#KartiniMasaKini: Charins
“Overcoming the fear of failure and facing it like a warrior. I have
come across uncountable failures to get me to where I am now”
A sweet tooth, inspiring Charins is a Head Chef and an entrepreneur. She learned about pastry from her grandmother who eventually influenced her to be a pastry chef. Let’s check out her stories!
- When did you make your first dessert?
It was my sister’s 11th birthday cake and I was 13 years old then. I made a chocolate brownie which turned out rock hard and way too sweet. I also made a sugar paste to create figurines which also turned out to be a disaster.
- Who influenced you to be a pastry chef?
My grandmother. She makes incredible traditional pastry and I have been trying to learn from her.
- What is the biggest challenge you came across as a pastry chef? How did you overcome it?
Balancing my time in the kitchen and my social life. Time passes by too quickly in the kitchen and before you know it, the day is over and I am too exhausted to mingle with people. I overcome it by consciously setting aside time to see my friends and loved ones.
- As a head chef, how do you motivate other chefs?
I have a few friends who are in the pastry business as well. When we discuss new ideas and share difficulties we are facing in the kitchen. We also share new recipes we come across and arrange to attend classes together from other renowned chefs.
- What is the most important character or trait that a great chef must have?
For me, it is most important to be determined. Working in the kitchen requires long hours of standing, irregular hours and bumping into many failures. Without strong determination, it would be very hard to last in the kitchen environment.
- How do you deal with stressful situations in the kitchen?
I find a cookie to munch on and then deal with the situation.
- What does women empowerment means to you?
It is letting women understand that everything is possible despite your gender. Women can do anything they want to, fearlessly.
- What’s your ultimate goal?
To create an educational program in my kitchen whereby socially disadvantaged locals are able to attain technical skills that could kickstart each individual culinary careers.
- What is your favorite Puyo Desserts?
Silky cookies and cream!!!
- Say you are given a chance to speak in front of many Indonesian women. What is the most important message that you want to tell them?
Overcoming the fear of failure and facing it like a warrior. I have come across uncountable failures to get me to where I am now, and even then, I am not anywhere near what I want to be. The fear of failure will always be present and being able to deal with that helps me a lot in going forward in my career.
