A TWO-YEAR-OLD from Talisay City, Cebu can already cook adobo and sinigang, (yes, real meals), not just pretend ones. Cora Louise, now known as “Little Chef Cora,” has become a viral sensation, winning hearts online. Her Facebook page has over 172,000 followers and millions of views.
And just like parents who believe raising children should be about presence over perfection, Cora’s parents, Loucy Raye Janes and Justine Keith Igloria, found joy in simply including her in the everyday.
It started with an egg
According to her mom Loucy, Cora’s love for cooking showed up early. “Among all her toys, she always went for the cooking ones. One time, I was making eggs and she wanted to help. I let her crack and mix the eggs, but she insisted on holding the ladle and cooking the egg herself. Every time she sees me cooking, she wants to join in. That’s when I realized she genuinely enjoys cooking.”
Posting videos of Cora wasn’t meant to be content, it was simply a glimpse into their day.
“We didn’t expect it to go viral. We just shared what we usually do,” Loucy said. “But when people started watching and reacting, we were both shocked and happy.”
Now, thousands tune in to see what dish Little Chef Cora will whip up next. She even has her own catchy jingle, an earworm that’s hard not to hum after hearing it.
Safe, fun and full of learning
Every cooking session is carefully planned with safety in mind. Loucy prepares the ingredients beforehand and stays close to guide her daughter.
“She sees it as playtime,” Loucy shared. “I make sure to involve her and make her feel like we’re playing together. When she cooks, I prepare everything safely and I’m always beside her, guiding her.”
Cora also eats more enthusiastically when she’s helped cook the food herself, a tip many parents might want to try, especially when navigating tricky toddler eating routines.
Cooking runs in the Igloria family. Loucy’s husband Justine and his mother Coring are both passionate about food and that love seems to be rubbing off on Cora, as she now cooks soups like nilarang and utan, okoy fritters, pritong bangus and even spaghetti and mac and cheese.
For now, they’re not in a rush. “We’re just enjoying every moment,” Loucy said. “We’re taking it one step at a time.”
Lately, Cora has even invited her cousins to join as “guest chefs.” Who knows? She just might grow up to be a real chef someday.
Cora’s parents have a simple message for others who see something special in their children:
“Support your children, even in the small things. If they enjoy it, encourage them.”
Wearing her little pink apron, Little Chef Cora may still be tiny but her story proves that big things can happen when we take the time to slow down and include our kids in the process