Poh Ling Yeow
A Multifaceted Creative Force in Food, Art, and Television
Poh Ling Yeow is an award-winning television presenter, celebrated cook, artist, actress, and author, whose career has spanned diverse creative fields. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Poh moved to Australia at the age of nine and settled in Adelaide. Her diverse cultural heritage, including Hakka roots, influences much of her work, both in the kitchen and on canvas.
Poh’s rise to fame began as a runner-up on the inaugural season of MasterChef Australia in 2009, a launchpad that saw her become a beloved figure in Australian households. Her early success led to the creation of her own cooking series, Poh’s Kitchen, which aired on ABC and ran for three seasons. The series earned her widespread acclaim, and she quickly became a staple of Australian food television. Poh’s culinary journey continued with the launch of Poh & Co. on SBS in 2015, which offered viewers an intimate look into her life as a cook, artist, and small business owner.
In addition to her successful television career, Poh is a published author with several cookbooks to her name, including ‘Poh’s Kitchen: My Cooking Adventures’ and ‘Poh Bakes A Hundred Greats’, which have been bestsellers. Her creative passions extend beyond cooking, as Poh can also be seen as a professional visual artist. For over a decade, she has held numerous solo exhibitions, showcasing her acrylic works that often incorporate elements of her heritage, such as goldfish and lotus flowers. Represented by galleries in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide, Poh’s work appears in private and corporate collections both nationally and abroad.
In addition to her successful culinary career, Poh has made notable appearances as a guest judge and mentor on MasterChef Australia and other television shows. In 2023, she joined fellow chef Adam Liaw to co-host ‘Adam & Poh’s Great Australian Bites’, a cooking travel series on SBS. Later that year, she returned to MasterChef Australia as a permanent judge for its sixteenth season, alongside Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Poh’s vibrant career is a testament to her boundless creativity, passion for food, and dedication to connecting with audiences. Whether through her captivating television presence, mouthwatering cookbooks, or evocative art, Poh continues to inspire and engage, proving that there are no boundaries to her talent.