Trust the skinny chef

From left: Loo, Woo and Lim at the Chinese Palace.

It’s often said “never trust a skinny chef”, but I have complete faith in chef extraordinaire Frankie Woo who has maintained his lean build throughout his 43 years in the culinary world. At 61, he still has those sparkling eyes and quick wit when talking about how he started as a kitchen hand at 13, working his way up to where he is today.

Coming out of his self-imposed 10-year retirement, Woo is now culinary director at the Chinese Palace Restaurant, housed within the cultural heritage building of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur.