From a guy who was criticized for his poor cooking skills to a 5-star restaurant chef

Love cooking since childhood

Born and raised in a poor family in Nghe An, Ngo Dinh Dong loved watching cooking shows on TV since he was a child. He watched and learned from them. At the age of 18, when he had to choose between going to university and learning a trade, Dong chose to go to Saigon to learn cooking.

At first, his parents tried to dissuade him, but seeing his determination, they let him leave his hometown of Nghe An and Saigon to study and start a career. Dong shared that he will always remember the memory of the “failure” that motivated him to strive to become a professional chef. Once, when taking an exam in a cooking competition, Dong chose fried elephant ear fish, but because he had no experience, the dish was cooked on the outside and raw on the inside. Dong was very sad because the teacher said it was “poor” and advised Dong to practice more to be able to stay in the profession.

Dong understood that cooking was not just about having talent like the way he used the pan very professionally from the first day of school, but also about learning many more skills. From then on, Dong applied to be a kitchen assistant for many restaurants in Saigon. The process of being a kitchen assistant helped Dong practice cooking more dishes. Many times he did not cook well and tried again, not discouraged, Dong also researched new recipes on the internet to try to apply them in practice.

With enthusiasm, diligence and cooking talent, Dong graduated from a chef course and after nearly 10 years of graduation, he worked as a head chef at many restaurants in Saigon, Hanoi, Nghe An…

Dong’s forte is pho, Vietnamese dishes and Asian dishes. Dong also learns about management and coordination with other departments to create the most delicious and beautiful dishes. Dong shares: “Each dish has its own soul. The chef must be delicate to ensure the harmony between ingredients, spices, and cooking stages to create the most special dish.”

With 16 years of experience as a chef, Dong is currently the head chef at Sarah Pho Cafe in Malaysia, where he can unleash his creativity and showcase his talent.

Not only is Ngo Dinh Dong an excellent chef, he is also a powerful inspiration on social media. Owning a TikTok channel with over 200,000 followers and over 800,000 likes, Dong Chuil has become an influencer in the online culinary community. His videos not only share unique recipes but also convey his passion and love for food to millions of people.

The year 2024 marked an important milestone in Ngo Dinh Dong’s career when he was awarded the title “Vietnamese Culinary Artisan”. This is a well-deserved recognition for his continuous efforts and dedication over the years.

Hope to open a culinary training center and share with the disadvantaged

As someone with a difficult starting point, Ngo Dinh Dong always cherished the idea of ​​opening his own culinary training center to create opportunities for those who are passionate about cooking to study in a professional environment.

Dong Chuil said he is conducting research to build a model of a cooking training center for all ages. Depending on the target learners, the center will have systematic courses at the most preferential prices.

“I am willing to help people with especially difficult circumstances learn to cook so that anyone who tries hard and works hard can overcome challenges to succeed in life. I want to create a comfortable and friendly learning environment where people can freely discuss, exchange ideas and support each other in the process of learning and developing,” Dong shared.

For Ngo Dinh Dong, the dream of a culinary training center is not only a personal goal but also the mission of a person passionate and dedicated to the culinary profession, wishing to contribute to the development of the domestic and international culinary industry.