Freddie

Freddie on the Hot Seat

1. What inspired you to become a Chef?

Hmm, that’s a tough question. Because it was not one moment that led me into a yummy lump of cookie dough, but a sequence of scenarios throughout the years. I was bullied in school for my weight and affinity towards cookies (both making and eating them). When I was a toddler, my mum would volunteer for the community potlucks and her contribution was always cookies, I continued that tradition in high school potlucks with a genuine intention of serving everyone yummy cookies, but got bullied for it. But I decided to turn that into my strength, it took years of counseling and my mum’s constant support… but I got over it and my cookies are now better than ever. Who’s laughing now, Mr. former football captain still living in your dad’s basement? Sorry, I got carried away. Bullying is bad kids, don’t do it! Not everyone gets lucky enough to overcome it.

2. What is your signature dish? What do people love about it?

It’s the one that was most difficult to master – Raspberry Lemonade Macrons. Finding the perfect balance of zesty lemons and tangy raspberries to bring out the sweetness needed in macarons was…phew! But the rewarding feeling when my first customer appreciated it was worth all the sleepless nights and wasted ingredients during the experimental stages. People still come from far and wide to taste those… it’s a good business man, haha!

3. How do you describe your overall cooking philosophy?

Cooking is not a philosophy. It’s the truth of the moment! You get inspired by a particular taste or smell, you get the ingredients that feel similar to those, you blend them and put them in the oven. Tadaa! You got yourself yummy cookies… simple! But if I have to say something a bit more philosophical, I guess I’d say always be kind and don’t judge someone until you’re in their shoes. It’s not limited to cooking, but living in general.

4. What’s your take on cookies?

Cookies are happiness! Crying kid? Hand them a cookie. Christmas time? Let’s bake cookies. On a diet? Here’s an oatmeal cookie. Want to visit a website? Well, first accept these cookies. Haha, gotcha with the last one! What I’m trying to say is.. cookie is a comfort snack. There’s literally a cookie for every occasion, and it’s universal. 

5. When you’re not busy in the kitchen, what hobbies do you indulge in?

I don’t know if this can be counted as a hobby, but I love spending time in orphanages and old age homes. I make extra batches of cookies for them and I just love being around them. That’s the kind of warmth and love you want to surround yourself with, it just comes from a really genuine corner of their hearts. I go there almost every weekend, and during special Holidays. The biggest joy is to see the kids getting adopted into wonderful homes.