A 96-year-old cook has captured the attention of social media with her heartwarming videos, drawing in millions of viewers regularly.
Aileen Chin has gained widespread admiration online for her authentic Jamaican recipes, viral cooking demonstrations, and her famous catchphrase “mi rahtid!” – a Jamaican term meaning “my goodness.” The grandmother’s online presence started when her grandson, Lucas Wong, began recording videos of her preparing family recipes to preserve them.
Their initial video showcased Aileen’s delighted reaction to homegrown bananas from Lucas’s garden. However, their fame soared after sharing a video of Aileen crafting genuine Jamaican beef patties, showcasing her decades of honed culinary skills. With a substantial following of about three million fans on various platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, this beloved grandma also holds a Guinness World Records title.
In March, at 96 years and 89 days old, Aileen officially clinched the Guinness World Records recognition as the oldest living female food/cooking YouTuber globally. “Sharing my cooking knowledge with the next generation feels fulfilling,” expressed the grandma.
“I find immense joy seeing people relish my family recipes,” she added. Aileen’s culinary journey began at the age of five, transitioning into a business with her husband, Aubrey Chin, when they opened a wholesale bakery in Highgate, Jamaica, during the 1950s.
After managing the bakery for 58 years until its closure in 2008, she relocated to Miami, Florida, where she now resides with her daughter and grandchildren.
On her social media platforms, Aileen showcases how to prepare traditional dishes like oxtail, jerk chicken, stew peas, goat soup, fried fish, and coco bread. Lucas disclosed to the Jamaica Observer that the first video he posted in 2023 featured Aileen’s jubilant reaction to homegrown bananas.
However, it was her beef patty recipes that propelled her to stardom. The popular Caribbean street food comprises a spiced ground beef filling enclosed in a flaky, yellow pastry crust. Aileen highly recommends this dish as an introduction to Jamaican cuisine.
“Many people exclaim ‘mi rahtid, it nice!'” she remarked. Reflecting on her bakery days, Aileen nostalgically recalled, “My love, you know, sometimes I look back on those bakery days and remember it… it just can’t leave your head.”
For Aileen, food serves as a cultural bridge, occasionally letting their followers choose the next recipe. “We usually consult the Online Family for their preferences,” she shared.
Offering advice to chefs, Aileen emphasized the importance of quality ingredients and proper seasoning. “Cook what you love to eat,” she advised.
Aileen collaborates with Lucas on their joint channels, @chinfamilyfromjamaica on YouTube and Zion House on TikTok. They can be found on Instagram at @zionhousetv and @chinfamilyfromjamaica_.
