Starchild: Malaysian children think the world of their personal chefs

Chloe Leong Xizhen, 8

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As a multi-cultural society, Malaysians are spoilt for choice when it comes to food. As a result, we have so many different types of food to choose from, ranging from Malay, Indian, Chinese, Eurasian, Baba Nyonya and also Western cuisine. We bet your parents can cook up a storm at home, right? What's your favourite food? Is it nasi lemak or roti canai or curry mee? Or maybe you prefer sweet treats like cakes, pastries and traditional kueh?

Starchild asked readers about what they liked to eat, and it's evident by the letters that food is a subject very close to everyone's heart. Here's what our readers had to say on the topic, My Chef.

Chia Yee Fern, 10, is grateful for having food on the table each day. "I am thankful to the person who cooks my food. Our family helper, Aunty Grace, is the most talented chef I know. She can bake and cook equally well. Her pastries are very good. She can bake bread, chiffon cake, no-bake cheesecake, tiramisu and many more. I am very happy to have someone cook for me and my family, as my mother is often busy. I will remember and treasure the times we spent together cooking in the kitchen."

"My mom is my favourite chef. My grandmother is my second favourite chef. She cooks spicy sambal sotong so deliciously. I enjoy eating it with lontong, a coconut-based vegetable stew, rice cakes, and peanut sauce," writes Nur Dhini, 10.

Nur Dhini, 10

Eight-year-old Chloe Leong Xizhen's favourite chefs are her mother, Ah Mah, Yeh Yeh and Mah Mah. "Mommy cooks ABC soup. Ah Mah cooks fish almost every day. Yeh Yeh makes the best roti canai. Instead of dhal, he adds self-made pickled onions on it. Mah Mah cooks the best rice and noodle dishes. Thank you to Mommy, Ah Mah, Yeh Yeh and Mah Mah for all the good food you have cooked for me since I was a baby."

Nicole Tan Jia Mae, 8

"Food provides energy and vitamins. I love cereal for breakfast. My mother cooks good food for me like nasi lemak and tom yum soup. She is truly my beloved chef. We eat at home most of the time. I enjoy having conversations with my family during meal time," writes Nicole Tan Jia Mae, eight.

Claire Yap Jyn Wei, 6

Six-year-old Claire Yap Jyn Wei's favourite chefs are her Mommy, Aunty Riza and Ah Ma (grandmother). "I love the taste of their food especially when they add ingredients like eggs, meat, carrot or ham. I love being with these happy chefs!"

Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, 8

Older sibling Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, eight, also likes the dishes prepared by her grandmother, her mother and Aunty Riza. "I like Ah Ma's food because it is cooked in a yummy way. Aunty Riza's cooking is also tasty. Mommy's food is delicious because it is cooked in a very special way."

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 8

Twelve-year-old Jodie Tan Li Juen likes her grandma's home-boiled soup, especially peanut chicken soup and seaweed soup. "I also love to drink soup when it is warm. I also enjoy ABC soup, prepared with just potatoes, carrots, red dates and chicken."

Jodie Tan Li Juen, 12

Younger sibling Jayden Tan Li Sheng, eight, says: "When my parents are working, my grandma will cook dinner for us. I like all the dishes that grandma cooks, especially her chicken soy sauce. It has a lot of gravy. I also love grandma's tomato prawn dish too. It's yummy and delicious. Thank you, Grandma. You're the best chef."

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 3

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, three, says: "My parents are the ones who prepare my food daily. They know that meat, vegetables, spaghetti, pizza and soup are among my favorites and will cook them regularly for me. They try to use what is available in the fridge to minimise wastage when cooking for the family."

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 6

In six-year-old Bethany Wang Qi Syuen's home, her parents are co-chefs. "They prepare our daily meals together, taking into consideration my brother's and my preference into their planning. For example, before the pandemic, my two grandmas would lovingly prepare food that we like, such as steamed sweet potatoes, pizza, soup, porridge and bubur cha cha for us whenever we visited them."

Chuah Seng Koon, 5

Five-year-old Chuah Seng Koon says: "Everyone has a favourite chef. I have several chefs including my mother, grandmother, and 11-year-old brother."

Wong Jie Ern,5

"My mother prepares my meals everyday. My favourite foods are pork skewers and crunchy pork. It tastes yummy," says Wong Jie Ern, five.

Wong Cheng Yang, 7

Older brother Wong Cheng Yang, seven, writes: "I enjoy eating Mommy's pasta carbonara. It's really delicious."

Mandy Tang, 4

"My mother is my favourite chef. She cooks delicious prawn udon. I like it very much," writes Mandy Tang, four. – Compiled by Sheela Chandran