A Taste of Finland with Sara La Fountain @ Berjaya University College of Hospitality, KL

Courtesy to BERJAYA University College of Hospitality (UCH), I'm lucky to be part of the media to attend the cooking demonstration by the gorgeous Celebrity Chef of  Asian Food Channel (AFC), Sara La Fountain! 

If you do not know, Sara is not just a pretty face runway model and popular TV host, but also a young aspiring chef and cookbook writer! Graduated from The Culinary Institute of America, the world-renowned culinary school in New York, Sara is currently a TV host on New Scandinavian Cooking airing on AFC and has her own cooking show, Avec Sara.

She has also published several books and her first cookbook, A la Sara, earned her the esteemed Gourmand World Cookbook Award in the "Best First Cookbook" category. Then the book on her hand today is her second cookbook titled Passion for Food, but it is not available in English version yet.

Chef La Fountain repeatedly emphasized throughout her demonstration to the culinary students, "Put your own spin on things and make it a bit different. But at the same time, remember that the kitchen should always be a fun place to be".

During the cooking demo, I'm with Berjaya Culinary students on this educational journey discovering American-Finnish cuisine. Sara showed us how to make 2 dishes, the first one is a pan-fried combination of potatoes, onions, diced meat and served with a fried egg and sour pickled gherkin, or in short the rustic Finnish dish, "Pyttipannu". 

Traditionally, the main ingredients used are of leftovers, be it meat or vegetables. However, as time evolves, it can be served as a main course in many countries outside Finland!

A simple dish like this can be so delicious from the hands of this young chef!

Food is truthfully where Sara's passion lies. She owns a catering service and a cooking school, alongside with her blog, Passion for Fashion & Food. Just from her mesmerizing smile you'd know why she is capable of captivating the hearts and appetites of AFC viewers!

Next, Sara prepared the Finnish French Toast with Forest Wildberries--- definitely my favorite dish of the day. Chef Siew Lee from Berjaya UCH is toasting the cubes of bread into golden brown perfection before topping it with wildberries and crispy walnut.

Here's the end product. It tastes great with the right balance of sweetness here!

Lastly, after the sharing session with Sara, we have a group photograph with the students before proceeding to the autograph session.

Sara La Fountain and me, with a poster with her signature! :D

BERJAYA University College of Hospitality 
Level 11 West, Berjaya Times Square, 
No. 1 Jalan Imbi, 
55100 Kuala Lumpur. 
Contact: 603-2687 7000 (for details on future events)
Website: www.berjaya.edu.my