Pakistani chef spices up American cooking show
Fatima Ali, won an episode of Chopped, a reality cooking show on The Food Network in the United States.
“You want to go to university to become a bawarchi (cook)?” – This is the first reaction Fatima Ali, 22, would get when she would tell friends at a highly competitive school in Karachi about her aspirations to become a chef.
While friends were applying to Ivy Leagues and Oxbridge, up to five or six universities at a time, Ali applied to just one; a culinary institute in upstate New York.
While her mother supported her decision, her father, a well-known barrister in Lahore, initially urged her to apply to law schools instead, finally coming around after much persuasion. For 16-year-old Ali, there was no two ways about it – she started cooking at five and this would be her future.
Single-minded in her goal, her stubbornness combined with passion eventually helped her win an episode of the reality cooking show ‘Chopped’ which aired on June 12 on The Food Network in the United States.
The 22-year-old, who is a sous chef at Café Centro in mid-town Manhattan, remembers watching food television religiously. BBC Food while she was in Karachi and then The Food Network when she moved to the US. “My sister would beg me to change the channel, especially during Ramazan, but I would be like ‘no, no, no’, eventually my entire family was addicted.”
When Chopped first aired on US television, Ali, who was then a student at the Culinary Institute of America, was hooked to it. “I convinced myself I would do it one day,” recalls Ali.
It was a chance encounter to work with one of the judges of Chopped – Maneet Chauhan – who convinced Ali to apply to be a contestant on the show – that she finally did it.
With three months of experience in the professional cooking world at Café Centro and an internship under her belt, Ali applied to become a contestant and was accepted.
Chopped is a reality show that pits four chefs against each other in three rounds – appetizer, entrée and dessert – a chef getting chopped in each round – until there is one chef left standing. The chefs are presented with a basket of secret ingredients in each round and have 30 minutes to prepare, cook and plate their dish.
Ali was the youngest contestant in the ‘Chopped’ episode she was featured in.
Working as a sous chef in a restaurant that can seat up to 420 people and sees a lunchtime crowd of 150 people every hour, Ali is used to working quickly. But it was perhaps her training at home in Pakistan that helped this young chef win at the end of the day.
After her parents divorced when Ali was young she would divide her time between Karachi and Lahore. The summers spent in Lahore with her father were an opportunity for Ali to cook and bond with her father, who himself is an expert cook, says Ali. Along with her father, Ali’s grandmother and her cook Qadir, who has cooked for her family for decades and moved across the country with the family, also contributed to her ‘training’.
“For me, cooking engages your five senses and more. You are constantly thinking of the next step,” says the young chef.
“Cooking starts with an idea, what you want, who you want to create it, how and why. There is nothing in the world you can personalise more than food.”
This personalised spin is what may have won Ali the episode. She used spices commonly used at home in Pakistan to add flavour to her food, without over powering the taste.
As soon as the host of the show announced “Open your baskets” Ali was scanning her ingredients and running to the pantry trying to get the right spices. I wanted to be gutsy and creative she says, as well as bring the cooking techniques used at home (in Pakistan). “I wanted to bring in the use of the same flavours, spices and herbs.”
“The producers saw me and were like ‘oh yeah, we have a runner’” says Ali laughing. “I banged into the camera a couple of times…they don’t show that on air.”
Her appetizer, the main ingredient being chicken intestine, red miso, savoy cabbage and clementines, looked like “mashed-up brain and grey in colour” says Ali, “but it was delicious” and the judges let her off intact for the next round.
Having gone into what may be considered an ‘unconventional’ profession in Pakistan, Ali’s school counselor and principal were initially surprised by her decision to apply to culinary school, but not “shocked” says the 22-year-old. “I was always rebellious, but always involved in school too.” As house captain, an athlete, along with being involved in the drama society at school, perhaps something “better” than becoming a ‘bawarchi’ were expected of Ali.
But when, as a15-year-old, Ali was planning 2 am feasts at sleepovers instead of gossip sessions, the clues should have been there.
“Young people should pursue things that are not common. If you think it is good enough, then it is,” she says, adding that the Pakistani society seems to think that any industry not lucrative enough is one not to follow.
