The Datai Langkawi, the iconic luxury resort nestled in the heart of a pristine Malaysian rainforest, is delighted to announce part I of the highly anticipated 2025 edition of The Chef Series, aptly named The Gold List for its sheer stellar line-up. One of the resort’s signature activations, The Chef Series celebrates the very best in global culinary talent, offering exclusive world-class dining in the surrounds of the natural beauty of Langkawi to deliver a truly unforgettably experience.
Further cementing its reputation as a leading destination for fine dining, part I of the 2025 edition of The Chef Series features an all-star line-up of four internationally celebrated chefs, boasting a combined total of nine Michelin stars. Each chef will create a bespoke menu that reflects their culinary philosophy, guided by the produce of Langkawi and the organic ingredients cultivated in the resort’s own zero-waste Permaculture Garden. Showcasing cuisines from Europe to Asia and sharing a passion for locally sourced, seasonal produce, this remarkable line-up brings together diverse culinary philosophies and unique styles.
The Line-Up of The Chef Series 2025 Part I comprises:
The exclusive culinary events will take place at The Dining Room, surrounded by the serene ambiance of the ancient rainforest. Guests will also have the chance to participate in cooking demonstrations, providing a glimpse into the artistry and passion behind each dish.
Stephane Duvacher, General Manager of The Datai Langkawi, comments: “The Gold List edition of The Chef Series in 2025 continues our tradition of culinary excellence, uniting the world’s most celebrated chefs with the inspiring setting of Langkawi. Each event is a true highlight in our calendar, and this year’s line-up promises to elevate gourmet experiences at The Datai Langkawi to new heights. Each chef brings their unique vision and unparalleled skill to our resort, creating unforgettable moments for our guests while celebrating the beauty and bounty of Langkawi. We are thrilled to once again welcome an incredible roster of exceptionally talented chefs who share our commitment to sustainability and culinary innovation. These collaborations allow us to blend their talent with the extraordinary richness of our local produce to create a truly unique experience.”
The Chef Series reflects The Datai Langkawi’s ethos of environmental stewardship and culinary innovation. The resort’s award-winning restaurants and wine cellar continue to receive global acclaim, further establishing the resort as a global gastronomic destination.
As Chef Patron of Hiša Franko, Roš leads one of the few restaurants worldwide to hold three Michelin Stars and a Michelin Green Star*. In 2017, she was recognised as World's Best Female Chef by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. A self-taught cook, Roš channels the seasons, terroir, her character, travels, and femininity into her cuisine.
Hiša Franko has consistently appeared on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2018. In 2024, Roš was awarded 3 knives in The Best Chef Awards and a special award The Best Chef Voted by professionals in 2024 while in 2022 she won The Best Chef Pristine Award for her dedication to using the highest quality local produce in a terroir-focused approach. Roš' influence extends beyond the kitchen. She serves as an ambassador for gastronomic tourism at the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and features on Chef’s Table on Netflix, showcasing her innovative use of ingredients from her remote surroundings. Roš will conclude the 2024 Cheffe Series as the final featured cheffe and kick off The 2025 Gold List edition as its opening highlight.
Jordi Artal is a celebrated chef, renowned for his innovative reimagining of traditional Spanish cuisine. As the visionary behind Cinc Sentits, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Barcelona, he combines cutting-edge techniques with a profound respect for his heritage, shining a spotlight on the finest seasonal ingredients, presenting dishes in meticulously crafted tasting experiences that delight and engage the senses.
Transitioning from a successful career in Silicon Valley to the culinary arts, Artal brings a distinctive analytical precision to his cooking. At Cinc Sentits, he artfully bridges Catalan culinary traditions with modern flair, creating dishes that honour his roots while pushing the boundaries of creativity. Each plate is designed as a sensory journey, immersing diners in the flavours, textures, and spirit of Catalonia. A champion of sustainable sourcing and authenticity, Artal’s dedication to excellence has earned him widespread acclaim, cementing his reputation as a trailblazer of the Catalan slow food movement.
Jan Hartwig stands as one of Germany’s most celebrated culinary talents. In 2022, he opened the eponymous restaurant JAN in Munich, which made it onto the extended list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants and earned three Michelin stars just six months after opening. Renowned for his precise techniques, attention to detail and artistic presentations, Hartwig’s creations are a harmonious blend of classical mastery and modern innovation, captivating both the palate and the eye.
Before launching his signature restaurant, Hartwig made his mark at Atelier, where his leadership propelled the establishment to international acclaim, earning three Michelin Stars in only three years. At JAN, he elevates fine dining to an art form, combining his passion for premium, local ingredients with a meticulous approach to flavour and texture. His dedication to craftsmanship and creativity has solidified his reputation as an influencing voice in contemporary European cuisine.
