Isabella_and_Sofia_Bliss
They inspired both young and old alike with their culinary prowess and have gone on to cook with big names like Jamie Oliver as well as publishing their own cookbook while continuing to tour the world and get other kids into the kitchen.
They’re now coming to South Africa when they will appear at the Good Food and Wine Show at the Cape Town International Conference Centre from May 23 to 26.
Isabella, who is now 14, said she has always had a deep passion for cooking and her close-knit family helped guide her and sister Sofia: “I was two years-old and started making pizza in the kitchen. Mom and granny were always there for us and encouraged us to cook and experiment.”
Isabella said Junior Masterchef had changed their lives dramatically: “We got to meet so many people, do so many things and we got so many great opportunities, like this upcoming visit to South Africa. We are very excited about it.”
During their demonstrations at the show the girls will cook dishes from their book, “A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That” and display the cooking skills that won them fame. They believe that all youngsters should know how to cook and where their food comes from. This would help with rising obesity rates around the world.
A strong family cooking tradition meant that Isabella and Sofia were mixing up batter in the kitchen from as young as one and by the time they were two and three were able to graduate from making biscuits and cupcakes to doing pasta and pizza. They soon began experimenting with their own dishes.
Learning traditional Italian recipes, particularly Sicilian dishes from her mum Sylvane, and her nonna is one of Isabella’s favourite past times.
Isabella dreams of one day opening her own restaurant with her twin sister which has already been named ‘Issofia’. Isabella will be Head Chef and Sofia will be the Manager, so passionate are they about this dream, they have already started making up menus and business cards.
Education is still an important facet of their young lives. “It’s important that we keep up with our work and we are organised.”
Over the past year the sisters have been involved with several exciting projects which includes giving time and energy to charities such as ‘Cupcake for A Cure’, which funds research for childhood cancer. They have also helped cook up a storm at the Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food - Queensland Flood Appeal event and worked with the Starlight Foundation.
