Quest Alumni Journeys Series

Friendships That Last a Lifetime

Rose Ang still treasures the friendships she made at Queenstown Secondary School as some of the purest and most enduring bonds of her life. “Just last week, six or seven school friends came by the restaurant,” she smiled. “I’m still especially close to many of them. Friendships from secondary school are just different, they’re genuine, built on trust, shared fun and experiences.”

Those memories are woven deeply with her time as a Girl Guide. She remembers the glow of campfires at other schools, the laughter of rehearsals, and the thrill of dancing and performing under the night sky. “Those activities created a lot of bonding. We helped each other and laughed together; it was a very happy time.”

Discovering a Calling

It was also at Queenstown where Rose discovered her spark. “I wasn’t very academic, but when we had Home Economics, I realised how much I enjoyed cooking,” she recalled. “I did very well in that subject and knew I wanted to pursue it.” That moment of clarity carried her beyond the classroom, leading her into Shatec and later into kitchens and hotels across Europe, Australia and Asia. It was a journey that would eventually bring her home to open DOMO at Fairmont Singapore in 2025.

Breaking Through the Barriers

The road was far from easy. Three decades ago, the kitchen was a fortress guarded by tradition, where women were seldom seen in senior roles and Asians were rarely at the helm in Western hotels. “Back then, you rarely saw female chefs in high positions, especially in hotels,” Rose reflected. “Even within my family, there was the belief that the kitchen was too challenging an environment for a woman.” She was urged to take safer paths, to move into management instead. But she chose differently.

Rose broke through those barriers with perseverance as her shield and passion as her compass. She volunteered for the toughest shifts, worked harder than anyone expected, and let her food speak for her. Slowly, respect was earned. In Australia, she rose to be second-in-command in a five-star hotel of 500 rooms, a rare achievement for both a woman and an Asian chef at the time. Later, she would shape the dining experiences of entire hotel groups, creating concepts for more than 11 properties.

Her triumph came not by conforming but by standing firm in who she was. “People told me I was good at what I do and that I should keep going forward,” she said. “So I did.” By staying true to her love for the kitchen, Rose carved a path that others had said was closed, showing that courage, when fuelled by conviction, can indeed break barriers.

A Home in Food, A Heart in Singapore

Today at DOMO, Rose weaves her global experiences into modern Japanese robatayaki with European flair, served in a setting that feels more like a home than a restaurant. She is there every day, not out of duty but out of joy. 

“This is my life. I meet friends, mentor my staff, and welcome guests who often become friends. It doesn’t feel like work.”

To the next generation of Queenstown alumni, her advice is simple but powerful: “Work hard and work smart. Dedicate your time and effort to something you believe in, and choose something you’re passionate about so it never feels like a chore. Stay positive, the energy you give out will influence the people and environment around you.”

Rose keeps in close touch with many schoolmates, catching up over meals or welcoming them to DOMO. “Some I’ve seen every month for decades, others I recently reconnected with after more than 35 years,” she said. “They often bring new people along; it’s like a network of friends that keeps growing.”

Despite her global career, Rose remains deeply Singaporean at heart. Her favourite dishes, from chicken rice to fried carrot cake, are reminders of home. “Whenever I visited Singapore, I had a checklist of things to eat,” she laughed.

“No matter where you go, you still miss your food and feel proud of where you come from.”

Having her culinary craft endorsed by globally celebrated personalities and esteemed statesmen, Rose shared that if given the chance to cook for anyone, it would be the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. “He’s always been my idol, disciplined, focused, and persistent. I admire how he built Singapore from its beginnings. His leadership reminds me to focus on solutions, not blame, and to keep moving forward despite challenges.”

From the flicker of a flame in a school Home Economics classroom to blazing trails in kitchens around the world, Rose’s story is one of resilience, passion, and a quiet, unyielding courage. It is a reminder that courage does not simply endure challenges; it transforms them, and in doing so, courage breaks barriers.