The Forever Cheerful Florence Tan

Florence Tan shares the secret of her cheery disposition.

CELEBRITY chef Florence Tan, who is also known as the Queen of Nyonya Cuisine, has one philosophy in life and that is, “Whatever you do, you must have a good heart and be sincere”.

“It was my teacher, master chef Datuk Lim Bian Yam who taught me this,” said Tan of her mentor who is the principal of International School of Home Cookery where she studied in 1985.

Perfect pair: The Queen of Nyonya Cuisine with the King of Fruits.

And having stuck to this adage has certainly boded well with Tan. At 63, she exudes a cheeriness that is infectious. Those who know her have described her as playful.

According to her best buddies, Tan has the innate ability of making everyone feel at ease. Even the most inhibited characters seem to let loose when they are in her company.

One example is how this Malacca-born nyonya got her guests to participate in dance demonstrations while waiting for the food to cook on her TV shows.

“I believe that when I am with someone, I must be at ease. This way, I believe that they will also be at ease and at their best,” said Tan of how she draws people out of their shell.

Having such a friendly disposition, it makes one wonder if she is upset by anything at all.

“Oh, I can be very serious when it comes to work. I like things to be done a certain way so when it is not carried out, I can get very cross.

“To be fair, I usually give ample time for things to be rectified. The first time something is not done right, I will issue a reminder. If it happens a second time, the person will get a warning. On the third time, I will get angry,” said Tan.

And never ever let on that you do not care about culture. This lady can be a stickler when it comes to tradition.

We found this out while window shopping at the Craft Complex, during its 11-day wedding promotion last month.

Playing dress up with friend Chef Ismail at a wedding fair.

Someone had remarked if it was really necessary to go through all the hassle and incur such high costs, and Tan who was within earshot, quickly turned round and retorted, “Biar mati anak, jangan mati adat” (You may lose your child but not your customs).

“Tradition and culture is a package. It functions to form a society that is respectful, artistic and morally righteous so that we may be seen as civilised,” stressed Tan.

But apart from that, the genial Tan is really one sweet lady. So obliging is her nature that at times friends and family have commented that she runs the risk of being taken advantage of.

“I don’t like to fight. It is my nature to always find the positive side of a person. I believe that life is a service and that it is our duty to help others. I believe that when you give kindness, you will receive kindness in return,” said Tan.

Perhaps this is what endears Tan to her friends. Redzuawan bin Ismail aka Chef Wan, whom Tan has known for 23 years, remarked that one reason she is so loved is she is sincere and generous in everything she does.

Speaking of her best friends undoubtedly made Tan light up.

Some of her buddies are none other than Agnes Chang, noted Chinese cuisine TV personality, whom she has known since 1967; and Chef Ismail Ahmad, who reveals that for the past 15 years, not a day goes by without a telephone call to each other.

Typical of the celeb cook to ham it up with a dancer as she waits for her cue to go on air.

“Friendship is about love, respect, understanding and putting up with each other’s weaknesses.

“It is very important to be happy with each other’s successes too. There are some cases where friends can become jealous of this and that is not good. It is important to share one’s knowledge,” said Tan.

The latest activity Tan and her ‘gang’ are still raving about is their trip to the cinema to watch Angelina Jolie in Wanted.

“Aiyoh, I tell you, I was holding to my heart because I was scared that it would jump from left to right!” exclaimed Tan when talking about the action movie.

So on Sundays, one can bet that Tan can be found in the company of this merry bunch who are most likely to poke fun at her bee hive hairdo while they are exchanging cook books or an obscure recipe.

And talking of food, Tan readily admits that she has two weaknesses: durians and Indian food.

“I used to love seeing the durians on the trees when my husband, John Tan, owned an orchard in Selandar (between Malacca and Jasin). Unfortunately, he’s sold off the orchard,” said Tan.

Other than, that Sundays are also church days for Tan, after which she will go for a lunch of chappati with vegetables and yoghurt to be washed down with teh tarik at a little known place called Maniam’s Corner beside a Petronas station along Jalan Ampang.

Restoran Rebung is Chef Ismail’s second home.

ASK celebrity chef Ismail Ahmad where he likes to spend his free days and the jovial 48-year-old replies, “I don’t like free days”.

And it is not hard to see why he finds it so hard to sit still. Rebung, the five-year-old restaurant, has already won three awards from Hospitality Asia, the local F&B watchdog.

Chef of the Year: Celebrity chef Ismail Ahmad holding Hospitality Asia’s 2007-2008 award for Excellence in Hospitality and Personality for Malay Cuisine.

“They will come unannounced to monitor the restaurant. Everything from service, food, and ambience is noted,” points out Ismail on what it took to earn those awards, which he is very proud to have won.

“People who deal with food are very artistic. They love to play with colour, aroma and flavours and are very sensitive people.

“Giving them due credit will give them the desire and inspiration to build an empire within the walls of the kitchen,” said Ismail.

And while the celebrity may be all smiles when he is in public, Ismail is a no-nonsense man when it comes to Rebung.

There, absent staff members and oily utensils can make him see red and furrow his eyebrows and purse his lips.

But once everything is in full swing, no words are needed – everything is forgiven.

“In this business, you can’t hold grudges. What’s past is past. At the end of the day, we are like a close knit family,” said Ismail of his relationship between him and his service staff.

It is anybody’s guess if this is the sort of emotional roller coaster that Ismail rides every day, but according to this true blue restauranteur, that’s the way the show is run.

And the kitchen is, undoubtedly, Ismail’s second home.

Though he has an emotional commitment to Taja, his Persian cat, the feline often plays second fiddle to the kitchen in Rebung.

In there, Ismail finds paradise, and a place where he can be left in peace to come up with new culinary creations.

“Ever since I was a child, the kitchen has been a special place for me. It is the part of the house which has the most energy.

“It is always full of joy, gossip and complaints. If only the kitchen table could talk, what tales it would tell!” recalls the chef, whose eyes would tear up at past memories.

“There was a time when the community spirit was so strong that my grandmother and aunties could borrow things like sugar and eggs from the neighbours without hesitation.

“Nowadays, people are too egoistic. They are shy because the neighbourhood spirit is absent,” laments Ismail, who feels that there is a need for people to start knowing each other again.

As such, Ismail’s celebrity status and travels have afforded him the opportunity to do his part to reach out and make as many friends as he can.

“I make it a point to interact with all kinds of people.

“If you happen to get involved with bad people, then it is an experience for you. As long as you have a strong foundation and believe in yourself, you will not go wrong,” he said.

“And remember: don’t cheat, lie, and pretend to be what you are not because the side effects of such behaviour will rear its head one day.”

This polished PR man adds that one should refrain from injecting bad aura into other people’s lives.

“Don’t ever go up to someone and say, ‘Eh, you put on weight-lah’. Even if you are not in the mood, say something positive,” he said.

As for establishing a good rapport with people, Ismail offers a time-tested tip.

“The eyes are the windows to one’s soul.

“That is why you must look into someone’s eyes when you talk,” he said.

And as to free days, here’s a confession from this UITM old boy on what he likes to do when he has time to kick off his shoes.

“I love decorating,” he admits with a certain glee.

In Rebung, you can see the collection that he and his restaurant partner had collected over the years: antique chinaware salvaged from their ancestors’ cupboards, silverware from South Africa, and fresh flowers for the tables.

And piano teachers take note: Chef Ismail dreams of being able to play the piano. Maybe one day our celebrity chef will surprise his guests with a live performance on the ivory keys!

Rebung is located at 4-2, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar Park (03-2283 2119).