Penny Melville-Brown is on a mission to show the world how to cook and prove life with a disability “can be fun, fabulous and fulfilling”.
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The former UK Naval barrister went blind around 20 years ago but has continued to do all the creative things she loves and is now embarking on a world cooking tour which has stopped in Kiama.
The tour has already taken the blind baker to Costa Rica, China and the US in a variety of kitchens from hotels, fine dining restaurants to the middle of the jungle.
This tour is not about it’s me but me being the flag-bearer for the millions of other disabled people around the world.
- Penny Melville-Brown
Ms Melville-Brown’s nephew is filming each of her cooking classes to be uploaded on her YouTube channel Baking Blind.
“This tour is not about me, it’s me being the flag-bearer for the millions of other disabled people around the world who just want a chance to show their capabilities,” she said.
On Thursday, Country Women’s Association cooks taught their new friend how to incorporate lemonade into scones, inspiring Ms Melville-Brown to use sparkling wine or other fruity beverages in the future.
The adventure continues with bush tucker cooking at Seven Mile Beach, wine and food matching at Silos Winery and working with legally blind professional chef in Sydney.
“Cooking is a universal language that brings people together,” she said.
“I like the inventiveness and the creativeness of cooking, you’re always looking for what you’ll cook next because you never use the same recipe ... all cookery should be experimental.”
The trip was funded by a US$25,000 Holman Prize grant awarded to her in June by an American charity LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
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Good friend Roe Kitchin helped facilitate the Australian leg of the tour as she wanted to help fulfil her dream.
“She still actively cooks and holds dinner parties, but she [also] does flower arranging, she gardens, she doesn’t let life stop her,” Mrs Kitchin said.
“Disability is not a limitation, you can achieve anything you like.”
Her website and YouTube channel, Baking Blind, was created in late 2016 as an alternative way of highlighting that people with disabilities still have many ambitions, capabilities and a zest for life regardless of their impairments.
Desiree Savage
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
