<p>A person of contradictions: she is a model and a chef. She is Australian, yet she’s begun a business in India. Yes, Sarah Todd, the slim gorgeous woman who was a finalist in MasterChef Australia 2014, is indeed an accomplished multi-tasker.<br /><br /></p>.<p> Having published a cookbook called The Healthy Model Cookbook, she has now opened a restaurant in our Goa. She is also hosting a show on Fox Life called Serve it like Sarah, on which she explores hidden facets of Goa and experiments with its culinary treasures. <br /><br />Interviewing Sarah was a pleasure. Her answers were just what you could expect — to the point and crisp, yet sincere and matter-of-fact. Starting off, I couldn’t resist asking her about her MasterChef experience. <br /><br />The Masterchef journey<br /><br />How did it feel to go from being a home cook to competing in a high-profile show like MasterChef? “Before MasterChef I was quite a reserved and shy person. I went in to the show not knowing how good I was at cooking and the judges helped me to realise my full potential. The moment I was pinned to win was a huge shock for me and gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself.”<br /><br />Sarah has opened a restaurant called Antares, which means a bright star. It is located on Vagator Beach in Goa. Why did she choose Goa, rather than other hot-spots like Delhi or Mumbai? Her explanation is simple. “Originally, I am from North Queensland in Australia, which has a similar climate and vibe as Goa. I was drawn to the ocean, seafood, tropical fruits and the all-round music culture.”<br /><br />Life in Goa<br /><br />On being asked what kind of cuisine she will be experimenting with on the show, she says she will be exploring the off-beat side of Goa, learning dishes from locals and creating fresh, healthy and delicious versions of those dishes. “It’s all been a bit of a laugh, from attempting surfing and goofily falling off, to eating cashew apples whole and almost choking with laughter, making great friends listening to a drum circle on Arombol Beach, catching fresh crabs and making crab xacuti with the locals.”<br /><br />While shooting for the show, Sarah says she has realised that to really understand a culture, one needs to really get to know the people. She saw so much passion, which has evolved her even more as a chef. At her restaurant, Sarah promises food prepared using fresh local produce, cooked simply, with loads of flavour, little hints of the Asian cuisine served in great ambience, and good tropical house tunes with a view of the Arabian Sea like no other.<br /><br />Other than cooking, what does she like to do? “I live an active life, I love swimming in the ocean, playing sports and having beautiful beach holidays all around the world in places like Goa.”<br /><br />In the end, I had to ask a question that tormented me. To most of us, a chef is perceived as a well-rounded, if not a chubby person. How is it that she can be a beautiful, poised and fit model, and still be a chef? “This is a question I have been asked quite often, and I know it does sound a bit of an oxymoron and that models aren’t meant to eat that much, however, it is actually quite far from the truth. Models are aware of what they put in their body. It’s more about fuelling your body rather than counting calories. I’ve published my first cookbook, The Healthy Model Cookbook, which shows quick, simple and tasty meals to fuel your body, because healthy eating doesn’t need to be boring.”<br /><br />To catch Sarah’s adventures in Goa, watch Serve it like Sarah, which premieres on June 13, every Monday and Tuesday at 10 pm, on Fox Life.<br /><br /></p>
<p>A person of contradictions: she is a model and a chef. She is Australian, yet she’s begun a business in India. Yes, Sarah Todd, the slim gorgeous woman who was a finalist in MasterChef Australia 2014, is indeed an accomplished multi-tasker.<br /><br /></p>.<p> Having published a cookbook called The Healthy Model Cookbook, she has now opened a restaurant in our Goa. She is also hosting a show on Fox Life called Serve it like Sarah, on which she explores hidden facets of Goa and experiments with its culinary treasures. <br /><br />Interviewing Sarah was a pleasure. Her answers were just what you could expect — to the point and crisp, yet sincere and matter-of-fact. Starting off, I couldn’t resist asking her about her MasterChef experience. <br /><br />The Masterchef journey<br /><br />How did it feel to go from being a home cook to competing in a high-profile show like MasterChef? “Before MasterChef I was quite a reserved and shy person. I went in to the show not knowing how good I was at cooking and the judges helped me to realise my full potential. The moment I was pinned to win was a huge shock for me and gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself.”<br /><br />Sarah has opened a restaurant called Antares, which means a bright star. It is located on Vagator Beach in Goa. Why did she choose Goa, rather than other hot-spots like Delhi or Mumbai? Her explanation is simple. “Originally, I am from North Queensland in Australia, which has a similar climate and vibe as Goa. I was drawn to the ocean, seafood, tropical fruits and the all-round music culture.”<br /><br />Life in Goa<br /><br />On being asked what kind of cuisine she will be experimenting with on the show, she says she will be exploring the off-beat side of Goa, learning dishes from locals and creating fresh, healthy and delicious versions of those dishes. “It’s all been a bit of a laugh, from attempting surfing and goofily falling off, to eating cashew apples whole and almost choking with laughter, making great friends listening to a drum circle on Arombol Beach, catching fresh crabs and making crab xacuti with the locals.”<br /><br />While shooting for the show, Sarah says she has realised that to really understand a culture, one needs to really get to know the people. She saw so much passion, which has evolved her even more as a chef. At her restaurant, Sarah promises food prepared using fresh local produce, cooked simply, with loads of flavour, little hints of the Asian cuisine served in great ambience, and good tropical house tunes with a view of the Arabian Sea like no other.<br /><br />Other than cooking, what does she like to do? “I live an active life, I love swimming in the ocean, playing sports and having beautiful beach holidays all around the world in places like Goa.”<br /><br />In the end, I had to ask a question that tormented me. To most of us, a chef is perceived as a well-rounded, if not a chubby person. How is it that she can be a beautiful, poised and fit model, and still be a chef? “This is a question I have been asked quite often, and I know it does sound a bit of an oxymoron and that models aren’t meant to eat that much, however, it is actually quite far from the truth. Models are aware of what they put in their body. It’s more about fuelling your body rather than counting calories. I’ve published my first cookbook, The Healthy Model Cookbook, which shows quick, simple and tasty meals to fuel your body, because healthy eating doesn’t need to be boring.”<br /><br />To catch Sarah’s adventures in Goa, watch Serve it like Sarah, which premieres on June 13, every Monday and Tuesday at 10 pm, on Fox Life.<br /><br /></p>
