From the melting pot of cultural influences in Mauritius to those of Sydney, FoodinFocus Food Editor Camilla van Beuningen has always been inspired by food.
By Yasmin Newman
"I don’t eat to live. I live to eat!" says Camilla van Beuningen, proudly adapting Molière’s famous quote. She has a distinct and attractive accent, a medley of French, South African and English owing to her childhood spent growing up in Mauritius and South Africa. "Food," she continues while preparing a gorgeous tomato-and-goats cheese tart (featured on page 15), "is the only thing in life you get to enjoy until the day you die. I absolutely love it. Always have, always will."
Camilla van Beuningen has an overwhelming passion for food. That much is clear. But, hers is an unassuming love. Like life and death, it is something natural, a given. She recounts her first memories that, unsurprisingly, are also of food. Each Sunday her father would cook a special meal. "He would spend all day massaging a particular piece of lamb or preparing a special sauce to make the meal just right," she tells me. Growing up, life revolved around food and each meal was cherished. "I remember being five years old and asking my parents for cookbooks for my birthday. It was the only thing I wanted!"
Naturally, van Beuningen wanted to go to chef school, however she was encouraged to complete a business degree first. "Cooking was seen as a tough and brutal profession," she says of the attitudes at the time. However her determination was not shaken, and upon finishing her degree she went on to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. Her first stop was a popular bistro in Cape Town. With no formal experience, she became head chef within weeks of starting. She went on to study at the exclusive Warrick Chef School where she was chosen to train under Roger Verger, one of France’s most acclaimed chefs. Since then, her story has been as illustrious as it has been varied. From head chef of a boutique 5-star hotel, to running a prestigious catering company, she has cooked exclusively for some of the world’s most famous people, including Nelson Mandela, Princess Anne, and the Prince of Saudi Arabia to name but a few.
Today, van Beuningen focuses her energies on developing tempting recipes for FoodinFocus. In fact, all the dishes featured in this publication are her unique creations, inspired by Australia’s incredible range of produce and by her travels throughout Africa, Europe and Asia.
"I couldn’t believe my luck," she tells me smilingly. "I found a publication that precisely matches what I am about as chef, and what I am about as a person. It means a lot." She refers to the personal approach taken by FoodinFocus and the inspiring recipes she gets to create for readers. "I’m an everyday person. Like most people, I don’t like spending four hours in the kitchen after a day at work. But if I want to make something really special, I’ll spend even more time than that!" It is obvious that her recipes are a reflection of this sensibility – achievable and uncomplicated yet totally unique.
"I don’t have a specific style, but I’d say my approach is classic with an edge. I love to mix cuisines, and I adore adding spices or an aromatic to my food," she says excitedly. She goes on to add, "Working side-by-side with a team of incredibly passionate, talented people. Sharing ideas about food in a totally new way. What more could I want than that?"
While van Beuningen’s passion for food is abundantly clear, what’s even more so is her talent. Click on the recipes link in the footer below to sample one of her delicious recipes and see for yourself…
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