Beh Gaik Lean
Beh Gaik Lean (born c. 1954) is a Malaysian chef of Peranakan cuisine. In 2023, the self-taught chef and her restaurant Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery were awarded a Michelin star when she was 69 years old. With the award, Gaik Lean became the first Malaysian woman to be awarded a Michelin star.
Biography
[edit]Beh Gaik Lean was born in Malaysia, a fourth-generation Nyonya, or Peranakan Chinese.[1] Her father was a British Army soldier, who instilled in her the importance of hard work.[2] As a child, her mother taught her to grind chilies for sambal and prepare ingredients for meals.[3] Gaik Lean began cooking for the family at age 12, as she was taught to maintain the household by her mother.[4]
Early culinary career
[edit]Gaik Lean married at 18 and started a family.[5] Finances were tight and Gaik Lean would sell homemade kuih on the roadside to support her family.[5] When she was 21-years-old, Gaik Lean found a job cooking in the cafeteria of a Motorola factory. There, Gaik Lean continued to develop her cooking skills.[6] Gaik Lean would later go on to cook for other factory kitchens in Malaysia, including Dell and Intel.[1] While working in the factory kitchens, Gaik Lean's children would stay with her mother, where they recalled times were often difficult.[7] In her 40s, Gaik Lean moved to Kuala Lumpur to train chefs.
Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery
[edit]In 2013, Gaik Lean's eldest son Adrian Tan encouraged her to move back home to run a restaurant he had purchased and named after her, without her knowledge.[5] That year, Adrian and Gaik Lean opened Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery in Penang, specializing in Peranakan cuisine.[2][6] The eatery soon became known for its Peranakan dishes,[8] made without pork and with halal chicken, so it is accessible to Malay Muslims.[9] Che Puan Besar Kalsom Abdullah and other members of Malaysia's royal family are known to be regular diners.[10] Everything in the restaurant is made on site.[1]
Michelin recognition
[edit]In late 2022, Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery was awarded one of four Michelin stars in Malaysia.[2][11][12] At the time, she was 69-years-old.[2] When she received the news she was awarded a Michelin star, Gaik Lean reportedly had "to Google" the accolade as she was unsure what it was.[6] Since the initial award, Gaik Lean and Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery have continued to maintain their Michelin status.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "A Michelin star for a Nyonya restaurant is recognition of Penang's cultural heritage, says Auntie Gaik Lean". Yahoo News. 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b c d Descalsota, Marielle. "She's a former factory cook who just got her first Michelin star. Meet Beh Gaik Lean, the Malaysian chef who made it to the top — without any fine dining experience". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "A Michelin star for a Nyonya restaurant is recognition of Penang's cultural heritage, says Auntie Gaik Lean". Yahoo News. 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Penang's One-Starred Auntie Gaik Lean Is Serving A Peranakan Buffet In Singapore". Travel and Leisure Asia | Singapore. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b c "Why Penang's Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery deserves its Michelin Star". The Star. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b c Meldolesi, Alessandra (2023-04-08). "She got a Michelin star at age 70 without any gourmet experience: 'I worked in a cafeteria before my success'". reportergourmet.com. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Get to Know Penang's Famous Auntie Gaik Lean and Her MICHELIN-Starred Old School Eatery". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Michelin star award: Full reservation at two restaurants in Penang". thesun.my. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b "Navigate Penang Like a True Nyonya with Auntie Gaik Lean". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Michelin star award: Full reservation at two restaurants in Penang". thesun.my. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ Durai, Michael Cheang,Abirami (2022-12-13). "Malaysia's first ever Michelin Stars awarded to 4 restaurants in KL and Penang". The Star. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Descalsota, Marielle. "I ate at the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world, where dishes cost as little as $1.60, and it turned out to be worth flying to another country for". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-26.