I Feel Ready To Take On Anything

Sarah Graham, award-winning TV chef and SA’s favourite foodie, talks to Stephanie van der Plank about cosy winter evenings, a second honeymoon, and her new line of healthy snacks

Local food writer and TV chef Sarah Graham, 35, first nabbed our attention with her humble blog A Foodie Lives Here, launched in 2010. Since then, there hasn’t been a dull moment! Sarah made the break from blog to book, and has now published latest of which is Wholesome, where you’ll find 100 recipes for delicious, easy-going meals that are conscious of gluten, and refined sugar and carbs. She’s also planning the third season of her travel-cum-food

TV series Sarah Graham’s Food Safari, which first aired in 2013. Her latest venture is a line of healthy raw snack bites, available this month at various retailers. Sarah lives in Bryanston with her husband Rob, 34, and their two daughters, Sophie, six, and Isla, three. Rob and I have just come back from a romantic getaway to Italy to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary – and it was everything I’d dreamt of and more. I know it sounds cliché, but Italy truly is that amazing, especially for someone as food-obsessed as me. We spent nine magical days exploring Rome, Florence and Tuscany... and I’ve never been so consistently full in my life! I wasn’t going to miss out on any of the local cuisine– cheesy pizza, home-made pasta and gelato – I relished it all. And, of course, their famously good red wine. We made so many special memories that I’ll always hold on to.

Taking that break has recharged my battery and I feel ready to tackle the second half of the year with gusto. It was great to escape reality for a while. Even though we were busy with guided food tours, sightseeing and touristy photo ops, we still woke up when we wanted to and even indulged in midday siestas, so it felt like a proper rest. Now, I’m back in the thick of school runs, meetings and filming schedules, but with a new sense of energy.