Fine dining is taking off in Asia with international chefs setting up their tables here and Asian chefs bringing their overseas experiences and stints in award winning restaurants to bear.

It's now not so hard to break the news to proud Asian parents that one's child is going to pursue his love of cooking.

After all, gone are the days of the lowly cook - these days - many chefs are successful entrepreneurs in their own right, setting up their own restaurants, bars, bistros and even launching their own brands.

In our new weekly segment Off the Menu, Primetime Morning's Joanne Leow meets some of the new breed of chefs.

From big names in the global kitchen to up and coming Asian talents, we take a peek into their kitchens and their lives.