Akuc Isaac Chol was cooking up a storm when the St Marys-Mt Druitt Star dropped in last week. Picture: Gary Warrick
ST MARYS’ Akuc Isaac Chol can stand the heat in the Masterchef kitchen.
Currently appearing Channel Ten’s Masterchef: The Professionals she has already won over audiences with her positive attitude and passion for cooking.
Miss Isaac Chol has come a long way since she and her family emigrated from Sudan as refugees.
She said she is excited to represent her home land, the people of her area and Lochiel House where she completed her apprenticeship.
‘‘Nothing is hard,’’she said
‘‘If you really put your heart and soul in it you’ll succeed.’’
For most people cooking on television is daugnting, but for Miss Isaac Chol it is a chance to learn from the best.
‘‘It’s been an amazing journey and a great opportunity,’’ she said.
Learning how to read, write and speak english at 15 is still the biggest challenged Miss Isaac Chol said she has ever overcome.
When she returned to South Sudan to visit her family she was inspired by her African heritage and reminded how lucky she has been in Australia.
‘‘When I went back to africa a few years ago I thought how lucky we are in Australia to have all this freedom and these opportunities.’’
Though most women are taught to cook in Sudanese culture, Miss Isaac Chol said she learnt a love of cooking from her mother and the strong women in her life.
‘‘They’re all fantastic cooks, not professional chefs either, just really fantastic cooks,’’ she said.
While cooking on Masterchef has already opened a number off doors for Miss Isaac Chol, she still dreams of sharing her success with her family.
She hopes to open a restaurant where she could work with the inspiring women in her life and share their passion for cooking.
‘‘ I just want a restaurant where people can got to enjoy good, clean food,’’ she said.
‘‘ Nothing flashy.’’