Sarah Graham: The Taste Hunter

A cook, TV show host, food blogger and author of three cookbooks, Sarah Graham connects food to her South African roots. As she hosts her show, Sarah’s Food Safari, she is all set to savour more flavour on the go.

When did you discover your love for food? Who do you owe your culinary skills to, or are they something that you have developed over the years?

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I have always loved eating. Growing up on a farm meant, we ate lots of beautiful, simple and healthy food. My mum is an amazing cook. Also, when you live remotely in the bush, you have to be very skilled at making something special out of very few ingredients. This taught me to respect and love even the humblest of options.

Not everybody gets to grow up on a wildlife conservancy, around lions and leopards. Take us back to your memories.

It meant we ate simply and mostly local ingredients, which is something very special. There were times though, when I would wish for more exotic ingredients.

What motivated you to start writing about food and eventually blogging?

I love writing. And I love words and food, so combining the two on a blogging platform was heaven for me. I was smitten from the first sentence.

You have travelled along the African map and taken your kitchen to the road in your new venture. What changes does that bring to your flavours?

I think it has broadened the horizons significantly and made me look more carefully at places I visit and the people I meet, what their food stories are, and what makes their food special.

What is the ‘wildest’ dish you have cooked in your experience?

In Sarah’s Food Safari, we cook both goat and warthog, two more unusual dishes that I really love.

Have you been to India? What is your favourite Indian recipe?

I haven’t been and it’s right at the top of my list. I love how you use colours and flavours in your food. I make a very simple Lamb Curry at home that we love, but I have no idea how it would match up in a proper Indian kitchen!

In your years of cooking, which is the untapped cuisine or food that you would like to discover?

I think, as I mentioned, I would love to spend time in India learning more about how you layer flavours even in the simplest daal, and also in Italy, learning more about their regional food and traditions.

After successfully writing three quirky cookbooks, what’s next?

Later this year, we are taking our kitchen on the road again, and will be filming another season of Food Safari in Kenya, which I am really excited about. Also, my next book will be released in February next year and it’s full of beautiful, healthy food that I am excited to share with everyone.

What do you like to do, when not cooking?

We have two small children (Sophie is five and Isla is two) and we love spending time together as a family, sharing meals with friends and travelling when we can.

From the August 2016 issue of L’Officiel India.