Derek Wong
Born in Melbourne to Hong Kong Cantonese parents, Chef Dali began his career in investment banking before pivoting to entrepreneurship across ten cities and seven countries—from Indonesian mines to rural Mexico. Wherever he traveled, he found himself in backstreet markets, drawn to local produce and street food.
In 2020, without culinary school training, he decided to follow his passion for food. He staged at several renowned Shanghai kitchens and, in November 2022, launched Madame Ching, a concept he calls “Cantonese Tapas”—deconstructing and amplifying traditional Cantonese flavours into bold, punchy small plates and shared bites.
In 2023 and again in 2025, Dali was named Chef of the Year by That’s Shanghai, an accolade voted by industry peers and diners. In 2025, Madame Ching also earned New Restaurant of the Year from That’s Shanghai.