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 Philip Chia, began his passionate love affair with cooking from the age of 6, starting with helping in the kitchen by pounding spices with a "batu lesong" to make sambal belachan, for his adopted family at Joo Chiat Road. His love for cooking grew day by day - he started picking up cooking tips from his auntie and recorded the ingredients and the step-by-step cooking methods in his handy exercise book
In 1977, he was invited to participate in a cooking competition organised and sponsored by Sime Darby. Although he was the youngest contestant, he emerged among the top eight in the finals, judged by the late Mrs Lee Chin Koon (MM Lee Kuan Yew's mother). This event spurred him further and Philip learnt how to cook Peranakan dishes such as Geram Assam, Udang Masak Nanas, Masak Lemak Fish Cake and Ayam Pedas Siam from his Eldest Aunt, Auntie Alice Chia (Mak Koh).
Throughout his growing up years, Philip had picked up little tips and secrets of authentic Peranakan cooking from the older generation Peranakans. Subsequently, he joined The Peranakan Association. From then on, he developed a greater appreciation for the Peranakan culture especially for food and cooking, by taking part in the Peranakan Food Fairs and Cooking Demonstrations.
In 2001, Philip started his own small home catering business for his personal friends. By 2005, he was already flooded with requests from his friends and personal contacts for demonstrations on Healthy Cooking and Vegetarian Peranakan Cooking. Armed with his knowledge, research and creativity, Philip began experimenting and exploring Healthy Peranakan Cooking using organic foods and sauces and then teaching people how to cook and eat right.
Since then, Philip has been approached by various cookware companies to do cooking demonstrations and shows at the various departmental stores and events. In November 2005, Philip was invited as a Guest Chef at Phoenix Hotel where he was involved in the Peranakan Food Promotion held in conjunction with the Peranakan Festival organised by The Peranakan Association and supported by Singapore Tourism Board, The Gunong Sayang Association & Asian Civilisations Museum.
In 2006, Philip was invited to do cooking demonstrations at various departmental stores for cookware brands like "Berndes", "Mastrad" and "La-Gourmet".
In May 2007, he was the Guest Chef for the Peranakan Food Promotion at Raffles the Plaza Hotel. During the 10-day event, he did cooking demonstration on the weekends as a "Bibik" in "Baju Panjang".
2008 has indeed been a busy year for Philip. On 21 January 2008, for instance, he opened his own cooking studio called "Rice" where he teaches cooking lessons and provides private fine-dining at his premise.
In March 2008, Philip flew to Prague for the SALIMA Food Exhibition 2008 as an invited Guest Chef promoting Singapore Manufacturing Foods and Peranakan cuisines to Europe.
Philip sealed his celebrity chef status in March to April this year where he was invited to present 12 Peranakan Wedding dishes for local TV Sitcom "Sayang-Sayang" which is currently on air.
Just last month, Philip was invited to be a Guest Chef for the Peranakan Food Promotion at Fairmont Hotel where he did an Interactive Cooking Demonstration with the dinner time crowd.
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