Meet Nat of Sauce Lah
About Nat
Nat grew up in Singapore, California, and Australia. With Chinese and Sri Lankan parents, she was constantly surrounded by different cultures and cuisines, which especially led to a love of all things spicy. She lives in LA with her partner Gabi, where she dreams of chili sauce and roti prata.
She is the founder of Sauce Lah, a spicy, spoonable chili sauce born in Singapore; made in small batches in Los Angeles.
Follow on social media:
IG: @sauce.lah
What inspired you to become a chef/food biz owner?
My parents are the best cooks I know (I’m not biased or anything!). They cook everything from Singaporean staples to Sri Lankan curries to a killer steak. Thanks to them, I’ve been surrounded by fantastic food my entire life, and finally wanted to make my favorite pastime (eating) more than a hobby.
Why did you want to highlight the food you are creating?
The sauce is a family recipe, and is a way for me to share my mixed Asian heritage with others. Singapore is a classic melting pot of so many different cultures, and therefore cuisines. The sauce is an expression of that mix – it’s Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Chinese, and also Californian. And it’s not afraid to be spicy!
What is your favorite dish? Is there a story behind it?
Chillichops ;) – it’s a friend/family recipe that’s been passed through generations… it was originally my mom’s best friend’s mom’s recipe! I still eat chillichops the way I did as a kid – I cut the porkchop up with scissors, then mix it all together with white rice. Just try it – you’ll understand!
What does courage mean to you?
Going for the things you want in life, even if it scares you / you think you have no idea what you’re doing. You’ll learn as you go. The difference between the things that exist and the things that don’t is that someone took the time to make them real. Take the time!
Where can we expect to see you in the next few years?
Making sauce!
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Thank you so much Nat for sharing her story with us! Tuk Tuk Box is proud to exclusively feature Southeast Asian ingredients and include refugee, migrant, and generational stories in every box.
If you or someone you know wants to share their story with us, send us an email: hello@tuktukbox.com. Stay tuned for future stories and the newest products by subscribing to our email list serv.
