A 96-year-old culinary expert is captivating social media audiences with her endearing videos, drawing in millions of viewers regularly.
Aileen Chin has gained widespread acclaim online for her authentic Jamaican recipes, viral cooking demonstrations, and her popular catchphrase “mi rahtid!” — a Jamaican expression meaning “my goodness.” The grandmother’s online presence took off when her grandson, Lucas Wong, started recording videos of her to preserve their family’s culinary heritage.
Their initial video showcased Aileen’s delightful reaction to homegrown bananas from Wong’s garden, but their fame soared after sharing a video of Aileen preparing genuine Jamaican beef patties, showcasing her decades of culinary expertise. With a fan base of around three million followers on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, this beloved grandmother also holds a Guinness World Records title.
In March, at 96 years and 89 days old, Aileen was officially named the oldest living female food/cooking YouTuber by Guinness World Records. “Passing down my cooking knowledge to the next generation brings me immense satisfaction,” expressed the grandma.
“I derive great joy and happiness from seeing people relish my family recipes.” Aileen’s culinary journey began at the age of five and evolved into a business venture when she, alongside her husband Aubrey Chin, opened a wholesale bakery in Highgate, the second-largest town in St. Mary parish, Jamaica, in the 1950s.
After running the bakery for 58 years until its closure in 2008, she relocated to Miami, Florida, where she currently resides with her daughter and grandchildren. On her channels, the social media sensation imparts knowledge on preparing traditional dishes such as oxtail, jerk chicken, stew peas, goat soup, fried fish, and coco bread. Lucas shared with the Jamaica Observer that the first video he posted was in 2023, featuring Aileen’s joyful reaction to bananas he grew in his garden.
However, it was her beef patty recipes that propelled her to stardom. This Caribbean street food specialty comprises spiced ground beef filling encased in a flaky, yellow pastry crust. Aileen recommended it as an ideal introduction to Jamaican cuisine.
“People always say ‘mi rahtid, it nice!'” she remarked. Reflecting on her bakery days, Aileen nostalgically recalled, “My love, you know, sometimes I look back on those bakery days and remember it… it just can’t leave your head.”
For Aileen, food serves as a cultural bridge – at times, she and Lucas even let their followers decide on upcoming recipes. “We usually ask the Online Family what they would like to see next,” she mentioned.
Offering advice to chefs, Aileen emphasized the importance of using high-quality ingredients and proper seasoning. “Cook what you love to eat,” she added.
Aileen collaborates with Lucas on their joint channels, @chinfamilyfromjamaica on YouTube and Zion House on TikTok. Their Instagram handles are @zionhousetv and @chinfamilyfromjamaica_.
