Foodie Profile:
Mara Bontempo Ross
A World of Possibilities
A specialist representative for high-end medical technologies, Sydney-based Mara Bontempo Ross has spent two decades travelling Australia and the world. A lover of fine food, she's made a point of seeking out cafes and restaurants – in some of the most out-of-the-way places, who bring their regional dishes to life as meals to remember. As the founder of Mara Aesthetics, the Australian representative of highest quality, scientifically researched cosmetic surgery technologies, she is continuing to combine her business travel with the search for fabulous food across the globe. Our roving global writer CLAIRE FELICES caught up with her over a glass of merlot and fabulously delicious steak in one of Argentina's finest restaurants ...
Being in the beauty industry, if you were to advise people about "eating for beauty", what do you believe are the best food options to eat every week to help you with your skin, eyes, hair etc?
Colourful foods are loaded with antioxidants and work as anti-inflammatories for the skin as well as slowing down the aging process, so these are some of my suggestions:
- eggs - one of the most concentrated easily absorbed forms of lean protein we have great for breakfast. I love to make Chilli herb omelette or mango omelette.
Salmon- omega 3 fatty acid a class of healthy fats, reduces risk of dryness to our skin, great for improving circulation to our hair ,skin ,eyes, nail etc.
Almonds - very high in antioxidants, and a fibre-rich source of vitamins and minerals.
Also a delicious recipe of mine is with almond Chicken and ginger Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, radishes- high in vitamin C, fibre and nutrients for the whole body especially the skin.
Berries are wonderful too, and I love raspberries, blackberries, blueberries,cranberries, strawberries, tomatoes Very high in antioxidants, low in fat and your skin needs them to carry oxygen and feed your skin, hair, nails and for your eyes to sparkle!
I have a breakfast I make in the evening with muesli, berries, seeds, nuts and yogurt leave it over night to mature and eat in the morning really delicious and a great start to you day. Water per day 250 – 350ml Tomato juice 1 glass per day
In your travels around Australia, you must have a few tips of great restaurants & cafes to dine that any tourist or local should follow to the letter? Favourite foodie spots that you'll always go back to in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth etc ...?
In fact I have to start over in Wellington NZ - Matterhorn Restaurant delivers absolute amazing service and food - and some very interesting dishes. What makes it memorable is that the chefs come
and sit with you and discuss your meal with you like a work of art - it's a real find.
Also Mollies in Auckland - small Boutique restaurant great food and a great experience .
Gips restaurant in Toowoomba in Queensland - it's like stepping back in time the food is simply delicious!
Garlic Clove Restaurant Gold Coast Queensland - French Cuisine all I can say is wonderful and worth a visit.
Coco’s restaurant Perth - great location and food.
Machiavelli restaurant in Sydney - a real taste of Italy, its freshness and good tasting food is unique, this is one of my absolute favourites.
Chianti Classico Restaurant in Adelaide - beautiful food and wine, a real treat and not expensive - the people I was with are still talking about this place.
The Good Food Company Bar IN Queenstown NZ - the coffee are amazing and cake so wonderful - don't miss their Germany donuts, so good!
And of the ones you can recall, what dish is their best?
My favourite is veal saltimbocca, a traditional roman dish, I'll always seek it out on any menu.
Do you have a preferred coffee brand?
The brand I really enjoy is rainforest alliance Brazil Arabica bean.
What are the 3 products you're most likely to come out of a gourmet food shop with?
Olive oils, panforte nougat cake and stuffed dates.
What about gluten-free foods - are you on any special diets, eg due to food allergies etc?
I enjoy cooking and eating gluten-free food is a good approach as they are generally kinder on your body and don’t make you feel so bloated. I don’t have food allergies but am sensitive to wheat products.
What's your favourite Asian cuisine?
Ginger Chicken Stir fry with steamed rice.
What about desserts? Are you a hot dessert or a cold dessert kind-of person?
Chocolate Ricotta & hazelnut Ravioli. I do enjoy both hot and cold depending what time of the year and what country I'm in.
And again from your experience in the beauty industry, do you have any advice for people who want to control their weight / food cravings?
Carrots have no calories and are very good for you as well - for example carrots help control skin itching and eczema. Drinking plenty of water can help stop cravings and hydrate your body.
Are there any superfoods you regularly take, eg spirulina or chlorella?
Tomato - is from the berry family technically. It's a superfood rich in vitamin a b c e & potassium, tones the skin and aids circulation. Broccoli is also great, it's rich in antioxidants and a real brain food. Rockmelon is the best superfood for anti aging.
Are you a wine, beer or cocktails person? And which varieties/brands?
I really enjoy a lovely smooth merlot with my meal and my favourite cocktail is a French martini, with French champagne and the French liquor Pernod.
Being a regular visitor to Italy, what are some spots which a traveller there simply must visit? And anything from a foodie angle, or hidden destinations?
Well of course Naples on my recent trip there I now understand why they say "see Naples and die" as it offers so much in beautiful views, so many different foods to try and its rich history.
What's looking good in your life right now?
I'm very excited about this business and enjoy so much the challenges of my work, the enjoyment it brings is so lovely and I feel blessed to have this opportunity to help bring joy, hope and revitalising looks to patients. Let's never forget of course that beauty starts from within with a positive spirit which creates confidence and aids us in ways that prolong our health, happiness and longevity. We all want to look a feel fabulous and I feel Mara Aesthetics can really contribute to men and women in a very uplifting way that allows them to feel fabulous.
Mara Bontempo-Ross is an accredited professional with more than two decade’s experience in the medical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. She is the founder of Mara Aesthetics, an Australian company dedicated to providing the highest quality, scientifically researched products, backed by accredited training to help Australian and New Zealand’s doctors achieve outstanding thread lift outcomes. For more information, see www.maraaesthetics.com
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