Amina Elshafei on living her culinary dream

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How does your heritage inspire your cooking?
My heritage has certainly inspired my sense of cooking because the diversity of flavours, textures and ingredients continue to inspire me with learning more about food generally.

You're cooking at Efendy with respected Turkish chef Somer Sivrioglu. What have you learnt cooking with Somer?
So far, Somer has introduced me to a world of delicious regional Turkish cuisine that is so rare to find in Australia. Somer and his team have generously guided me and let me experience a range of dishes that I now love to eat and create myself.

I read that you'll be preparing 'generous servings of delicacies from Egypt' - what are some classic Egyptian dishes?
Egypt celebrates its food with feasting, so basically generous portions of fragrant dishes laced with spices, aromats and vibrant flavours. Some great classics are kushari, which is lentils cooked with rice and served with a spicy sauce, basbousa, which is a semolina slice drizzled with rose water syrup and molokhiya, a thick starchy soup made of corchorus leaves and cooked with chicken, just to name a few.

What is your favourite ingredient to cook with?
I have three ingredients that I love to cook with: yoghurt, olive oil and garlic. Without these I'm lost.

Who do you find inspiring in the cooking world?
Rick Stein has to be one of my favourites. He is the godfather of seafood and anything with seafood is good for me! I absolutely lost my mind when I finally met him on Masterchef. I also have immense respect for Claudia Roden and Greg Malouf for their inspirational movements in the Middle Eastern world of cuisine. I especially admire Claudia Roden's recipes and see so many similarities to my own grandmother's.

Restaurant review: Rick Stein at Bannisters

What was the highlight of your Masterchef experience?
Meeting 23 other contestants, the judges, celebrity chefs and being constantly in the aura of food had to be the highlights. The food bubble was certainly a dream come true.

What are the key food trends you’re most excited about this year?
I think the wave of Middle Eastern and Korean food hitting Sydney. That’s definitely something to be excited about!

What’s your idea of an incredible meal?
Family and friends around the dinner table, platters of delicious food and the wonderful conversations and laughter revolving around the table is my idea of an incredible meal.

What’s your favourite dish to cook and why?
Anything seafood... simply flavoursome and delicious.

Who would you most love to cook for?
I always love to cook for my family and friends, because nothing beats seeing the smiles on their faces after a great meal.

What meal do you remember most from your childhood?
SO MANY! Don't know where to start!

What's your best basic kitchen tip for aspiring chefs?
Cook from the heart because the food will result in something that reflects you.

What's next in your cooking career?
I have started cooking classes at the Sydney Cooking School, writing a monthly column with the Australian Women's Weekly magazine, hopefully launching my website soon and planning for more pop ups in the near future with Audra.

Amina and Turkish celebrity chef Somer Sivrioglu will be preparing an Egyptian and Ottoman feast this Thursday October 18th at Efendy in Balmain. Visit www.efendy.com.au for more information.

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