Our Story

MAK Kitchen is led by chef and culinary presenter Tim Hollands, together with Leana Nguyen. Born in Tokyo and raised in Japan until the age of 13, Tim’s early connection with Japanese food and culture continues to shape his approach to cooking. Since 1999, he has worked as a professional chef, presenter and culinary ambassador across Australia and international markets.

Leana brings creativity, warmth and an intuitive understanding of flavour to MAK Kitchen. Her Vietnamese heritage is deeply connected to food: her great-grandmother and grandmother ran food businesses in Vietnam, while her father later operated a noodle-making business in Melbourne.

Together, Tim and Leana create catering, cooking experiences and live demonstrations that celebrate global flavours, cultural stories and human connection. Their approach is generous, engaging and grounded in the belief that food is one of the best ways to bring people together.