Chef Imelda’s recipe for turning skills into opportunity

For many women, culinary skills developed in their home kitchens can serve as the foundation for small food businesses and additional income sources. Chef Imelda Harris, a former MasterChef Malaysia contestant and Sarawak-born food consultant, aims to empower women, especially homemakers, single mothers, and those from lower-income households, to transform their cooking abilities into a means of generating income.

She emphasizes that cooking is not merely an ordinary task but can lead to building a business, creating books, or even traveling abroad.

Imelda believes that starting a food business does not require expensive equipment, large premises, or significant capital. For many women, she suggests that the first step can be as simple as utilizing what they already have at home. She aims to help women see the potential of the culinary field to take them far and train them to generate income from home with minimal resources.

With over a decade of experience mentoring members of the Armed Forces Family Welfare Association, she observed how practical training in aspects like costing, preparation, and small-scale food production can boost women's confidence in earning independently.

For Imelda, the appeal of food lies in its accessibility. Cooking is a daily activity for many families, implying that some skills needed to start a small venture might already be present. The challenge lies in acknowledging their value and turning them into a sustainable business. She encourages homemakers, single mothers, and lower-income women to view culinary skills not just as everyday work but as a pathway to financial independence.

Recently, Imelda was honored among 26 recipients at the Anugerah Wanita Ikon Negeri 2026/2027 by Kelab Wanita Ikon Malaysia, supported by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. Apart from her culinary endeavors, she is exploring ways to aid rural schoolchildren, particularly in Sarawak, by aiding them in building confidence as they navigate unfamiliar academic settings.

As a former student at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara, Imelda recalls the feelings of inferiority many rural children encounter when transitioning to boarding schools or universities.

Her message to those considering a home-based food business is straightforward: start before everything feels perfect. "You cannot say no until you have tried. Do not be afraid to take that first step because if an attempt does not work out, it does not mean that we have failed forever."