He went on MasterChef with little kitchen experience. Now his take on Malay cuisine wows food critics
He went on MasterChef with little kitchen experience. Now his take on Malay cuisine wows food critics
From his flat in Marsiling, Mr Ilya Nur Fadhly runs Sudu – a private dining venture where everyday Malay dishes are reimagined as modern creations.
Before starting Sudu, Mr Ilya flitted through a variety of jobs — from customs officer to food delivery rider — and his cooking repertoire was once limited to instant noodles and scrambled eggs.
Mr Ilya has long enjoyed watching cooking shows. While delivering food, glimpses into commercial kitchens further piqued his interest in the food and beverage industry.
In 2022, he saw an open casting call for MasterChef Singapore and applied on a lark.
A guest judge described Singapore’s food culture as a melting pot of Chinese, Indian and Southeast Asian influences. The omission of Malay cuisine set Mr Ilya on a mission to spotlight it.
Menus at Sudu draw from themes like Malay folklore and proverbs. Mr Ilya cross-checking recipes with family and online archives to keep his interpretations true to tradition.
Food historian Khir Johari praised Mr Ilya’s efforts to preserve and respect Malay culinary heritage, noting his “very impressive” vision in exploring contemporary expressions of the cuisine.
