She prefers bonding through food
Published on
09 Jan 2015
Published by
-
Social wellness: Interview with Ms Nancy Quek Lee Long
Nancy Quek, 70s, has enthusiasm for cooking. As a food lover, she learnt cooking from her mother since she was 13 years old. She wanted to open a café while she was young, however, because of family commitments she gave up this idea. Nancy was the first cook in hotel and country club. Even now she had retired, her passion for cooking has never stopped. To her, food brings her family closer and also serves as a talking point to make new friends.
How do you strengthen family bonds over food?
My favourite food is homemade Lor Ak (braised duck) and curry chicken. These are the 2 dishes that play significant roles in strengthening my family ties. Everyone in my family love these 2 dishes. Sitting in a dining table with sumptuous food, the free and relaxing environment provide a good atmosphere for chitchatting and we can discuss how our days are gone. Good food accompany with loved ones seem like a reward for the day’s hard work.
Just like many seniors, I own a smart phone and I used to use it to take photos of nice homemade food.
Do you have a regular social circle?
Yes, I meet up with friends for classes and activities such as karaoke and line dance. We also do volunteering work together where I perform Ukulele to patients and my friends sing song. When I see these homeless patients put a smile in their face, the image really melts my heart and pushes me forward to do more for them.
Are you a lifelong learner?
I enjoy learning new knowledge and new recipes. I took up cooking classes to improve my skills when I was young. Hence, I was awarded with a Certificate in restaurant management and gained the first cook position in a renowned luxurious clubhouse where I prepared dinner buffet line for diners. At that time, I was given raw and fresh food to prepare innovative dishes. The most memorable incident was a grill chicken hamburger I made that impressed almost everyone in the hotel restaurant and that was then become a signature dish.
Besides cooking, I learnt Ukulele in the Intergenerational Learning Programme (ILP), an initiative initiated by C3A to promote intergenerational bonding where students learn together with seniors. Since then, I develop interest into it. After the ILP Ukulele classes, I self-learn Ukulele and am going to take intermediate classes in the community centre. Currently, I am planning to learn yoga too!
How do you make new friends?
Socialising and food go well together hand in hand. As a Chairlady at Gourmet activity circle, together with 5 members in the circle we organise regular sharing session monthly. We cook some dishes at home and bring it to RSVP Singapore – an organisation for senior volunteers share them with volunteers. Sometimes, our group would be invited to present in other activities to make tea party for fellow seniors. The monthly meeting to me is a joyful party and I enjoy making new friends every time. I look forward to it whole hearty as I know that I will be able to learn new recipes from other members and improve my cooking skills.
In fact, friendship has significant impact on our life’s joys and triumphs as it provides a support system where we can rely on. Good food and good friends together form the secret to happiness and even longevity.
** Special thanks to Nancy for accepting to this interview. We wish her good health and all the best.
ALL views, content, information and/or materials expressed / presented by any third party apart from Council For Third Age, belong strictly to such third party. Any such third party views, content, information and/or materials provided herein are for convenience and/or general information purposes only. Council For Third Age shall not be responsible nor liable for any injury, loss or damage whatsoever arising directly or indirectly howsoever in connection with or as a result of any person accessing or acting on any such views, content, information and/or materials. Such third party views, content, information and/or materials do not imply and shall not be construed as a representation, warranty, endorsement and/or verification by Council For Third Age in respect of such views, content, information and/or materials.
