This new Peranakan eatery at Serangoon is opened by a 23-year-old who uses his grandma's recipes - Hero Image -LS
The engineering diploma holder chose to become his own boss after an unsuccessful search in a “bad job market”. His nasi lemak and rendang are made using closely-guarded family recipes.
Ramu Chinnarasa arriving at the State Courts on Sept 19, 2024.
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While most 23-year-olds are still studying or job hunting, baby-faced Ernest Ang has taken the road less travelled. After completing his National Service, the engineering diploma holder spent just six weeks looking for a full-time job, before making the major decision to open his own Peranakan eatery instead.
From the shop’s cartoon logo (that’s modelled after his grandmother), to its ongoing “bring your grandparents for 20 per cent off” promotion, it’s clear that Kokoyo’s main inspiration is Ang’s grandmother whom he’s very close to and lived with as a child.
Despite their closeness, he said it took him a long time to convince the matriarch to share her recipes with him.
His grandmother’s recipes are so closely guarded that even Ang's mum hasn’t been able to get a hold of them.
“My grandma’s very stubborn – when she says no, it’s really a no. I asked her to teach me before, but she didn’t want to share her recipes, even my mum doesn’t know them. And now some of the things she teaches me, she tells me not to tell my mother,” he laughed.
