A 96-year-old cook has captured the attention of social media with her delightful videos that attract millions of viewers regularly. Aileen Chin, famous for her traditional Jamaican recipes and infectious catchphrase “mi rahtid!” meaning “my goodness” in Jamaican slang, has gained widespread acclaim online. Her grandson, Lucas Wong, initiated her social media journey by filming her preparing family recipes.
The duo gained immense popularity after showcasing Aileen making authentic Jamaican beef patties, a skill she honed over decades. With a massive following of around three million fans on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Aileen holds a Guinness World Records title. In March, aged 96 years and 89 days, she was officially recognized as the oldest living female food/cooking YouTuber globally.
Expressing her joy in passing down cooking knowledge to the next generation, Aileen shared, “I love witnessing people relish my family dishes; it brings me immense happiness.” Aileen’s culinary journey began at the age of five and flourished into a business when she and her husband established a bakery in Jamaica in the 1950s.
Following 58 years of bakery operations, Aileen moved to Miami, Florida, where she currently resides with her daughter and grandchildren. Through her social media platforms, she imparts knowledge on preparing traditional Jamaican dishes like oxtail, jerk chicken, stew peas, goat soup, fried fish, and coco bread. Lucas revealed that the first video posted in 2023 captured Aileen’s joy over homegrown bananas.
While the initial video sparked interest, Aileen’s beef patty recipes propelled her to fame. The beloved Caribbean street food, comprising a spiced ground beef filling encased in a flaky pastry crust, serves as an excellent introduction to Jamaican cuisine, as recommended by Aileen. Reflecting on her bakery days, Aileen recalled the memories with fondness, stating, “My love, sometimes I reminisce about those bakery days; they remain etched in my mind.”
For Aileen, food symbolizes cultural connection, often involving followers in selecting the next recipe. She emphasized the importance of using high-quality ingredients and proper seasoning, advising chefs to cook what they love to eat. Collaborating with Lucas, Aileen shares content on their joint YouTube channel @chinfamilyfromjamaica and TikTok account Zion House. Their Instagram handles are @zionhousetv and @chinfamilyfromjamaica_.