Recipes passed down through generations could disappear if not practised and compiled. Here are three women who have made cooking their lives!

FLORENCE TAN, 65, Celebrity Chef
“I make it a point to share with my students my Nyonya food heritage. I’d like to think I empower the young to go back to our rich culture and keep things original. Nowadays, you have this fusion food and that fusion food. Keep on doing that and it’ll lead to a lot of confusion!” says Florence with a hearty laugh.

What do you love most about cooking? When all the spices come together and form a heady aroma. Many of these smells remind me of my grandmother and how she used to cook in those days...

What’s your idea of a perfect meal?
That would include soup, entrée, main dish and dessert with all the proper cutlery – and me as the host of course!

MARINA MUSTAFA, 40s, Host of Dari Dapur Marina (Astro Awani)
The author of Memorable Recipes for Malay Occasions says writing the recipe book is her way of preserving cultural food practices. “We may live in modern times and you may want to serve spaghetti during Hari Raya, but how nice it would be if you could also serve something our grandmothers used to prepare,” says Marina.

Describe a childhood memory to do with cooking.
When we were living in Kuantan and I was a teenager, my mum, my sisters and I would go to the wet market together every Sunday and my dad would come along. When we returned home, we’d be preparing meals, with the radio playing Sharifah Aini songs in the background!

Describe your kitchen.
Functional, simple and happy. It’s a place where a warm meal awaits everyone.

AMY BEH, 65, Celebrity Chef
“It’s so important that the young learn cooking traditions. Actually, there are many of them who want to know about recipes from our older generation but not many out there are ready to teach – so when there is an opportunity for me to work with young people who are interested, I grab it. It keeps me young!” says Amy Beh.

Which food item best describes you and why?
One is not enough. I think I’m like all the condiments used in my cooking. I guess I’m also sugar and spice because I feel I’m a bubbly sort of person!

What has been the strangest food you have ever eaten?
Bat wings and python cooked kong po-style. I told the restaurant staff not to tell me which dish it was until I had eaten everything!