Chef Su Kim Hock is a proud representative of Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage, blending traditional flavours with modern sophistication that celebrate local ingredients and sustainable practices. As the visionary behind one-Michelin-starred Au Jardin in Penang – an island south of Langkawi, Kim Hock utilises French cooking techniques with Malaysian produce, celebrating local ingredients and sustainable practices. At Au Jardin, the menu changes monthly and showcases sophisticated European fare with subtle local twists.
Su Kim Hock honed his craft in prestigious kitchens worldwide before returning to his roots to establish Au Jardin as a beacon of modern gastronomy. His menus emphasise sustainability, featuring farm-to-table creations that pay homage to Malaysia’s vibrant culinary traditions while integrating contemporary techniques. Under his leadership, Au Jardin has become a standout in Malaysia’s fine-dining landscape, earning accolades for its innovative and heartfelt approach to cuisine.
In the quest to provide exceptional and peerless experiences for our guests, the 2024 edition of The Chef Series presents a curated selection of critically acclaimed chefs who have made a unique contribution to the world of gastronomy. The stellar line-up of names in this edition further reinforces the reputation of The Datai Langkawi as a destination for world-class gastronomy and encompasses some of the leading talents in fine dining. By curating an all-female line-up, this year’s Chef-fe Series (from the French term for female chefs) aims to spotlight the growing representation of female chefs in an industry traditionally dominated by men. With nine Michelin Stars, this year’s edition again reflects the phenomenal calibre of talent visiting The Datai Langkawi to host exclusive dining events for the resort’s guests.
The names featured in The Chef-fe Series 2024-2025 are:
- February 2024: Douce Steiner of Hirschen, Sulzburg, Germany (two Michelin stars)
- April 2024: Melba Nunis, Kristang cuisine specialist, Malacca, Malaysia
- June 2024: Florence Dalia of 16 by Flo, Taipei, Taiwan
- August 2024: Cristina Bowerman of Glass Hostaria, Rome, Italy (one Michelin star)
- October 2024: Angela Hartnett of Murano, London, United Kingdom (one Michelin star)
Lisa Goodwin-Allen of Northcote, Lancashire, United Kingdom (one Michelin star)
Nieves Barragán Mohacho of Sabor, London, United Kingdom (one Michelin star)
- January 2025: Ana Roš of Hiša Franko, Kobarid, Slovenia (three Michelin Stars and one Michelin Green Star*)
*The Green Star award was introduced in 2021 to highlight restaurants at the forefront of the industry regarding their sustainable practices. These establishments offer dining experiences that combine culinary excellence with outstanding eco-friendly commitments.
In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of The Datai Langkawi in 2023, The Chef Series represented a compendium of fine dining, encompassing different cuisines, cultures, and styles: haute cuisine from France, contemporary Indian from Singapore, modern eclectic from the UK, new wave cuisine from Malaysia and classic European from the Netherlands. Each chef offered specially crafted menus featuring organic produce cultivated in The Datai Langkawi’s zero-waste Permaculture Garden, illustrating a shared passion for utilising high quality locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.
The five chefs who took residence at The Datai Langkawi over the course of 2023 were:
- 21, 27 and 28 December 2022: Tom Aikens from Muse, London, UK (one Michelin star)
- 3, 4 and 5 February 2023: Arnaud Faye from La Chèvre d’Or, Èze, France (two Michelin stars)
- 28 and 29 April 2023: Darren Teoh from Dewakan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (two Michelin stars)
- 23 and 24 June 2023: Mano Thevar from Thevar, Singapore (two Michelin stars)
- 13 and 14 December 2023: Michel and Sébastien Bras from Bras (two Michelin stars) and Le Suquet (three Michelin stars), Laguiole, France
The Datai Langkawi celebrated the Malaysian fine dining scene in 2022, with a programme featuring six local and international Chefs with restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, representing the acclaimed and the vanguard in the multi-ethnic country. This distinguished selection not only reflects the diversity of cuisines and cultures so alluringly characteristic of Malaysia, but also incorporates more recent gastronomic and cultural influences from abroad, with culinary styles spanning traditional, modern and new wave Malaysian, as well as creative takes on international cuisine.
The six Chefs who hosted exclusive dining events at The Datai Langkawi over the course of 2022 were:
- 6 and 7 January 2022: Johnson Wong from Gēn in Penang
- 25 and 26 February 2022: Masaki Arakawa from Sushi Azabu in Kuala Lumpur
- 22 and 23 April 2022: Azli Ahmad from OpenHouse in Kuala Lumpur
- 17 and 18 June 2022: Raymond Tham from Beta and Skillet in Kuala Lumpur
- 18 and 19 August 2022: Masashi Horiuchi from Entier in Kuala Lumpur
- 6 and 7 October 2022: Lee Zhe Xi and Soh Yong Zhi from Eat and Cook in Kuala Lumpur