Rekha G. Sekhar came highly recommended by Anna Lee Rajkumar, co-owner of the esteemed boutique, That Special Occasion. Apparently, Rekha is the ‘resident chef’ for all their events and parties, where her food is a big hit. But in the midst of all her raving, Anna forgot to mention Rekha’s equally outstanding artistic flair.
A graduate in graphic design, Rekha’s talent spreads far and wide. Her penchant for acrylics is manifested on the walls of her house in the forms of stunning paintings and picture frames. But it doesn’t stop there. She has taken one step further by mastering the art of gesso work, which is traditional Indian painting on pebbles. The result - a sprinkling of gorgeous stones in her apartment.
Born in Kerala and raised in Bangalore, Rekha was first exposed to the art of cooking while living with her grandmother. At the age of 21, she married a Malaysian and arrived in KL. Being a stay-at-home mother allowed her to indulge in her two loves. One eventually evolved into a thriving business.
In her first-ever interview, the soft-spoken artist speaks about her passion for food and the role it plays in her life.
What are your earliest memories of food?
When I was 12 and living with my grandmother. She was a strict vegetarian, and if I wanted to eat meat I’d just have to cook it myself. So I did! Armed with recipe books and under her watchful eye, I began venturing into her kitchen to create simple dishes. As I got better, I progressed to sweets and desserts.
Who are your sources of inspiration?
Definitely my late mother. She weaved magic in the kitchen! As children, we would wait impatiently for teatime when heavenly treats would be laid on the table! After I married, my father-in-law became my next great influence. He loves cooking and he has always encouraged me to take my passion further. His help and support in my catering business has been tremendous!
Was the catering business part of a blueprint?
Not at all. In fact, cooking took a backseat after I graduated in graphic design. It was only when I moved to Malaysia that I resurrected it. It gives me so much joy today, I can’t imagine how I put it on hold for so long! Anyway, I started off making pickles for my family and friends. Since everyone else was pickling mangoes, I decided to use my mother’s recipes for pickled tomatoes, eggplants and chili. The response was overwhelming and someone suggested I sell my pickles commercially. I designed some labels, made a huge batch of pickles and hit the streets. I now supply the pickles to Citra’s in Brickfields. That small success led to bigger things like my own catering business! It’s funny but marvellous how things worked out.
How do you relate cooking to therapy?
It’s the act of being in the kitchen absorbing the wonderful smells while creating something delicious. In fact, whenever my husband is having a rough day I’ll persuade him to cook a dish with me. By the time it’s done, he’ll be beaming again! And there’s something wonderfully intimate about cooking together. It brings you closer somehow.
What would you say to someone who’s approaching cooking for the first time?
Start with simple pieces. Payasam is an excellent beginner’s dish, which is why I introduced it here. So are bread rolls and biscuits. Also plan ahead so you’re not forgetting any ingredients and running around in a panic. If you can, prepare the ingredients the day before. It helps a great deal. If you make mistakes, forgive yourself. And when you discover your own style, display it in all its glory!
Complete this sentence. Cooking is…
An expression of creativity. All of us are artists and we mustn’t be afraid of exhibiting our masterpieces to the world.