Taking the time to make a fresh start

Born and raised in Italy, 24-year-old Yang Qiying has worked for several Michelin-starred restaurants in the famed culinary country over the past six years, including Osteria Francescana, which was named as the planet's top eatery by the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2016.

Yang moved to China at the end of that year, bringing with him all the skills he had accumulated over the years since he became interested in cooking at the tender age of 12. He was appointed executive chef of Italian cuisine at the Grand Hyatt Beijing and was the youngest senior chef ever to be hired by the hotel.

Last year, a new Italian restaurant, Simply Fresh, offered Yang the chance to head their kitchen and create his own menu to showcase his talent for creating Italian food with a modern twist - and Yang jumped at the opportunity.