Inspired canvases at 83
Judge Andy Allen on his career, visiting India and what food means to him MG Thankamma’s painting exhibition showcases her oil and acrylic works
ustralian chef Andy Allen says his visit to India taught him one thing — that spice does not always kill the taste of the meat. “I tried a Goan prawn curry in Mumbai this time and it was a revelation. I could actually taste the prawn; it was absolutely delicious. That would be one of my takeaways from India this time,” he says.
The MasterChef Australia (2012) winner and judge (Season 16), Andy was in Kochi for an event hosted by the Centre for Australia India Relations to showcase Australian food and beverages, as part of his larger India tour.
As a chef, Andy says his journey in food has been about learning. “After I was chosen as Australia’s best home cook (in 2012), I wanted to have a long career in food. And for that, one needs to be open to learn,” he says. “I was a total novice at the time, it was uncomfortable. But it excited me at the same time. I was learning so many new things,” he adds. Andy believes he won the title because he could handle the high stress environment. “I don’t think my cooking was great; but I could deal with the pressure.”
AGuiding contestants
Returning to MasterChef Australia in 2020, as a judge alongside Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo was a rewarding experience. “It was an honour to be back in the kitchen, being able to guide the contestants and be there for them. The thing about MasterChef kitchen is that no day is the carbon copy of another. Every day, there is something new to learn,” says Andy.
The sudden death of fellow judge and close friend Jock in 2023 was a set back, but Andy hopes to carry his legacy into Season 16 along with the other judges Soa Levin, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli. “I want to be able to bring the energy, spirit and passion that Jock personied,” says Andy.
India visit
Ever since he won MasterChef as a contestant, he had wanted to visit India, he says. “It took me 11 years and I am nally here,” he says. This is his second visit; the rst was in 2023, when he travelled to New Delhi and Mumbai. “I wanted to take in the experience of India, learn about its food cultures and enjoy it rst hand; even the breads here are so diverse,” he says. With a huge fan following in India with people having followed his progress as a contestant to a judge, he says this achievement was never in his dreams.
He hails from a town (Maitland) where food was not “super important”, where takeaway Chinese was the popular option, but Andy started dabbling in the kitchen when he was about 17 years old. “I decided to cook food for my family and we always sat together to eat. I would sometimes have friends over, when I told them that I was cooking. I saw that food always brought people together. And taking a step back, I would enjoy those moments that brought us together.”
Diverse produce
Andy draws inspiration from the diversity of Australian produce. “Food always revolves around the produce. And Australia being a vast country not only in terms of geography and ecosystems, but the food grown and cultivated here, it oers a lot of freedom for chefs to play around with ingredients and techniques,” he says. With migrant settlers from around the world, the food scene is expansive in Australia, adds Andy, who travels and explores Australian dishes and way of cooking on his cooking channel on YouTube. He also co-owns the restaurant Three Blue Ducks (with Mark Labrooy and Darren Robertson), across ve locations in Australia.
The event that was held at Grand Hyatt highlighted Australian food and beverages available in India. From premium Australian wine to lamb meat, avocados, rock lobsters and Macadamia nuts, Andy served the dishes in his own style, starting with avocado salad, macadamia nut soil for apetisers and butter poached rock lobsters among other dishes for main course.
“Since the Australia-India ECTA (Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement) has come into force, Indian consumers can enjoy quality Australian produce including wine, fresh avocados, lamb and chickpeas. ECTA has signicantly reduced taris on a range of products making it easier and cheaper for consumers in India,” said Australian Consul General Silai Zaki. irakoottu’, an exhibition of the works of artist MG Thankamma, opens today. Over 40 works including oil and acrylic paintings and murals, which she has been working on since 2017, will be on show. Thankamma, who retired as the headmistress of Eloor Pathalam Government High School, took to painting at the age of 75, when she had time on her hands.
“I used to dabble in art — pencil drawings mostly and sometimes, I would paint the window curtains at home — when I was younger, but never really considered pursuing art seriously. After retirement, I would spend most of my time reading, but with the encouragement of my children, I decided to learn painting. I joined the Adarsh School of Arts on Diwan’s Road. I am still a student there and will continue for as long as I can,” says Thankamma. Though she started with oil paintings, Thankamma is now drawn to the mural style. “Though there are a few traditional mural paintings in the exhibition, I have done a few unconventional ones too,” she adds. Thankamma had held a solo show of her oil paintings in 2018 at Changampuzha Park.
At 83 years of age, Thankamma says painting is a relaxing hobby that makes her happy. She paints sitting down. “Of course, sitting for long hours gives me a sti back, but it makes me happy,” she adds.
The show is on from May 17 to 19 at Durbar Hall Art Gallery