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

Zero Risk, Zero Emissions: Clear Robotics and ReSustainability Transform Marine Operations into Safe, Tech-Enabled Roles

Clear Robotics and ReSustainability deploy a 100% electric vessel on the Pandan River, eliminating diesel emissions and transforming a three-person manual job into a safe, single-upskilled operator...

Etiqa Insurance Singapore launches a Travel Pass experience that links travel insurance spending to tiered rewards

Customers can enjoy benefits ranging from global eSIM data to complimentary protection and cashback SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 September 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singapore has launche...

Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong Simplifies Online Health Insurance Journey Enabling Customers to Choose Coverage with Confidence

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 September 2026 - Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong has introduced a refreshed online health insurance experience that makes it easier for customers to researc...

Hong Kong Green Building Council "My Green Space" Student Competition 2026-2027

Focusing on “Nature-Positive” Concept: Inviting the Education Sector to Co-Create a Vision for Green BuildingHONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 September 2026 - To enhance public underst...

Suan Dusit Arun marks a year of positive urban impact, recording more than 951,000 visitors while helping to create a cooler, greener Bangkok

New data highlights the contribution of Dusit Central Park’s rooftop park to urban cooling, air quality, biodiversity, and community well-being. The park will also mark Bangkok Climate Action We...

Frasers Hospitality unveils Fraser Suites Reserve, a new luxury serviced living brand

Fraser Suites Reserve Bangkok starts welcoming guests at One Bangkok in December 2026SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 September 2026 – Frasers Hospitality, a business unit of Frasers Prope...

Asia REIT Market Value Grows 18% as Chinese Mainland Drives New Listings and India Becomes Asia's Fourth-Largest REIT Market

Asia's 289 active REIT products reached a combined market value of US$279.4 billion as at 31 March 2026, up from US$235.8 billion at end of 2024 The Chinese mainland contributed 2...

Cheese Effects Launches Singapore’s First AI Comic Storyboard Photo Booth Experience

Introducing Singapore’s first AI Comic Storyboard Photo Booth, Cheese Effects places guests within customisable comic narratives. Combining AI-generated comic characters with tailored storylines, a...

Galaxy Macau Unveils Dream Voyage @ Galaxy Resort: Gao Xiaowu's Art Exhibition

An immersive journey through dreams, gratitude and love, complemented by new lifestyle experiences at Galaxy PromenadeMACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 September 2026 -Founded upon its comm...

UnionPay Showcases at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 September 2026 - On September 17, the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo opened in Nanning, Guangxi. Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International...

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...

The New Pressure Gap Crushing Small Businesses

Starting any business and making it prosper is a major undertaking. Part of the challenge is managing the uncertainty, but the financial pressures o...