Name: Natalie Van Rooyen

Restaurant: Stop Crying Teats 

Title: Co-Founder

Q: Why did you first get into cooking?

It’s a family thing, everyone in our family can cook well, almost everyone that is!

Q:  Where were you before you came to Kuwait?

I lived in Dubai for just under 3 years.

Q: Describe your favorite dish from your home country.

There are too many to choose from but I would have to say my mom’s chicken pie… it’s so flavorful and the crust, flaky ,melt-in-the-mouth goodness!

Q: Name three ingredients you can’t live without in the kitchen.

Olive Oil, garlic, salt (my mother says a kitchen without salt is a kitchen without love).

Q: What is the most important part of a sandwich?

The Bread.

Q: How does your personality differ inside and outside the kitchen?

Inside the kitchen I am in the driver’s seat, and usually I prefer to cook alone, I’m in the zone and in my own happy space. Outside the kitchen I am more relaxed and don’t mind relinquishing control. Well kind of, maybe?

Q: When you’re not cooking, what do you do for fun?

I bake, dabble in music, a bit of mixing here and there, and I cuddle with my two furry babies or spend time with friends.

Q: If you weren’t a chef, what would you like to be?

I’ve always wanted to be a fashion designer, but I cannot draw to save my life, so I opted for working in the fashion industry as a buyer instead.

Q:  If you could choose, what would your “last supper” be?

It would be prepared and served by Gordon Ramsey, of course! A five-course meal starting with the perfect fennel & feta flatbread, followed by seared scallops with minted peas, then a scoop of lemon sorbet to cleanse the palette.  Entrée would be a 300g medium grilled tenderloin fillet & oven roasted vegetables, followed by a light passion fruit crème brulee.

Quick fire

My Breakfast: I alternate between organic oatmeal with bananas, blueberries, flax and chia seeds or 3 eggs with avocado and baby spinach sprinkled with pumpkin seeds.

My Knives:  I drool over the knives in Williams & Sonoma…. I like a big, sharp, sturdy knife with a wooden handle for good grip! Makes chopping easy.

Most overused spice: Cumin.

Favorite Foodie Destination: Thailand & New York!

Favorite Kitchen Gadget: My Kitchen Aid hot pink Mixer!

Favorite Food Aroma: Tom Yum!