Chef Kate McAloon: Insider Insights on Celebrity Diets & Australian Life

body+soul chats with world-class chef to the stars Kate McAloon about her A-list clientele and moving to Oz.

 

Chef to Hollywood heavyweights Kate McAloon hit Australian shores in March. Since arriving, she has been living with, and cooking for, Miranda Kerr's family on Sydney's northern beaches. Not only has she fallen in love with Sydney, but she has decided to stay and set up shop to chef.

Here, McAloon shares her healthy tips for cooking and snacking, and the inside on the Kerrs' and Kate's plans. 

What are the Kerr's doing in Sydney?

The Kerr's [Miranda's parents, Therese and John, and brother, Matt, 26] all work on KORA Organics, Miranda's skincare range. They have been renting a lovely house on the northern beaches to focus on the business together.

What about Sydney has inspired you to move here?

Sydney is so beautiful, it has a great feeling and the people I'm meeting are genuine, friendly and wonderful. The food scene here is fabulous and I love the way you can find whole towns of people coming together to create food  coops like in Manning Valley, Bellingen and Hunter Valley.

Which local celebs would you most like to be cooking for in Oz?

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness. I would love to meet and cook for Hugh and Deb because they stand for such great things and their partnership looks, at least, very genuine. I know she works with orphans and I think they're good people. Everything I've heard about them sounds great.
 
Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson. I cooked for Karl and Lisa on the Today show and would love to cook more food for them.

Cate Blanchett: Cate is on my vision board next to Miranda. I love her acting and she seems to have such a huge amount of integrity.

What are your best fat-busting cooking tips?

1. Use coconut oil instead of butter. It assimilates in the body better and is really good for you
2. Use Bragg Liquid Aminos (a derivative of soybeans) as seasoning instead of salt. A little sea salt is fine but I use this as my natural flavour enhancer instead of too much salt.
3. Eat quinoa instead of higher carb grains like rice and pasta. Quinoa is contains more protein and has less GI. They even make a quinoa pasta. It's harder to cook but there are a lot less carbs.
4. Coconut milk or yoghurt instead of cream. If you're going to be decadent you can be a little healthier by choosing coconut milk. Keep the joy and get rid of the calories.
5. Make veggie soups instead of creamy ones. Add things like onion, broccoli, zucchini and Braggs [see above] to season. Tip: you have to use enough vegetables to avoid it from becoming a watery mess – then you don't need to add cream.

Read chef Kate McAloon's blog for body+soul here.