Menu of ambition

She says she is surprised that only four female chefs were on the reality show.

"There are plenty of misconceptions and stereotypes regarding chefs and what they do. For example, that chefs are mostly men, who do the job to support their families or that they are not well-educated and just need to master the techniques in the kitchen or they work long hours with low wages."

She asks, "How much do you really know about them and what goes on in the kitchen?"

According to her, there are many new chefs who have traveled abroad, tried cuisines and experienced cultures. "They are passionate and artistic."

Another chef on the show, Wang Qiushuo, specializes in vegetarian recipes. In the first round of the competition, the 27-year-old won plaudits for his soybean dish.

"Vegetarian recipes are not new to Chinese consumers. Variety is crucial. With simple food, I can make dishes with great taste," says Wang, whose uncle is a chef and his father also enjoys cooking at home.

What motivated Wang to become a chef was the cartoon, Cooking Master Boy, by manga artist Etsushi Ogawa.

Having been a chef for eight years, Wang has worked at hotels and restaurants in China. "I am keen to research food in distinctive Chinese styles. For example, the seasonal dishes based on the 24 solar terms, a traditional Chinese calendar that summarizes different seasonal phenomena."