IN CONVO - with Kamini Pather - Braamfontein, Johannesburg

Kamini Pather is quite unassuming when you first meet her. In a mid-length trench coat and Nike sneakers, she looks like a funky student in-between assignments catching a quick coffee at the local neighbourhood eatery. Well if ‘funky’, ‘student’ and ‘assignment’ could be interpreted somewhat loosely, she might just fit the bill. She is certainly funky but not in a limiting sense: she can move between a casual look and an evening look with ease (as demonstrated when she stunned in an Avant Apparel number a few hours after our interview); she is certainly a ‘student’ of all things to do with cuisine, but she is also quite accomplished and can teach most older chefs a trick or two. And in terms of ‘assignments’? How about visiting ten cities in whirlwind, palate-inspiring tour for her new show. ‘Girl Eats World’.

We got a chance to hang out with Kamini
at some of her favourite Braamfontein restaurants...
We started off at Love Food

Kamini is radiant and energetic: her passion for food is evident

Despite the impressive resume – winning the second season of MasterChef SA, a regular radio slot on Heart 104.9 and a successful food blog – Kamini is incredibly ‘real’ and has not in any way become immodest as a result of her success. The cooking industry is not always an easy one to achieve success in: Kamini explained to us that she has always had a specific game plan in mind and wanted to ensure that winning a competition such as MasterChef would work for her career in the long run. From the start of our chat, it is evident that Kamini is a focused individual who knows precisely what she is building towards. This cannot be said for all reality show winners. Kamini explained that winning the title of MasterChef was always meant to be a springboard to bigger and better opportunities. 

And what fantastic opportunities await: she has already begun shooting a show which travels to ten locations, all with a specific food culture. In each city, Kamini will meet with influential food bloggers and explore the city through its cuisine. Three days in each city, one day for rest and one day for travel. Certainly no easy feat but Kamini’s easy disposition (with a definite sense of discipline) can take on the challenge with aplomb. We cannot wait to see the final product.

We couldn't wait to get our hands on some of the delicious cuisine

It's all about the freshness at Love Food:
deliciously prepared meals served buffet style

Kamini’s name means ‘the essence of a woman’. Coming from an Indian background, we chatted about the many ‘necessary’ qualities that women must possess. Being a whizz in the kitchen definitely fits one of the requirements (Kamini was quick to point out that she did not only cook curry whilst on  MasterChef though). Kamini expressed that she still feels that she is growing into her femininity. This is no cookie-cutter or jelly-mould kind of girl. In fact, she comes across as distinctly ‘boyish’ and is a self-confessed tomboy; this is also reflected in her quiet confidence and easy-going nature. Not to mention her adventurous spirit which will lead her on an anthropological food journey around the world. 

Walking the streets of Braamies with a very talented foodie...
Off in search of dessert

And we found it At Daleahs! Another favourite of Kamini's

The distinct impression that we got was that Kamini is able to blend the facets of masculinity and femininity into one cohesive whole. She displayed a definite girlishness when she told us of her crush on Gordon Ramsay and the time that he kissed her (albeit on the cheek); she nearly crashed her car on the way home! 

Our engrossing chat continued over dessert: we discussed all things food
(and some things not, like being snubbed at by shop assistants!)

It's quite hard to believe that this is a girl who says she knows what it feels like to walk into a store and it is like a re-enactment of that scene from Pretty Woman - all the shop assistants staring at you wondering what business you think you have there. Kamini is now coming into her own and is thrilled to be able to reflect this in what she wears. She excitedly spoke about the opportunity to have a top local designer dress her - she now happens to be a proud ambassador for the Avant Apparel label. Take that, snooty shop assistants!

We ended off well-fed and jovial;
the expected effect after some great food and an afternoon with Kamini

Despite her distinct passion for food and all things culinary (such as freshly-baked bread), the impression that we were left with was that this is certainly a woman ready to take on the world using her passion as a vehicle. In an understated and rather unassuming way, she is gearing up for fantastic challenges ahead. The title of the show sounds rather ambitious but we are quite sure that Kamini is about to eat up the world, one delicious morsel at a time…