alvin Leung, designed to discover and mentor the next generation of culinary talent and business visionaries.

About Chef Alvin Leung

The Demon Chef, Alvin Leung is an English-born Hong Kong-Canadian chef and television personality. He holds two Michelin stars at his Hong Kong-based restaurant Bo Innovation and one Michelin star at Bo London. Nicknamed 'The Demon Chef', he invented his own cuisine named X-Treme Chinese, which has modernized Chinese cuisine and single-handedly created new taste sensations that give diners a unique experience with every visit. A self-taught chef who draws from his training as an engineer, Leung is constantly pushing the limits and unveiling surprises with his X-Treme Chinese cuisine. In addition to the many restaurants opened under his guidance, Leung has risen to fame through an illustrious television career including judging MasterChef Canada.

News from Asia

Among the Giants: Aventra Group Unveils Pioneering ISO 42001 AI Framework to Smash Enterprise Procurement Bottlenecks

Aventra Group secures the international ISO/IEC 42001 standard across its operations, technology infrastructure, and core business applications—unifying AI governance with existing ISO 27001 and SO...

Qupital Unveils World’s First AI-Driven On-Chain E-Commerce Lending Protocol, Accelerating Web3 Global Trade Finance

Combining real-time AI credit monitoring with Ethereum smart contracts and USDC settlement, Asia’s digital trade finance leader addresses a US$2.5 trillion SME trade financing funding gap opportuni...

New allnex Leadership Team to drive next phase of growth

FRANKFURT, GERMANY – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 October 2026 – allnex is evolving its leadership team and business structure to accelerate the next phase of growth, bringing technology, c...

Jazz Hipster Brings High-Resolution Audio Standards to the Active Speaker Market with a 96kHz Wireless Audio Platform

NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 October 2026 – Jazz Hipster Corporation, an ODM specializing in high-end audio systems, today announced a new high-resolution wireless audio p...

DigiFT Unlocks On-Chain Access to Leading U.S Treasury Money Market Fund

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 October 2026 - DigiFT, a Monetary Authority of Singapore–licensed digital asset exchange, today launched tokenized access to interests in a U.S. Treasury mo...

VinFast VF 3 Honoured As "Trusted & Popular Brand 2026" At Disway Awards

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 October 2026 - The VinFast VF 3, a mini SUV from Vietnam, has been honoured with the "Trusted & Popular Brand 2026" title in the Passenger BEV ...

HID Enhances FARGO® DTC Printer Line to Help Organizations Issue Faster, More Secure ID Cards

Upgrades improve print quality, strengthen security and simplify ID card issuanceSINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire – 6 October 2026 – HID, a global leader in trusted identity solutions, is r...

Vingroup And Alstom Sign Technology License Agreement To Develop Hanoi’s Next-Generation Urban Rail Network

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 October 2026 - Vingroup and Alstom, a global leader in rail technology, have signed a rolling stock contract and a Technology License Agreement (TLA)...

"Investment Advisers are Either Going to Be on the Crest of This AI Wave, or They are Going to Drown Under It": Ray Dalio

As AI reshapes investing and advisory roles, WMI targets 21,000 enrolments in practical, role-specific AI training for wealth and asset management professionals over three years.SINGAPORE – Media ...

HKCEC Hosted 25 New Exhibitions and Conferences, Successfully Hosts Multiple Hong Kong and Asian Debuts Set to Return Next Year.

Totals 786 Events in FY 2025–2026; Reinforcing Hong Kong’s Position as the "International Convention and Exhibition Hub"HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 October 2026 – The Hong Kong Con...

Customer Service Is Becoming Part of the Small Business Sales and Marketing Engine

For Customer Service Week, 5-9 October, Thryv is urging small businesses to look beyond generating  enquiries and examine what happens after a custome...

Gift Cards as the gateway to agentic payments

Prepaid and stored value gives consumers the trust and control to try AI shopping agents By Blackhawk Network VP Head of ANZ Kieran Nolan For deca...

Why Data Accumulation Without Governance Undermines Sustainability Goals

In July 2026, Group 2 entities, the second cohort of Australian businesses, began their first reporting period under the mandatory climate disclosur...

Permanent $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off Gives Small Businesses Greater Planning Certainty

The Federal Government’s decision to permanently legislate the $20,000 instant asset write-off will give eligible small businesses greater certainty...

Selling a Small Business in Australia: Understanding the Capital Gains Tax Concessions

For many Australian business owners, selling a business represents the reward for years—sometimes decades—of hard work. Unlike employees who may bu...

Australian businesses lean into global strategic partnerships (GCCs) for next wave of outsourcing

The Australian corporate landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation in how it sources talent and innovation. While businesses have traditi...