Recipe For Love Nadia & Bodhi's Delicious Bond

The foodie’s darling dad lives on in her sweet boy.

- Sophie Neville

While she was growing up, Nadia Lim’s dad Ken always insisted that the family eat their meals together. Being around the table with his loved ones was vitally important to the Malaysian-born civil engineer, and even when the Kiwi food star had moved out, each Sunday she and her siblings would be expected back at the family home in Auckland to catch up over dinner.

“Even when we were all busy with our lives, we would still come together to catch up and reconnect. I’m so grateful that he instilled that in us,” she tells.

Sadly, Ken passed away in August 2014 after a battle with cancer. Determined to keep his memory alive, the Lim family still meets at mum Julie’s house every Sunday. Nadia’s father might not be there in person, but he’s certainly there in spirit as they tuck into his favourite chicken rendang and nasi goreng dishes.

Nadia, 31, is determined that her adorable 16-month old son Bodhi – who looks just like his granddad – will grow up with an appreciation of the man he sadly never met. “He would’ve been such a fun granddad. He loved kids.”

Sitting on the edge of Bodhi’s cot, watching over him while he sleeps, is a soft-toy turtle that Julie bought soon after Ken’s death – a gift on behalf of Granddad for his first grandchild.

“Turtles are wise and live on for a long time,” tells Nadia. “So it seemed kind of perfect.”

Family faves

Now, the Master Chef New Zealand winner-turned My Food Bag entrepreneur has written a cookbook dedicated to her darling dad. A beautiful volume of more than 100 delicious family recipes, Let’s Eat! is her seventh recipe book, but this one is particularly special.