A LEADING Malaysian chef is opening his second UK restaurant in York – and plans to set up a cookery school as well.

Norman Musa, who has his own TV show in Malaysia and formerly catered to the Lotus Formula 1 team, is converting the former Jade Garden Cantonese restaurant in Tower Street into a “Ning” branded Malaysian restaurant.

The restaurant will open on May 1, with the cookery school due to open at the restaurant later in the year.

Mr Musa’s Ning Cookery School in Manchester – where his first restaurant is based – has taught hundreds of amateur cooks since 2007 and he said he hoped to emulate that in York.

He said he was a “chef on a mission to make Malaysian food widely known”.

He said: “It’s diverse and delicious, bringing together the culinary influences of Malay, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Arab and Portuguese cooking from my country’s heritage.

“I’m very excited about bringing this new cuisine to York, which has a history of trying new food ever since the days of the spice merchants.”

Andy Spracklen, co-founder of Ning, said Norman regularly featured at food festivals such as the BBC Good Food Show and had a unique talent for making Malaysian food popular and accessible.

He revealed that one of the chef’s 30,000 Facebook fans could see an opportunity in York and approached him with the idea last year.

“It’s been quietly developing ever since, but the business deal and refurbishment has happened very quickly,” he said.

“The aim is to get it open within just ten days and incrementally build it up. We believe the concept has great potential in the city.”

He said the restaurant would trial a York menu during May before launching formally at a VIP event pencilled for Thursday, May 24.

Ning is also set to serve up Malaysian street food at a pop-up stall in York during a food festival in late May.