'Live cooking is a psychological battle'

From not knowing how to cook at all to becoming a formidable contender on reality TV show Foodshala, Mumbai-born homemaker Hamida Abid has come a long way. As the youngest child in her house, the now 35-year-old mother-of-three "knew nothing" about the workings of a kitchen when she got married 17 years ago. Her husband being a "big-time foodie", however, patiently encouraged her to learn, and "never taunted" her when things went wrong.
She began to improve but the learning curve to "perfect" her hand in the culinary arts took a while - 12 years, in fact. "My fish curries never used to taste the same!" she laughs. "It was a lot of trial and error." The family also loved dining out, and it was only when Hamida started replicating these meals well at home did she concede that she'd become a good cook.
She started a small entrepreneurship - selling homemade, ready-to-use marinades and sauces - and then began a food blog. Call it serendipity, but that's  also how she found out about Foodshala. "One of my Facebook friends, Sabina, follows my blog," explains Hamida. "In January this year, she messaged me about the competition, saying it was an opportunity I shouldn't miss. Her confidence in me - despite never having met me! - was really touching." Hamida's husband was just as supportive - but there was a catch: Hamida lives in Saudi Arabia.
Was travelling all the way for the competition viable at all? The kids had exams, Hamida would need her husband to accompany her out of the country (as per the country's laws), and she'd probably need to make multiple trips, if she got past the show's initial rounds. Eventually, it was her husband who told her to give the auditions a shot. "I may have underestimated his love for me," she reflects. "He knew I really wanted to do this, so he didn't think of the time or money he'd be spending. He wanted me to achieve my dream. The way he saw it, even if I didn't clear the auditions, it would be a good family trip."
And that's how Hamida found herself in Dubai on the day of the auditions, trying to keep her nerves at bay, after a 13-hour drive. "I've cooked for lots of people - but not renowned chefs. I'd seen previous episodes of Foodshala, where Chef Akshay Nayyar scolded participants, so I was scared of how he'd react." The family rented a hotel apartment, where Hamida prepared a meal of veg galouti kebabs, chicken pasanda curry and gulkand phirni, a rose-flavoured dessert, and then carried them with her to the venue. The award-winning chef was all praise!
With the auditions behind her, Hamida had bigger challenges ahead. "Live cooking was unlike anything I'd done before. It was a psychological battle - not to focus on the people watching and complete challenges in the time given - but also to work with ingredients and equipment I'd never used before," she says.
Her goal was to have Indian celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor taste her food - for which she'd have to reach the finale. "Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is my culinary idol, my unknown mentor," she explains. "I used to watch his show, Khana Khazana, even before I got married. Back then, it was for entertainment, but after I got married, it became a necessity. I'd blindly follow his website, and almost everything I know today - even how to chop onions - I owe to him."
Hamida made three trips in all, between Dubai and Saudi Arabia. For the last two, the older kids had to stay home alone due to school commitments. "My elder son is 15 and really mature," she says. "He assured me he'd handle everything." On set too, she had help in the form of a good family friend, who looked after her four-year-old son while she raced the clock on various cooking challenges.
A little birdie tells WKND that Hamida is someone to watch out for on the show. Unfortunately, we can't say more; so, stay tuned if you want to find out what we know!
(Foodshala airs Saturday, 7.30pm, on Zee TV.)
karen@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining