{"id":15893,"date":"2020-02-14T09:00:01","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T01:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/demo.qodeinteractive.com\/bridge13\/?page_id=15893"},"modified":"2025-07-22T09:46:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T01:46:35","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cookingwithchefsamuel.com\/es\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About Chef Samuel<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Chef\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Chef Samuel age 3 photographed circa 1995, with 3 elder sisters and parents.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Origins<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Born of Modest Means<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I come from humble beginnings, born into a small town in Pahang called Mentakab<\/strong>, near the edge of Taman Negara \u2013 a place where dense rainforest met the rhythm of everyday survival. I was the youngest in a family of four children, and the only son after three elder sisters. In the eyes of a traditional Chinese household, I was the treasured one \u2013 a sentiment echoed in my name, Chee Sam (\u5b50\u741b), which means \u201cthe most beloved child.\u201d<\/p>\n

My father, though not formally educated, worked tirelessly in a local logging factory to provide for us. Life in the countryside was simple but tough. My mother was the pillar of the family \u2013 a homemaker who rose each day at 4 a.m. to tap rubber before the sun came up. Afterward, she would rush home to prepare us for school and spend her afternoons sewing garments to earn extra income. The long hours and needlework eventually strained her eyesight, a silent reminder of her sacrifices.<\/p>\n

Despite the hardships, my childhood was filled with moments of wonder \u2013 running barefoot through streams, climbing trees, and exploring nature’s playground. But behind the scenes, my mother was a strong and disciplined figure who instilled values that shaped the foundation of who I am today. From her, I learned the importance of humility<\/strong>, hard work<\/strong>, and honesty<\/strong> \u2013 lessons that no classroom could ever teach.<\/p>\n

All three of my sisters chose a path in education, becoming school teachers \u2013 a calling centered around nurturing and giving<\/strong>. That spirit of service and quiet strength runs deep in our family, and it continues to guide me in my journey as a chef.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Childhood<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Roots of a Dream<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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My childhood was carefree in many ways, yet quietly shaped by unspoken expectations. As the only boy among three older sisters, I often played alone, finding solace in imagination and curiosity. My sisters were diligent and high-achieving\u2014each one a role model who excelled academically. In a family where money was scarce, the message was clear: education was the only way out.<\/p>

But school never inspired me. In our small town, classrooms often felt dull, and many teachers lacked the passion to ignite young minds. I struggled with rote learning, and sitting still for hours never suited me. What did capture my attention, however, were the hands-on moments\u2014especially in the kitchen.<\/p>

My mother, always multitasking between work and home, spent most of her time cooking for the family. I would watch her closely, eventually joining in\u2014first as a helper, then as someone genuinely drawn to the rhythm and soul of cooking. It became my quiet passion<\/strong>.<\/p>

Yet in a traditional Chinese household, the idea of becoming a chef wasn\u2019t met with encouragement. To my parents, it was a path of hard labor and little honor. They couldn\u2019t see a future in it. My sisters, however, saw things differently. Perhaps because they had followed the path expected of them, they recognized the fire in me\u2014and chose to stand by it. With their unwavering support, I was able to leave home and pursue culinary school<\/strong> in Kuala Lumpur, setting the first stone on a path that would later define my life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Location<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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My Hometown - Mentakab,\nPahang<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Pahang<\/b> is the largest state, located centrally of Malaysia<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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