From cancer survivor to MasterChef (and more!)

In this episode of Tea with Tooting Mama, I’m talking to Laura Hicks about her remarkable life story, starting at age 17 with her battle against a rare form of bone cancer. She discusses how her illness led to a deep passion for cooking, taking part in MasterChef. Laura is a dual heritage British Sri Lankan. We talk about how this affected her growing up, how she brought Sri Lankan food to Masterchef, and how this experience led her to a career in food and reconnecting with her Sri Lankan Dutch Burgher heritage. Laura has done a lot to showcase Sri Lankan food on mainstream TV, but this wasn’t without controversy as trolls questioned her right to identify herself as Sri Lankan.Laura highlights the influence of her family's hundred-year-old cookbook, created by four generations of women, the challenges of balancing motherhood with her restaurant career, and how she hopes to publish her family’s cookbook. At the time of recording, Laura was pregnant with her third child. I’m delighted to say Laura has since given birth to her gorgeous son, Billy Hynes.00:00 Introduction and Early Life00:18 Battling Cancer at 1700:54 Chemotherapy and Its Aftermath01:27 Discovering a Love for Food03:16 Journey to MasterChef04:04 MasterChef Experience06:57 Sri Lankan Heritage and Family09:06 Identity and Cultural Challenges12:31 The Hundred-Year-Old Cookbook13:23 Exploring the Family Cookbook13:51 Generational Cooking Stories14:12 Diverse Culinary Heritage15:27 MasterChef and Culinary Career16:10 Supper Clubs and Popups19:40 Balancing Family and Career21:50 Favourite Sri Lankan Dishes24:52 Nostalgic Restaurant Memories25:58 Future Plans and AspirationsLaura Hicks InstagramThe ScranditThe Kandyan, BristolBeach WadiyaGrab my free guide to Sri Lankan cooking, and join the Tooting Mama community by signing up for my weekly newsletter here.Find my recipes here.Check out my Instagram hereNever miss a single episode by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and tell your friends about Tea with Tooting Mama and my Stubstack Tooting Mama. Get full access to Tooting Mama at tootingmama.substack.com/subscribe