Introduce yourself

Hello! I am Asya, a Malaysian born and raised in Kuala Lumpur. I moved to Singapore over 14 years ago for a job and have since made Singapore my home. During the pandemic, I realised that I found both joy and comfort in cooking for my family and friends. Both my parents came from Rembau, Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia, so my cooking is partly influenced by Minangkabau cuisine.

To me, Home is…

where my family is. I am equally at peace here in Singapore, in Kuala Lumpur and in England, where my husband is from, as long as my family is there with me!

What’s the story behind the dish you are presenting?

I will be preparing Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api, a simple, savoury and spicy traditional Malay coconut chicken curry common in my mom’s hometown of Negeri Sembilan. The turmeric, lemongrass, chilli padi and coconut milk mixed with chicken broth gives this dish its unique flavour. There are many variations of this dish, but I will be using my mother’s recipe, so the meal will be reminiscent of family meals while I was growing up. Not being able to meet with family over the past two years during the pandemic has made me realise the importance of food and meals in maintaining connections to one’s family and cultural heritage.

About Kitchen Movements

Kitchen Movements, a series of events curated by The Party Elves, provides a platform for home chefs to shine and share their dishes. They focus on self taught passionate home cooks who cook with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. Kitchen Movements hopes to cultivate a community that comes together over a shared love of home cooked food and the belief in a giving community.