Pamelia Chia Builds a Culinary Bridge Through Singapore Noodles and Beyond
- Unique Wisdom
- May 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Living in the Netherlands, Pamelia Chia carries a deep love for Singaporean food heritage. Through writing and cooking, she reconnects with her roots and shares them with others. Her story reflects how the flavors of home nourish not just the body but also the soul, keeping culture alive across oceans.
I’m currently living in the Netherlands, where I work as a cookbook writer, culinary teacher, and author of an Asian food newsletter called Singapore Noodles. I moved to the Netherlands because of my husband’s job.
Living abroad has shown me an alternative vision of what "success" and "happiness" can look like. In Singapore, the idea of success is often very linear—get an education, get married, have children, drive a car, and so on—and one’s work is closely tied to their identity.
However, in Australia (where I previously lived) and the Netherlands, there’s a lot of value placed on nurturing relationships—whether with family, friends, or loved ones—and on enjoying the simple pleasures of life, such as cooking together.
I stay connected to Singapore through food and the work I do.
Cooking dishes from my heritage and sharing them with others helps me stay rooted in my Singaporean identity.
I’ve cultivated a community of friends from Singapore—both transient migrants and those who have settled in the Netherlands—and we regularly get together during festive occasions like Lunar New Year or Christmas to share home-cooked meals.
Redefining Success by Following Passion and Personal Vision
I was able to pursue my passions wholeheartedly when I let go of society’s conventional definitions of success and embraced my personal strengths and natural curiosities.
I learned to develop an awareness of what I would do if money or time weren’t constraints, and I slowly infused parts of that dream into my current life. Having a partner who offers pragmatic advice and inspires me with his discipline has helped me turn this vision of what my life could look like into a reality.
Preserving Food Traditions and Inspiring Sustainable Eating
I wrote my cookbooks, Wet Market to Table and Plantasia, out of a sense of purpose and a belief that things could be different and improved.
I wrote Wet Market to Table because I recognized that wet market culture isn’t popular among young Singaporeans, and there’s an erosion of knowledge when it comes to shopping for and cooking with traditional ingredients. The book is a guide for anyone who wishes to navigate these traditional spaces and cook with regional vegetables and fruits.
Plantasia, my second cookbook, was born out of my own journey to reduce my meat consumption after witnessing the impact of climate change and bushfires in Australia. I noticed that modern diets are extremely meat-heavy and wondered if Asian cuisines and food cultures could offer wisdom and inspiration on how to incorporate vegetables into our diets deliciously.
The book, while vegetarian, hopes to inspire omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike who want to rekindle a love for greens without compromising their Asian heritage.
Embracing Change and Reimagining a Fulfilling Life
There’s no shame in changing course when something isn’t serving you. Life is too short to be committed to a journey where you’re not excited about the destination because of the "sunk cost." Be bold in imagining what a fulfilling life means to you, and start thinking about how you can incorporate elements of it into your daily life rather than saving it for the future.
Stay Connected
Website: pameliachia.com
Instagram: @pameliachia and @sgpnoodles