Anna Yi Lan Zhang, a 32-year-old fashion consultant born in Milan to Chinese parents and residing in Venice, won the title of the fourteenth Italian MasterChef. According to ANSA, the finale saw Zhang prevail with her unique menu titled "L'Eden di YilAnna," which harmoniously combined her Italian and Chinese heritage.
Zhang triumphed over other competitors, including Jack Canevali, a 26-year-old content creator from Cesano Boscone (Milan), and Simone Grazioso, a 35-year-old construction entrepreneur from La Morra (Cuneo). Il Giornale reported that her menu impressed the judges Bruno Barbieri, Antonino Cannavacciuolo, and Giorgio Locatelli, reflecting her life project of rediscovering well-being through food and displaying a heartfelt fusion of her cultural roots.
"I can't believe it, I have finally found my way, I will never want to do anything else in life, except express myself through cooking," Zhang said after being proclaimed the winner. Her victory came with a prize including 100,000 euros in gold coins, a high-level training course at ALMA - The International School of Italian Cuisine, and the opportunity to publish her first cookbook. Her recipe book, titled "Pentole e Zodiaco," or “Pots and the Zodiac” will be released by Baldini+Castoldi.
Born to parents who emigrated from China due to the one-child policy, Zhang embraced both Italian and Chinese cultures. "The flavors of home for me are two, because I have a dual culture behind me; for me, the flavor of home is both basil and star anise," she said, according to ANSA. Initially pursuing a career in fashion, Zhang specialized in Fashion Styling and accumulated over ten years of experience in sales management and as a commercial model. "My background in fashion gave me a sensitivity that I apply in the kitchen," she said, according to La Stampa. "The perfectionism I require of myself is reflected in the plating: I pay a lot of attention to aesthetics, colors, and the visual harmony of the dish."
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Zhang deepened her passion for cooking and decided to dedicate herself fully to it. ANSA reported that she believed cooking was not just about nourishing but about storytelling, transforming these narratives into tangible emotions. "Food is a universal language that unites East and West, tradition and innovation," she said.
Her final menu, "L'Eden di YilAnna," was a journey through flavors and memories, featuring a heartfelt fusion of her Chinese roots and Italian culture. According to Donna Moderna, the title represents the union of her Chinese and Italian names and her desire to create "a perfect balance, a kind of earthly paradise." The menu included dishes that told her personal and gastronomic story, such as "Il sorriso di mia madre" (My Mother's Smile), a raviolo filled with garusoli, oyster mushroom, guanciale, tobiko, and saffron dashi.
Looking ahead, Zhang dreams of opening a sustainable restaurant oasis that respects waste and aims to obtain a Michelin green star, envisioning it as a holistic space that combines cooking, design, music, and painting. "I would like to recreate a perfect balance, a kind of earthly paradise," she said.
Her journey on MasterChef demonstrated her unique ability to unite two culinary cultures. "I have always felt Italian, but often it was the way others looked at me that made me doubt," she told La Stampa. Through cooking, she found balance between her Chinese and Italian identities. "In my palate, flavors have always blended naturally," she said.
"My luck is that I can always turn the page: I don't dwell on mistakes, I move forward with determination, keeping the goal clear," she said.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.