Meet the Expat Kitchen Team
At Expat Kitchen we provide a stimulating, exciting environment where we all share a passion and love for food.
The team is proud to support you in developing your culinary skills, no matter what level you think you are.
If you would like to join the team, feel free to contact us at admin@expat-kitchen.com.
Annette Lang - Founder
My food obsession began at a young age as part of a family treated to gourmet cooking courtesy of a great chef – my mum! Throughout my working career in Australia, I found myself taking on roles involving food – from buyer to designer (& taster of course..) of food gifts sold in major Australian department stores like David Jones, Myer/Grace Bros, Kmart and Target.
My first exposure to foreign home help was my families first posting in 2001 in India. Meal planning, food selection/preparation for the local house cook became part of the daily training program. It made me realize how much we have to offer our helper’s in the area of food management and training.
Having moved to Singapore in 2002 and experiencing the same challenges, reaffirmed my desire to ensure all helper’s are offered the opportunity to excel in culinary capabilities. Expat Kitchen allows me to share this vision.
Rachel O'Shea - Trainer
Cooking has always been a passion for me, and food has always been in the forefront of every day life. My earliest memory of cooking was learning how to make cookies from my father. I turned this passion into a professional qualification from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts after the birth of my third child.
We moved to Singapore from the United States in December 2008 and a whole new world of culinary experiences was opened to me. After hiring a helper and learning some local cuisine from her, I realized that I was also enjoying teaching her how to make the meals my family loved.
Expat Kitchen has given me the chance to take my love of food and my experience cooking and combine them into one dream opportunity. I am excited to be able to share my knowledge with other people and help other individuals and families eat well and live healthier.
Victoria Woo - Trainer
Growing up in New York City, the culinary capital of the world, I was exposed to international cuisines in their most truest form, a small step from being in the country itself. Both of my parents are amazing cooks. This was a fact not just from my own standards but also from the endless neighbours knocking on our door for my Mum's handmade specialities, which includes traditional Chinese pastries. So you can say I was born with the passion for food and nurtured in the world of international cuisine.
My passion led me to the French Culinary Institute (FCI) in New York, where I became a chef in Classical Pastry Arts. While there and the years following, I had the privilege of working with many world-esteemed chefs and kitchens in New York. I also developed a love for customised sugar arts, specialising in exotic sugar flowers and cake decoration.
Here in Singapore, I've found my home away from home at Expat Kitchen, where I can share my passion and the skills I've learned at the FCI as well as from my mentoring chefs. Of course I will also continue building my business in customised sugar art decorations.
Collette Height - Trainer
I have worked in bakeries in Melbourne, Australia (where I am from) and I have learnt from some fantastic baker's and pastry chefs who had passion and flair for their chosen careers. They are a big reason why I love this industry! Having entertained at home by having friends and family over for dinner parties, BBQ's and also helping friends with catering and of course, my passion for baking, I realised this is what I enjoyed doing the most. The delight I have from seeing people happy about the wonderful healthy food you have cooked is very satisfying and gratifying to me. Here at Expat Kitchen we do just that, we make amazing, tasty and healthy dishes with different food ideas and flavour combinations .... which are new and exciting to all who take our classes... What I appreciate most is seeing my students eager and excited to go home to their families and try out the new recipes they have learnt during their time with us. Now that my husband and I are living in Singapore and becoming a member of the Expat Kitchen team has given me a fantastic opportunity to pass on to my students JUST how much fun and enjoyment you can rustle up in the kitchen.
I have always had a love of food and the culinary world but my favourite would be the tasting part.... From a young age my parents were always testing out new and exciting recipes for the family to try.
Carmen Stocco - Trainer
Growing up I've lived in Asia, Europe and Australia where my cooking has been influenced by Grand Mothers, my Mother and Mother In Law. This has enabled me to have a diverse range of cooking experiences and ideas where I've developed a passion and desire to further expand and teach.
Having European parents and having the luxury of fresh produce from the farm I grew up on, I've leant an appreciation for the use of herbs and spices that compliment the many dishes I have in my culinary library.
One of the benefits of living in Singapore is working with the ample produce from different regions as well as spending more time experimenting with those flavors in my dishes. Using that knowledge coupled with the experience of being involved at the Singapore Farmers Market I look forward to sharing with the attendees at Expat Kitchen
Shalyn Yamanaka - Nutritionist
I have always loved to cook, and I love to eat. I think the love for food is a family trait as it seems visits always revolve around our next meal. My grandfather had diabetes and our family meals always had to take timing and type of food into consideration for my grandfather. I didn't realize it at the time, but I think this was the beginning of my interest in nutrition.
I am a firm believer that everyone is able to eat a healthy diet without depriving themselves of favorite foods. For some, their favorite foods may have to be modified due to allergies and/or medical conditions, but they can still fit in a healthy diet. Living abroad poses some challenges. As a cook, you may not know some of the foods you find in the local market, as a consumer, you may not have a clue what is on the menu, and picky eaters may have to adapt to some of the local foods. All part of the fun of living abroad and experiencing new cultures.
At Expat Kitchen I am involved in the special diet classes as well as work with children educating them about healthy eating. I also have a nutrition consulting business Simply Nutrition (http://simplynutrition.com.sg) which provides services to individuals as well as classes and workshops for groups.
Georgina Woods - Operations Manager
Born in London Georgina began her life by migrating to Australia with her family at a young age. Prior to the lure of expat life Georgina was a company secretary and Administration manager for public companies in Australia. Having lived in China and Singapore for the past 9 years Georgina is in tune with the needs of expats and the issues they encounter when settling in to a new country.
At expat kitchen Georgina's role of Operations Manager keeps her busy yet she still finds the time to pursue her joint passions of TaeKwondo and travelling.
Alice Pollard - Marketing and Communications
I come from a long line of cooks, but it was my father that taught me. Whilst my mother cooked all the weekday meals, it was on the weekends when my father banished her from the kitchen and the two of us would get to work. My love of food came from these sessions and of course eating what we'd made I considered the best.
I have now lived in 3 different countries and always worked within the customer service field. I am enthusiastic and love communicating with all kinds of people, but it was only when my husband and I moved to Singapore did I get the opportunity to join Expat Kitchen and combine my two passions - cooking and talking!
Cooking is an art but anyone can do it. All you need is practice...
Other Expat Kitchen team members include :
Jeannie Lim Ah Hong - General Hand