KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 23 -- Growing up, I was always fascinated with steakhouses.

That was where I could get Western meals like steak, escargots and soups. These were magical celebratory meals since it was nothing like my daily ho-hum meals cooked at home by my mother.

That's also what D Empire Dry Aged Steakhouse owner Dallan Tan felt. A true blue fan of Western food, especially steak, his interest also stemmed from the fact that it was so different from the food he grew up eating.

He added, "Every day, I can eat steak."

Tan actually studied automotives. When he reached his mid-twenties, passion drove him to pursue his dream to cook Western food.

This led him to join a hotel, where he moved around the kitchen learning how to master eve...