KELIS IS BACK

Kelis For The Evening Standard Magazine

Kelis, 34, is the Brit Award-winning singer behind such hits as ‘Milkshake’ and ‘Trick Me’. She grew up in Harlem where her mother, a catering chef, fostered her passion for food. Since training as a professional chef in 2006, Kelis has developed a cookery and lifestyle TV show, a cookbook and even her own food truck.

In 2003 it was her ‘milkshake’ but these days, it’s Kelis’ béarnaise bringing the boys to the yard. The R’n’B singer retrained as a saucier (yes, it’s a profession) in 2006 at America’s prestigious Le Cordon Bleu school, and has unleashed her culinary expertise on Saucy & Sweet, a food show on the Cooking Channel, as well as a new album, Food.

“They’re both creative outlets but music is more analytical than cooking,’ she says. ‘Writing songs is very introspective and you have to think about who you are when doing it. A song lasts forever; cooking is all about the present. Food is instant gratification.”

“I learned early on to respect food,’ she says. ‘My mum would make me Puerto Rican and Chinese dishes so I grew up with exotic tastes. I try to do the same with my son.’ Kelis had Knight, four, with the rapper Nas before they divorced in 2010.

CREDIT:standard.co.uk