13 August 2013

Two Cooks and a Pan

Two buddies face off in a cooking competition, vying for patrons’ donations to their adopted charities.

Chef and co-owner of Two Cooks and a Pan, Gino (left) and Liew Kah Hoong (right).

The idea was borne out of a desire to do something out of the norm for the official opening of his first restaurant. “Instead of having grand opening flowers and a major celebration, we decided to have a charity event,” says Liew Kah Hoong, owner of Two Cooks and a Pan. But it wasn’t just any kind of charity event. Kah Hoong and his business partner and co-chef Gino, decided to have a cook-off between them, and patrons would decide whose cooking they liked best and donate to that cook’s adopted charity. “Initially we wanted to just have one adopted charity but as we went into details, we realised… why don't we have a friendly rivalry to spice things up?” says Kah Hoong.

Bacon aglio olio, one of the dishes whipped up for the charity drive.

For that reason, Kah Hoong decided on SIF as the beneficiary of his charity cook-off. “At least to me, money is better spent this way. And since I am familiar with SIF and what the organisation does, I figured this is a great opportunity to pick up where I left off.” On Saturday 13 July, Kah Hoong and Gino hosted more than 300 patrons at the grand opening of their restaurant and raised a total of $2,183.80. Kah Hoong is pleased it was his chosen charity, SIF, that won the cook-off. “It was very, very successful indeed. We had prepared supplies sufficient for approximately 200 guests, yet we still ran out for the dinner crowd.”

From left to right: Patricia Miller, Assistant Director of International Volunteering; Jean Tan, Executive Director of SIF; Gino, chef and co-owner of Two Cooks and a Pan Gino; restaurant co-owner Liew Kah Hoong and SIF staff

“We did not expect so many of our friends to come support. It was like a mega reunion of friends dating all the way back to primary school. At the end of the day when I reflected on the events that had taken place that day and the friends who turned up, I felt very blessed and deeply honoured for their support. They have given us the courage to continue striving and work even harder as the journey will only get more challenging.”

The SIF was honoured to host the two Penang-born friends over at our offices at the International Involvement Hub on July 22 where they handed over a cheque of $1,309 to Jean Tan, Executive Director of the SIF. Using this sum, 21 biosand filters can be acquired and 126 Cambodians will be able to gain access to clean water. Find out more about Two Cooks and a Pan here.