For Pearly, traditional food is special because of the slow cooking process. She loves how these dishes are made, bringing back mixed memories from her childhood. When she and her sister lived with their aunt, they had to help with chores like grinding rice flour to make tapai, bedak sejuk, and laksa noodles. As a seven-year-old, these chores felt like a lot, making her miss out on playing and enjoying weekends and school holidays.
"It felt like a punishment," Pearly recalled. "The tasks seemed never-ending. I remember the pain of folding kuih kapit until my fingers burned, and being scolded for not dotting kuih bangkit perfectly. Most of my kuih bangkit were rejected because the dots weren't perfect."
Her friends often asked if she had finished all the cutting, cooking, and cleaning. Pearly found this question odd because cooking had become a natural part of her life.
Pearly showed her little herb garden to Will Merrick, a Scottish-born, Australian-speaking chef, after taking him on a market tour, a customary activity she organized for her guests.
Pearly Kee’s passion for cooking doesn’t stop at home. For her, vacations are a chance to explore new foods and cooking styles.
During her trip to Hobart, she stayed with Neil and Vanessa Broadbridge. Neil, a sous chef from the Tasmanian Government House, had first met Pearly at her cooking school. When Pearly told him she wanted to visit, Neil and his wife welcomed her warmly into their home.
Pearly’s cooking is more than just making food; it’s about making a difference. She loves teaching others about Nyonya cooking, helping to keep this tradition alive. Her cooking classes ensure that the cultural heritage of Nyonya cuisine is passed on to future generations.
Besides teaching cooking classes, Pearly also helps special needs adults learn to cook as part of a living skills program. Parents bring their children for extra cooking activities after school or work. Pearly knows that cooking skills can help these individuals become more independent and improve their lives.
Pearly Kee is a fifth generation Penang Nyonya and well-known food ambassador for Penang. Her popular Nyonya cooking classes have attracted students from all over the world, drawn by her cheeky, feisty style. She has also appeared on numerous cooking programmes aired throughout Asia, showcasing the best of Nyonya cuisine.
Walking tour discovering Hainan’s roots, with a Hainanese guide by your side, make hands-on Hainan treats, where food and culture collide.
Walk through a village full of heart, where inclusion plays a part.
Narrated by Charmaine Leung, this tour explores her childhood in Singapore's red-light district and her mother’s brothel, shedding light on the lives of marginalized women.
Candles bloom, hearts make room, lenses zoom — illuminating lives, one candle at a time.