A few mishaps here and there, including under-cooking duck breast in the entrée round and dropping her entire bowl of ice-cream in the dessert round, Ali finally ended up winning episode three of Chopped’s twelfth season.
The best part of winning? The reaction of the people around her as well as strangers. “I got a message from a Pakistani woman in the States somewhere, she said ‘we are all so proud of you. I watched the show with my two daughters and we were praying for you the whole time.’”
It’s a wonderful feeling says Ali.
Sara Faruqi is a multimedia journalist at Dawn.com
I love to watch Chopped the cooking competion show. I was upset not to see any Pakistani whenever I saw an Indian. I can understand why we Muslims cannot be on this show due to our dietary restrictions (alcohol, swine, etc.) as the indegrients that need to be incorporated include them mostly. When I saw Fatima in the show, I was so glad. She made me so proud. You have our Blessings girl!!!!
Dear Ms. Ali, congratulations to you. In addition to your skills as a chef you have wisdom beyond your years. I wish you all the best.
Good Job And keep it up like the way you did in your whole life,May GOD Bless you with all his blessings.
Congrats, Fatma! My mom and I loved watching you
Fatima-
I am so proud of you. It was a wonderful experience to watch you win "Chopped." I am honored to have been your teacher.
Best Wishes, Steven Kolpan
So proud of you, Fati, absolutely supercool that you were able to win your episode of "Chopped." Stay true and genuine and the sky is the limit for you….
Thank you all for your support, wishes and warmth. If it weren't for this encouragement I perhaps would have never succeeded in my endeavors. I strive to take Pakistani food to a place of sophistication and finesse and am eager to open up the palate of the world to our country's depth of flavors.
Your words have instilled in me an even greater drive! Thank you all once again, it truly does mean the world to me.
Omg!!! I was watching the show tonight and the whole time I was cheering for you!!! You go girl!!! You really showed that desi Muslim women can do great things
So proud of Fatima,I always had faith in you that you are going to achieve something big in life …Proud to be your teacher at Karachi Grammar School. Can't forget the days ,when you had won for me and our house.Good luck with all your endeavors,may you succeed in life…you proved yourself
Mrs. Kasim
OMG,,thiss iss soo cuteee~!!! mashallahh,Lovee It Fatimaa,!! Proud of youu honeyy!! May you get a longg wayy!!
inspiring.
This such a great story. Its really good what Fatima has done. Fantastic! I am proud of her.
Good job Fatima
Fatima is getting good training and is attending the best school in the US.This a good profession there Presentation of food with good decor is also important and she should go for it.She is also portraying a softer image of Pakistan.
Congratulations Fatima on your success and dedication to what you like
Congrats Gurl !!!! Achievement well deserved !!!!
Great job Fatima!
I loved watching BBC Food too when I had the time before moving abroad for my Bachelors. I'll try finding Chopped on youtube.
Following the DREAMS- Bravo Girl!
Dear Ali, I am impressed. No doubt, dedication is the key of success in every field . Well done , my dear, keep up the good work. Pakistani girls can do everything positive.
I believe any career pursued with passion and devotion by youngsters should be encouraged. Pakistan should be proud of Fatma Ali. I know I am and many like me. Trying to be a qualified chef in any reputable culinary schools is not an easy task. I tried once to become a chef at a reputable hospitality college in Australia . I couldn't handle the multiplicity of work that chefs are simultaneously required to manage and yet turn up with a creative and perfect cuisine in a very shot span of time. The prime time work as a chef in International five star kitchens is a nightmare that only a most dedicated , and deft chef can survive in. Keep up the good work Fatima.
YOU ARE MY HERO
My best wishes, come and work in India at Taaj, Oberois or ITC Hotels, you will learn and experience international cooking
She can instead work in Sheraton, PC, Serena or Marriot Hotels in Pakistan.. Thanks for your invitation though.. We can feel the pinch of arrogance in your comment mate.. Your country might be bigger, but our food is definitely better.. I know many Indians who love going to Karachi Darbar, Liyari or Sheher e Karachi restaurants in Dubai rather than the Chappan Bhogs and Jashanmals etc.