COMPETITOR

Ayan California

HEAD COOK: Andrei Malkhanov

COMPETITION: World Chef Championship

My name is Andrei Malkhanov. I was born in Russia and grew up in the Republic of Buryatia, which is located on the border with Mongolia. I have been working in kitchens since I was 14, meaning I’ve now been in the industry for 20 years. I have a deep passion for gastronomy, culinary arts, and the restaurant business. One day, I watched a cooking show featuring Gordon Ramsay, and it inspired me to become a chef. I’ve worked in several Michelin 2-star restaurants: with Vladimir Mukhin at White Rabbit in Moscow and with Gaggan Anand in Bangkok. I also opened my own fast-casual restaurant chain in Russia. Additionally, I am the winner of the culinary show "Battle of the Chefs" on the Friday TV channel, which is broadcast across the CIS (a show similar to Hell's Kitchen). On two occasions, I had the honor of preparing a celebratory dinner during the official visit of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to the Republic of Buryatia. I recently moved to the USA on an O-1 visa as a talented chef, and like many who have immigrated to the United States, I came here to pursue my American dream. Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be very grateful if you would consider my candidacy. Best regards, Andrei Malkhanov.