International Women's Day 2024: Masterchef Nancy Silverton's endless culinary journey
"Today, if you walk into a kitchen and are surprised to see female chefs, you may be living in the past."
This year’s International Women’s Day 2024 theme is ‘Inspiring Inclusion.’ Yahoo Life Singapore speaks to inspiring women of today who are making a difference and forging a better world. Today, we speak with Chef Nancy Silverton, Chef and owner of Mozza Restaurant Group.
What is it like to be a woman today in this 21st century?
Well, I certainly can't speak to every woman's experience. Still, I think we all are experiencing collective changes, especially after living through a global pandemic and with the constant advancements in technology. These technological advancements have transformed how women live, work, and connect with others – and it's evident that we are all navigating a rapidly changing world.
Women in the 21st century must navigate a complex landscape of progress and challenges while striving for equality, empowerment, and fulfilment in all aspects of life.
Name a female personality you'd like to sit down for a meal with and why.
I am not particularly big on “personalities”, but I will always happily sit down to a meal with Ruth Reichl, a brilliant writer and critic, and Laurie Ochoa, head of the Food section of the Los Angeles Times - who has great insights into food journalism, trends, and the vibrant culinary scene of Los Angeles.
Luckily for me, they are two of my dearest friends – and we simply enjoy our lively discussions about food, travel, literature, and everything in between.
Tell us your proudest achievement to date.
My three children—Vanessa, Ben, and Oliver. Watching them develop into thoughtful, compassionate, and capable individuals has been the greatest reward of my life.
What are some of the challenges you face at this point in your life, whether it’s personal or career growth?
At this point in my life, I face the timeless challenge of balancing my aspirations while navigating time constraints. Much like when I was half my age, one of the greatest challenges I encounter is finding enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I've set my mind on.
The demands of my profession often require me to travel—something I don’t plan on changing anytime soon—and so if there were a way to magically extend the hours in a day, allowing me to seamlessly balance my professional commitments, personal aspirations, and cherished moments of rest and rejuvenation, I would embrace it in a heartbeat!
What’s your favourite thing about your job role?
My favourite aspect of my job role is the beautiful symbiosis between cooking and travelling. "I cook to travel, and I travel to cook" perfectly encapsulates this philosophy. It's not just about preparing meals or visiting new places; it's about the magical intersection of these two passions.
I love the endless adventure my job brings. Every trip is a culinary journey, and every meal is an opportunity to explore, learn, and savour flavours from around the world.
What kind of improvements do you want/have seen in your industry that will help women?
While I've been fortunate not to experience discrimination or bias based on my gender in the kitchen, I recognise that many women in the culinary industry face challenges in advancement.
Today, if you walk into a kitchen and are surprised to see female chefs, you may be living in the past.
What is your self-care routine like?
My self-care routine is vital to starting my day on the right note and setting a positive tone for whatever challenges lie ahead. It begins with the simple morning pleasures, such as rising from bed before my partner does, a small victory that allows me to relish in the luxury of a neatly made bed.
Next, I indulge in one of my favourite rituals: making coffee and settling in with the Los Angeles Times, a tradition I hold dear. After a leisurely morning read, I head on a three-mile walk in my neighbourhood, jump into a refreshing shower upon my return home, and devote a few moments to skincare before I set out to face the world.
How would you inspire inclusion in your daily life in 2024?
My commitment to fostering inclusion in my daily life remains grounded in the fundamental principle of respect. Respect forms the cornerstone of every interaction and creates an environment where all individuals feel valued, heard, and appreciated—a sentiment I apply every day.
Plug something you're passionate about
I’m most passionate about my restaurants—especially Osteria Mozza Singapore! I absolutely adore Singapore and love visiting the Mozza restaurant and team there.
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While I might be biased, the food and service are outstanding, just like our restaurant in Los Angeles. We recently launched new flavours on Osteria Mozza’s wood-fired pizza menu and March-exclusive burgers as lunch specials from Chi Spacca, our meat-focused restaurant from Los Angeles.
Diners can look forward to new pizza flavours that include Fresh Goat Cheese – savoury delights of butter-braised leeks, delicately sautéed scallions, aromatic garlic confit, crispy bacon, and decadent goat's cheese, the BLT – an irresistible blend of sweet, salty and savoury flavours with strips of crispy bacon, thinly-sliced pancetta, tangy tomato confit and rucola greens paired with onion cream and aioli, and the Le Bianche – a distinctive combination of gorgonzola dolce (sweet Italian blue cheese) with roasted fingerling potatoes, fior di latte, radicchio and fragrant rosemary.
In March, diners can also indulge in two of Chi Spacca’s best-selling burgers, which boast signature dry-aged Spacca beef double smash patties.
We invite you to try the Classic Spacca Burger—lauded by Los Angeles Magazine—a timeless rendition of the classic cheeseburger on a sesame seed potato bun with lettuce, caramelised onion, tomato, pickle, and Calabrian chilli aioli. Also available is the Sooner Smash Burger, which features two perfectly seared beef patties from the flat-top grill with a mound of thinly sliced onion topped with American cheese, yellow mustard, and pickle.
Apart from new lunch specials, Osteria Mozza Singapore's warm and welcoming atmosphere sets it apart. Guests are treated like family from the moment they walk through the door. The dedicated team of chefs, servers, and staff goes above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of the dining experience exceeds expectations, leaving a lasting impression on diners.
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