Did you read ‘celebrity chefs’ and immediately wonder how they fitted into the paradigm of a ‘modern’ 21st century Women’s Day celebration?
Well, a host of gorgeous women have been banishing stereotypes in the kitchen and it’s time we celebrated that. For eons, women in the kitchen have been pictured as frumpy aunts or middle-aged mothers, as though those are tailor-made roles made just for them.
Not anymore.
From celebrity to ‘celebrity chef’, a number of women are cooking up a storm and grinding stereotypes to the dust. These new-age chefs have donned several hats during their careers – leading TV personalities, ramp queens, writers, businesswomen, homemakers – to finally don the one they love the most: chef!
As we celebrate the spirit of womanhood today, let’s look at some of these wonder women who’ve changed perceptions of women who cook!
Nigella Lawson
We wouldn’t be exaggerating if we said, this woman is everyone’s television darling.
Journalist, broadcaster, gourmet food writer and now a celebrity chef – if you had to pick one kitchen goddess, it would have to be the warm and stunningly beautiful Nigella Lawson.
Be it the sinful chocolate cake or the Nutella slathered sandwiches, this television icon exudes oomph as she gets ‘intimate’ with food (as she likes to call it).
From being the author of the award winning cookery book, How to be a Domestic Goddess to hosting her own cookery show – and even having her own cookware range ‘ Living Kitchen’, Nigella tops any chef’s list with aplomb.
Padma Lakshmi
There are many, many reasons we love Padma Lakshmi.
That she was the first Indian supermodel to hit the international ramp is one. That she’s one of the hottest Indians in the fashion biz in general, is another.
But why we certainly adore her is, because she’s had the gumption to go all out for her love: food.
Making the transition from ‘hottest Indian supermodel’ to ‘hottest Indian chef’ with panache, Lakshmi has hosted two cooking shows ‘Padma’s Passport’ and ‘Planet Food’ with characteristic sassiness.
She is also the author of two cookbooks and has her debut memoir – Love, Loss and What We Ate coming out this Women’s Day! Yay.
Of course, this is besides the Emmy her show ‘Top Chef’ (on which she is judge and host) recently won.
Phew.
Rachael Ray
What makes this adorable, bubbly food expert so popular? Apart from the adorable bubbliness, that is?
Rachael Ray hosts the daily talk show ‘Rachael Ray’ which is (suffice to say) a household name, three Food Network series and a couple of reality shows. Add to this a cookbook based on the popular 30-minute meal concept and a magazine titled ‘Everyday with Rachael Ray’, and what you have are some impressive credentials.
The most interesting tidbit about her? The recipient of three ‘Daytime Emmy’ awards believes in ‘half a palmful’ and ‘half a handful’ for food. Actually measuring ingredients, she believes, takes the imagination out of cooking.
Basically, your story and mine.
Maria Goretti
If you’re a true blue 90s child, you will remember the time you totally wanted to emulate Maria Goretti, the lively MTV VJ.
She’s come a long way, from interviewing celebs to being queen of her own kitchen studio (which she considers her oyster).
Maria’s had a most interesting journey. There was once a time when she hated cooking – till she decided to change that. Convincing herself that there was no age to stop learning, she enrolled herself in a ‘food learning’ course at Tante Marie in London – even going on to ace the prestigious Cordon Blue Certificate course in culinary skills and bakery.
It’s certainly paid off – because, Goretti can now be seen dishing out her own yummy treats on NDTV Good Times, on a show called ‘Do It Sweet’.
You can also grab her book From my Kitchen to Yours for a range of recipes.
Joey Matthew
This is almost beginning to sound like a cliche – except that it’s true. Joey Matthew was yet another popular name in the modelling world, who decided to up and quit one day to follow her true calling – cooking!
In fact, this model’s breadth of experiences are dizzying – stretching from practising law to walking the ramp to even opening her own food outlet: Joey Matthew’s Kerala Express.
But if you still haven’t caught a glimpse of this chic and effervescent beauty, tune your television sets to ‘Love Bites With Joey’. We guarantee you won’t be able to watch much else after.
While this wonder woman believes the secret ingredient to any recipe is ‘love’, we’re going to leave that to you to try out.
(A freelance food and fashion blogger, Pranjali Bhonde Pethe aims at getting people and their favourite food and style closer through her blog moipalate. Email her at pranjali.bhonde@gmail.com and follow her on @moipalate.)
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