Bo Innovation
Alvin Leung | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1961 London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, media personality |
| Known for | X-Treme Chinese culinary style, Bo Innovation |
Alvin Leung King-Lon (; born 1 January 1961) is a Canadian chef and media figure. His Hong Kong-based restaurant, Bo Innovation, has been awarded two Michelin stars, while Bo London, which closed after one year, previously held a single Michelin star. Nicknamed The Demon Chef, Leung pioneered the X-Treme Chinese culinary style, which merges elements of fusion cuisine and molecular gastronomy, featuring distinctive dishes such as an edible condom served on a mushroom beach.
Leung established Bo Shanghai in Shanghai and co-launched R&D in Toronto alongside MasterChef Canada Season 1 champion Eric Chong. Since 2014, he has been a judge on MasterChef Canada.
Career
Originally born in London and raised in Scarborough, Toronto, Leung’s initial role in hospitality was as a waiter before he pursued engineering studies. After relocating to Hong Kong, he acquired a speakeasy and transformed it into Bo Innovation. As a self-taught chef, Leung created the X-Treme Chinese concept to challenge traditional culinary limits.
Bo Innovation received two Michelin stars in the 2009 Hong Kong and Macau guide and was elevated to three stars by 2014. It also ranked 52nd on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2012. The restaurant’s avant-garde approach has drawn comparisons to El Bulli.
In 2012, Leung invested approximately £1 million to launch Bo London in Mayfair, which specialized in British dishes enhanced with Chinese ingredients; it earned a Michelin star within ten months but closed in 2014 due to significant water damage.
Leung has appeared on Bravo’s Around the World in 80 Plates and partnered with Eric Chong to open R&D in Toronto in early 2015. He serves as a judge on MediaCorp Channel 5’s Wok Stars and has featured on the television series The Listener.
In 2017, Leung revealed plans for two new establishments in Hong Kong: Plato 86, a Spanish-themed restaurant, and The Forbidden Duck, focusing on Peking duck; The Forbidden Duck expanded to Singapore in 2018. He is also preparing to publish his cookbook titled My Hong Kong.
Personal life
Shortly after his birth in London, Leung relocated with his family from Hong Kong to Canada and attended Highland Heights Jr. PS located in Scarborough. Following graduation from L'Amoreaux Collegiate Institute, he studied civil engineering at the University of Toronto.
Leung spent twenty years working as an engineer before shifting his career toward the culinary arts. He is married to Abby Wong and they have one daughter.