Adrienne Bailon-Houghton and her mother, Nilda Felix, have recently opened up about their cherished bond through cooking, detailing their collaboration with Finish to promote the launch of the new Finish Ultimate Quantum dishwasher detergent. This partnership not only highlights their relationship but also underscores the significance of family meals throughout their lives.
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From an early age, Bailon-Houghton has enjoyed the kitchen as a space for connection, crediting her mother for teaching her the foundations of cooking. At 42, the talented singer and actress states, “My mum is the one that taught me how to cook, but now I am teaching her some really cool ways to clean up.” This playful twist on their roles signifies how family dynamics can evolve over time.
Seventy-two-year-old Felix expressed her excitement about using Finish Ultimate Quantum, stating that it feels like gaining a new skill in the kitchen. She has come to trust the product for its efficiency in cleaning dishes far better than traditional hand washing, allowing for more quality time with family. “It lets you spend more time with your family,” she noted, reflecting on the joy of gathering around meals rather than the mundane task of cleaning.
The pair’s fond memories include family gatherings in their modest New York City apartment, where they often welcomed as many as 50 guests. “We spent all our time together in the kitchen,” Bailon-Houghton recalled, highlighting the significance of communal dining in their upbringing. The COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced these familial ties, as many relatives took up residence in Bailon-Houghton’s Los Angeles home. During this period, she made a conscious effort to learn traditional recipes from her mother, proud to keep their culinary heritage alive.
While Felix has imparted her culinary knowledge unto Bailon-Houghton, not all aspects of her daughter’s culinary choices amuse her. The singer gained notoriety in 2019 for her YouTube video “My Favourite Weird Food Combinations,” which showcased unconventional pairings like dipping a tuna salad sandwich into fruit punch. Felix remarked, “Adrienne and her sister Claudette have been like that all their lives, so it wasn’t anything that surprised me.”
Bailon-Houghton elaborates on her lifelong penchant for unique taste combinations, attributing her “salty, sweet craving” to her father, Freddie. She reminisced about their childhood habit of spreading peanut butter on pizza. Despite this quirky trait, Felix admitted she is not particularly interested in trying her daughter’s peculiar creations. “I just look at it and walk away,” she commented, a sentiment echoed by Bailon-Houghton who playfully noted, “She’s definitely not willing to try it.”
Despite their culinary differences, Bailon-Houghton maintains that those willing to sample her unusual food pairings often find them unexpectedly delightful. “Anybody that has tried it ends up looking at me and going, ‘Oh wow, this actually is really good,’” she shared confidently.
As part of their collaboration with Finish, the duo recently hosted a cooking class in New York City for the brand’s Initiative, the Finish Cookbook Club. This event not only served as an engagement for Finish but also created a platform for sharing the wealth of culinary knowledge among diverse women. “It just brings all these women together… these incredible immigrant women teaching us their foods. It was amazing,” Bailon-Houghton expressed.
The cooking class featured an array of international cuisines, including Lebanese, Indonesian, Indian, and Mexican dishes, showcasing the rich tapestry of food experiences shared by various cultures. Felix mentioned her desire to participate in such classes, doubling down on the family’s commitment to celebrating cooking as a shared joy and learning experience.
Through their partnership with Finish and their shared love of cooking, Bailon-Houghton and Felix exemplify the importance of family traditions and the joyful moments that cooking together can create. In every dish they prepare, there lies a story, and in every gathering, an opportunity to strengthen family bonds, highlighting that it is not just about the food but the connections it fosters.