Chef Failatu Abdul Razak, also known as Chef Faila, fondly recalls a heartwarming moment from two decades ago when media personality Gifty Anti made a lasting impact on her life.
In an interview with Kafui Dey, Faila shared that her initial letter expressing admiration and a request for a recipe book was sent to Gifty Anti with her pocket money.
In the heartfelt letter, Faila expressed her admiration for Gifty Anti and her aspiration to emulate her. She confessed to sneaking to watch Gifty Anti’s programs on GTV and requested a recipe book.
“My first letter I wrote, I wrote it to Gifty Anti and I used my pocket money for that day to go and post that letter. And when I did, I didn’t have hope that she’d set eyes on that letter,”she said adding that despite doubting the likelihood of Gifty Anti seeing the letter, she held onto a glimmer of hope.
“I told her in the letter that she was a beautiful woman and she’s an inspiration I am looking up to that when I grow up I would want to be like Gifty Anti and so I’ve been sneaking to watch her programs on television, GTV and so if she can I would hope that she’s able to send me a recipe book to be going through,” she recounted.
The unexpected joy came when she received a response at the assembly ground, presented with a large brown envelope containing three quality recipe books and a personal letter from Gifty Anti, instilling hope and encouragement.
“The brown envelope was that big; everyone was like, who could it be for? Then, all of a sudden, ‘Failatu Abdul-Razak’! Hey! I shivered for a second; I couldn’t believe my ears and eyes. I was presented with the envelope, I can never forget it. I went to open this envelope, and inside were three quality books: volumes 1, 2, and 3, all wonderful recipe books with wonderful meals. It didn’t end there. I saw a letter, opened it, and it was a personal letter she wrote to me, offering hope and expressing how wonderful I was. Telling me how she was happy to have received my letter and that I should keep being good so that one day I could do good for myself. It was a teary for me.”
Reflecting on the impact of this gesture, Faila recently reminded Gifty Anti through a Facebook post of the little girl she once honored. Faila emphasized how this act of kindness has been a constant motivation, shaping her into the person she is today.
She urged people to express appreciation for others while they are still alive, emphasizing the significance of acknowledging and celebrating each other’s uniqueness.
