(From left) Ooi, Wan, Wong and Goh. Photo: Handout
In the past, restaurant kitchens were always dominated by men, a strange paradox considering that women traditionally ruled the roost in home kitchens.
Over the years, this has changed somewhat, as more and more formidably talented female chefs have taken the helm in restaurant kitchens all over the world, from Clare Smyth, the chef-patron of London’s three Michelin-starred Core by Clare Smyth, to the iconic Anne-Sophic Pic, who blazed a trail for female chefs when she became the first woman in France to earn three Michelin stars for her restaurant Maison Pic.
Thankfully, Malaysia hasn’t been excluded from the party and in fact, on June 21 and 22, discerning Malaysian diners will be able to taste meals produced by four of Malaysia’s best and brightest female culinary stars – namely Mandy Goh, executive chef at The Ruma Hotel & Residences; Jun Wong, the executive chef at vaunted new eatery Yellow Fin Horse; Ooi Hooi Shing, chef and founder of Penang patisserie Le Petit Four; and award-winning mixologist at Wholly Spirit, Amanda Wan.
The two-night exclusive dinner, titled “The Fab Four. Simply Magnifique!” is priced at RM550 nett per person and will be held at Atas, Ruma’s signature restaurant. This collaborative event is the brainchild of the prodigious Goh, who in 2009 made history as part of the first all-female team to win the prestigious Bocuse d’Or Asia competition when she was just 21.
Goh’s idea was to band together with other women in the industry to produce a menu designed to showcase female capabilities and a feminine touch as well as forge unity among her peers in the industry, who face challenges that are unique and apart from their male counterparts.
“No matter where you work, women face stronger headwinds, are confined by glass ceilings and must battle pervasive stereotypes about our abilities and skills. Beyond our intent to showcase local female talent, this event is also very much a celebration of all our hard-earned successes, which we hope will inspire every girl to follow their dreams,” says Goh.
The two-night only dinner has already seen raucous response (the first night is entirely sold out) and will feature six courses, three snacks and four cocktail pairings. So what can you expect from this female-dominated meal?
For starters, everything – from the bread to the butter – will be made entirely from scratch and the entire menu will be devised of 80% local ingredients, in homage to the chefs’ Malaysian homeland.
There will also be a focus on women’s culinary perspectives, which are often ignored in most professional kitchens. Wan for example, is crafting a cocktail menu with women’s wellness in mind, using a mixture of Eastern and Western influences.
Wong meanwhile says her food will reflect her bare-bones, minimalistic approach to food, which aims to shine a spotlight on the beauty of ingredients (i.e. natural beauty).
Goh on the other hand will showcase her signature approach to food in general. “As an overall concept, the dishes I put forward are inspired by women – light and delicate in nature, but with a burst of flavour when you least expect it,” she says.
All the women agree that events such as this help bolster solidarity, growth and understanding among women who work in hospitality, who can leverage on each other’s setbacks and successes and ultimately help elevate the game for all women in the F&B industry.
“We actually have many talented women in the industry, but some of them are too shy to be in the limelight. Hence, initiatives and events like this allow us to build a stronger community and form tighter bonds with one another in the culinary industry amidst the competitiveness of the field,” says Goh.
For reservations and inquiries, please WhatsApp or call 03-2778 0763.
