Chef Dave honored as Asia’s Best Vegan Chef

Malaysian chef Kalidevan Murugaya, popularly known as Chef Dave, has captured international attention by being bestowed with the prestigious title of Asia’s Best Vegan Chef with Creative Influence at the Asia Awards 2023 in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

The award ceremony, associated with the World Research Congress, celebrated the achievements of over 50 entrepreneurs from diverse fields. Chef Dave expressed his gratitude and dedication to his ancestral roots in Tamil Nadu during the award presentation last Sunday.

“I am truly honored to receive this award in Tamil Nadu, the place of my ancestors. I dedicate this achievement to their courage and hard work, which paved the way for my success,” Chef Dave shared in a Facebook post. “When people describe me as successful, I am humbled. I remain committed to working hard and upholding good principles and values. I promise to continue striving for excellence and making everyone proud!”

A compassionate commitment

Originally from Jementah, Johor, Chef Dave transitioned to a vegan lifestyle overnight in 2019 after being deeply affected by videos exposing cruelty in the egg and dairy industries. His commitment to standing in solidarity with animals led him to adopt a vegan lifestyle just weeks before 2020.

“I am currently working on veganizing all traditional Malaysian and Asian food to showcase to the world that being a vegan is much easier than you think. I hope my journey can inspire others with content surrounding vegan life, food, and travel,” Chef Dave stated.

The chef, who holds a degree in tourism, leisure, and hospitality management from Liverpool John Moores University in England and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, completed his diploma in vegan cooking in 2021. Three years ago, he founded D’Vegan Academy to empower home-based cooks in mastering basic and plant-based cooking techniques.

Advocacy beyond the plate

In 2021, Chef Dave established PB Health, a social enterprise committed to helping Malaysians enhance their health through a whole food, plant-based diet. His dedication to promoting veganism has reached a wide audience, with over 600 cooking videos on YouTube featuring vegan versions of local heritage food recipes, amassing close to eight million views.

Netizens have flooded Chef Dave’s social media accounts with congratulations and well-wishes since the announcement of his prestigious award. Chef Dave continues to be a prominent figure in the global vegan movement, inspiring others with his culinary expertise and commitment to a compassionate lifestyle.