Ready, steady, cook!

Over the past few years, Pakistanis have taken the world by storm in a variety of fields. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy brought home our very first Oscar, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi is ranked amongst top international tennis players and Fawad Khan is the current it-boy in Bollywood.

With so much talent under our belt, it only makes sense to try our hands at food and dining and that is precisely what Pakistani-born Australian Faiza Rehman aimed to do when she entered MasterChef Australia as a contestant.

Although the 25-year-old was unfortunately eliminated during the course of the season, Faiza managed to win hearts and put Pakistan on the culinary map of the world. And what’s more, she hasn’t let her elimination dissuade her!

Most recently, Faiza was amongst the judges at a series of cooking competitions held at Karachi’s College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) on April 15. Held in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, as part of the annual Australia Day celebrations, the competition was a collaboration by COTHM, Chef’s Association of Pakistan, Empower a Woman Empower a Nation (EWEN) and the Australian High Commission. The aim of the competition was to not only strengthen ties between Pakistan and Australia but also to promote local culinary artists and dishes. “The event is a beautiful showcase of Australian skills and Pakistani talent,” said Ayesha Bux, Honourary investment consular in Melbourne and the brains behind the EWEN initiative. “I am immensely surprised by the amount of talent Pakistani youngsters have shown,” said Faiza. “I loved the students and their eagerness to learn. They were delighted to receive my comments and took criticism constructively as well,” she added.

Faiza Rehman along with Peter and Susan Heyward, judging the dishes made by the contestants. 

PHOTO SOURCES: COTHM AND FB.COM/FAIZA-REHMAN

The theme for this year’s competition was gender equality and female empowerment which encouraged many female chefs to participate as well. Although food and drink are amongst the favourite activities of Pakistanis, it is surprising that very few women have been able to make a mark for themselves locally. The competition brought forth a world of hidden talent, such as that of contestant and COTHM student Noor-us-Sabah Shariq. “I was overjoyed when I first heard of the competition and rushed to register.” Noor, who aspires to become an executive chef, said, “Such events pave the way for ambitious women to enter the global food industry.”

Faiza was also accompanied by celebrity chef Munawar Latif as part of the panel of judges. Munawar is not only a faculty member at COTHM but has over 25 years of culinary experience. “Events such as these are highly advantageous and should be arranged frequently,” he said. “They foster healthy competition and inspire us to be our best,” he added, explaining that even though the profession is highly respected globally, it still hasn’t garnered much reverence in Pakistan. Faiza agreed and claimed that the tangy and aromatic flavours of Pakistani cuisines are yet to receive the global recognition enjoyed by Chinese or Indian foods. “I envisage reinventing Pakistani cuisine, so that it is included in the household menus of every person around the world,” said Faiza. She suggested that, Pakistani food needs to be given a modern touch, whilst staying true to its traditional flavours, in order to make it relevant for fine dining.

The panel of judges. 

PHOTO SOURCES: COTHM AND FB.COM/FAIZA-REHMAN

Nonetheless, with the exceptional dishes put forth by the contestants, one can gauge how successful the local culinary industry can become if given the right infrastructure. Australian High Commissioner Peter Hayward and his wife Susan were amongst the judges blown away by the standard and quality of the food made, although most of the contestants are yet to graduate from COTHM. “The standard of the competition was very high and the food was marvellously cooked and presented,” said Peter, who was delighted to see so many Pakistani women take part. While the contestants included both male and female students, the trophy was won by an all-women’s team for preparing a three-course recipe given by Faiza. The competition proves that with a little help and push in the right direction, Pakistani women can achieve just about anything they set their eyes on.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, April 26^th, 2015.