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AWWA Community Home
“It’s the best lunch of my life,”
the elderly Indian man declared, as he beamed at Otto
Weibel (honorary president and mentor) and Eric Teo
(president) of Singapore Chefs Association. The two
chefs were the leaders for the chef team based at
the Asian Welfare Women’s Association Community
Home at Blk 123, Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, which houses 115
elderly residents.
The arrival of the chefs has stirred up much excitement
in the block, as the old folks gathered to pick up
their lunches for the day. Another elderly man leaned
on his walking stick, eagerly gathering more information
about the special guests for the day. “I am
going to ask Otto to cook a special meal for my birthday
next year,” he happily shared.
More than 100 members that included chefs from Singapore
Chefs Association, Singapore Junior Chefs Club, students
and teachers from SHATEC, Temasek Polytechnic and
at-sunrice had congregated in the massive kitchens
of Raffles the Plaza and Swissotel the Stamford since
yesterday to prepare the mise-en-place, cooking and
packing of the set lunches. The menu for the AWWA
Community Home was either nasi briyani or sweet-and-sour
chicken with bell peppers, braised tofu with minced
meat, and soft mango pudding (“with no gelatine”,
pointed out Weibel). The meals were carefully thought
out, and then sent to the home for approval. Guest-Of-Honour
Philip Tan, secretariat of Community Chest arrived
moments later and together with Teo and Weibel, handed
out the food packs to the elderly residents.
This event has no doubt left an impact. Usha Gour,
chairperson for AWWA shared, “International
Chefs Day has given the elderly a different experience.
Food is packaged nicely, and prepared with aesthetics
and nutrition in mind. Normally, when you grow older,
aesthetics don’t play such a big part, especially
when you are cooking for yourself. We are indeed grateful
to Community Chest and the Singapore Chefs Association
for doing this. Whatever makes the elderly happy,
we feel that we are doing the job.”
The AWWA Community Home will be having their open
house on 5 November 2005, from 10 am to 3pm, and invites
all interested parties to come by for this event.
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