Why do you ❤ cooking?
Cooking just puts me in the best mood. Almost always when I’m in the kitchen I’ll have 70s music playing in the background – “Oh, What a Night” never gets old! Cooking is important to me because it is therapeutic. Nothing works as a better stress-reliever and nothing is more therapeutic than getting in the kitchen and cooking good wholesome food. When I am feeling a little stressed or sad or anxious, it is not uncommon to find me in the kitchen cooking up a hearty chicken soup or a pot of Indonesian curry for my family and friends. I love cooking because absolutely nothing makes me happier than feeding my loved ones and seeing people enjoy my cooking. The joy and satisfaction I feel when my dad says, “this is so yummy” or my friends request my signature terong balado (eggplant in chili sauce) is priceless. It makes my day any day of the year and it puts a smile on my face every single time.
How would you describe your cooking style?
I would say my style of cooking is hearty, familial and intuitive. I cook from the heart using my mum’s very own recipes! It is sometimes a challenge to get exact measurements from my mum because she cooks so intuitively and her recipe book can only be found in her memory bank! Common ingredients I grew up eating you will also find in a lot of my cooking such as kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), coriander seeds and chili. I also love making things from scratch such as authentic Indonesian marinades and sambals that go with almost anything from Asian rice dishes to even Spaghetti aglio e olio!
What's your story before Foodst?
During my university years I worked in hospitality as a team leader for a franchise restaurant and I loved it. I currently work a 9-5 corporate job as an in-house graduate lawyer. I like to think that I am equally a left-brain and right-brain person. I love the intellectually stimulating and challenging aspect of my corporate job but I absolutely love that food and cooking bring out my creative and artistic side – after all, I think cooking is an art and my love for food and love for those who enjoy my food is unparalleled.
