Single mother turns to cooking as her lifeline

Free Malaysia Today

On Mother’s Day, Larissa Low talks about her drive to build a brighter future for herself and her family as a chef.   Story by: Sheela Vijayan  Shot by: Fauzi Yunus  Presented by: Theevya Ragu  Edited by: Andrea Edmonds   Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/05/11/how-cooking-became-a-lifeline-for-this-single-mother/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #MothersDay #LarissaLow #BusinessFounder #SingleMother

Transcript

00:00Business founder and single mother Larissa Lowe

00:07juggles a busy life as head chef of Asian Gourmet Cinderiyan Burhad

00:11and primary caregiver to her children.

00:16While life hasn't been easy for her in the past,

00:20she is determined to build a better future for herself and her three children.

00:24I am adopted by a Chinese family.

00:31So according to my mum, the one who adopted me,

00:36she said that my mother is actually Chinese, my dad is actually Indian.

00:42And so that's the most I know about myself, that I'm half Chinese, half Indian.

00:48And then I was just a few days old.

00:52And then my mum gave birth to me and she went to her best friend's house

00:58to show that I've given birth.

01:00And then of course my mum is excited to show her her best friend that I'm born and all that.

01:07So my mum just told her, just hang on to her for a while.

01:10I'll come back because I need to get milk.

01:12So my mum waited, she didn't come back.

01:17So days became weeks, weeks became a month.

01:23Finally, her birth mother's best friend, Lo Yungan,

01:27decided to adopt the baby left in her care.

01:30Although Yungan's father wasn't initially supportive,

01:34his heart softened after she placed the baby in his arms.

01:39Larissa would go on to share a close bond with her grandfather until his passing.

01:43My grandfather is the best guy, the best man, you know, the love of my life.

01:56It's so hot.

02:01So when he was around, I feel very love-protected, you know.

02:07She credits her love for cooking to her late grandmother,

02:15whom she often helped around the kitchen.

02:18From young, I'm always very fascinated with cooking, with fires, you know.

02:22So every time when she cooked, I will always be in the kitchen.

02:27It's not that she was teaching me or anything,

02:30it's just that she asked me to help around.

02:33As Larissa chopped onions and minced garlic,

02:36she discovered that she was enjoying herself,

02:38unaware that the skills she was honing would one day become her lifeline.

02:44After her second marriage ended,

02:46she wondered how to support her children while still being there for them.

02:52Until Yungan suggested she try cooking.

02:55Years earlier, she had started a venture called Larissa's Kitchen,

02:59and just before the pandemic hit in 2020,

03:02she relaunched the business, which had become dormant.

03:06Working from home,

03:09she poured her heart and soul into building a name for her business,

03:12driven by the desire to build a better future for herself and her children.

03:18Unexpectedly, the pandemic was a boost for her business,

03:21and demand for her delicious food grew.

03:24She later launched Larissa Catering Services,

03:27before eventually starting Asian Gourmet Cinderian Burhad.

03:36Wanting to test her culinary skills and boost her confidence,

03:39she joined the Halal Super Chef competition in 2023,

03:43where she emerged as one of the 10 finalists.

03:46Recently, she received the Entrepreneurship and Expansion Award 2025

03:50at the Akshaya Chef Award.

03:54Indeed, Larissa has come a long way,

03:57overcoming a difficult start to life to find success as a chef.

04:02Stay focused.

04:04Don't give up, you know,

04:08as how hard it is,

04:10just don't give up.

04:11Always remember that children are looking at you,

04:14you know.

04:15We are their pillar.

04:17If we can stand strong and show them that it's okay,

04:25one day when they become mum,

04:27they will understand what's the meaning of being strong as a mother,

04:31as a pillar for their own children.

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