Simply Sarj

Simply Sarj 'My Recipe for Cultural Interchange' is a 433 page book for cultural exchange and adaptation. 6NORTH

In my book I explain that all cultures can learn from each other and my goal is to help people on each side of this cultural interaction because I have experienced the complexities and misunderstandings of cultural differences and sensitivities/insensitivities and I want to help bridge the gaps between cultures. I know that it is necessary for international students, parents, host families, migrants and refugees to prepare themselves well before they live in another culture because I remember what I had to experience when I moved from the East to live in the West many years ago. Let me share with you some of my experiences as a traveler and Homestay mother. Some of my stories are funny and some are sad, but they are all very relevant to the realities of this experience that we all call life. I have learnt that it is inevitable that people will change as a direct result of cultural interaction and exchange and that is why I have referred to this two-way experience as Cultural Interchange

Our first "Bucket list Journey" fundraiser is here! Come and share a cup of chai with me.💌 Message me to RSVP! 🗓️ Sun 18...
30/09/2026

Our first "Bucket list Journey" fundraiser is here! Come and share a cup of chai with me.

💌 Message me to RSVP!

🗓️ Sun 18 Oct
🕢 2:30pm - 4:30pm
💻 Tusmore Park (Stirling St, near tennis courts)

Funds raised will go towards:

Raising cancer awareness and early prevention (from my own scare with cancer!)

Monthly "Pay It Forward" community projects

My second goal will be a cooking journey starting with a story of "Longing and Belonging" returning back to my childhood in Malaysia and gathering my family's recipes.

29/09/2026

Craving a cup of my Mum's chai in real life? ☕

As part of my "Bucket List Journey" fundraiser, join me in person for a cuppa!

🗓️ Sun 18 Oct
🕢 2:30pm - 4:30pm
💻 Tusmore Park (Stirling St, near tennis courts)

I'll be serving up chai for a donation towards my fundraiser 💌 Message me to RSVP.

Finally revealing my Bucket List secret!I was the oldest contestant on Australia's newest competition cooking show, Reci...
28/09/2026

Finally revealing my Bucket List secret!

I was the oldest contestant on Australia's newest competition cooking show, Recipe of the Year Australia hosted by Adam Liaw and Pia Miranda with The Country Women's Association ☺️

(and Cannoli Boss - who I call my new grandson - pictured here in the next photo was the youngest!)

This was the TV show I said "Yes" to and was going to fly out to shoot...only a few days before I found out I had cancer.

I can't tell you how it went on the show, but I can tell you I cooked with everything I had ❤️

The show will air on ABC Australia soon.

In the meantime thank you to everyone who has supported me in my fundraiser/sent me kind messages 🙏

27/09/2026

I couldn't believe I'm saying it but my samosas WON Indian week!

To the judges Melissa Leong, Dan Hong and Mark Olive... thank you for seeing the story behind the dish, not just the dish itself.

That means everything to me 🙏

If you loved this throwback series, make sure you follow along with me Simply Sarj for the next chapter of my life's journey 🧡

This is one of the many Pay-it-Forwards that your contribution has allowed me to do when I was running my stall Simply S...
26/09/2026

This is one of the many Pay-it-Forwards that your contribution has allowed me to do when I was running my stall Simply Sarj at the Adelaide Central Markets.

I always believe in never questioning people's background, as long as I can add kindness to their day 🧡

A plate of food won't fix everything. I know that.

But being asked "what do you feel like eating?"... mild or spicy, rice or noodles... that's a small choice a lot of us take for granted. Sometimes it's the thing that says "you're seen, and you matter."

I'd love to keep paying it forward to our community, and with your help, I can. 🍛

Here's how you can be part of it:

🙏 Chip in via my Chuffed fundraiser: https://chuffed.org/project/simplysarj

👋 Come and say hi in person at our first fundraising event on Sunday, 18 Oct 2026.

More details to come about our event so make sure you're following Simply Sarj

This ONE item had always been on my Bucket List ⬇️Getting back on TV to share my cooking & recipes before I turned 70.So...
25/09/2026

This ONE item had always been on my Bucket List ⬇️

Getting back on TV to share my cooking & recipes before I turned 70.

So when I was selected to appear on a cooking show recently, I knew this was my moment.

But midway through packing my suitcase to travel for the shoot, thinking about what to wear and bring... my phone rang.

It was the nurse from the SA Health's Cancer Clinic.

Turned out a cancerous lump had been detected near my breast bone - hidden for several years until it grew big enough to detect.

I tried to play it down when they told me I had to be treated sooner rather than later.

"It'll have to wait. I've signed a contract to head to Sydney to film a TV show. It's been on my bucket list... I have to go."

So they let me go reluctantly, and gave me a date for the surgery on 19 August.

Since I decided to keep the news of my cancer to myself while I was on the show, I couldn't receive that much needed support that I was sure I would have been given from the show and its producers...

I wanted to concentrate on my cooking without distractions as I needed more peace, especially at this time in my life.

Ironically, my thoughts each day were that the sooner I got sent home the sooner I would be able to have my surgery and heal more quickly for my next bucket list challenge... so frankly, I didn’t mind if I left the show early ❤️‍🩹

But here I am now. Finally talking about it.

My mum's generation didn't talk about women's health. In my culture, it was taboo. It still is, in many ways.

But if my story helps even one person get checked early and saves a life..... I would be elated 🧡

That's why I'm running a fundraiser - called my Bucket List journey.

Your donation will go towards a community storytelling campaign built around my journey.

🔗To contribute and for more details, visit: https://chuffed.org/project/simplysarj

(and also make sure to follow me Simply Sarj . I'll be sharing more stories from our time at the Central Market to show you what past donations have gone towards) 🌿

https://chuffed.org/project/simplysarj I am happy to share my story and ‘bare all’ if it means that lives could be saved...
25/09/2026

https://chuffed.org/project/simplysarj

I am happy to share my story and ‘bare all’ if it means that lives could be saved. Check for signs early and open up a dialogue. Modern technology is wonderful nowadays!

Follow my journey and the weekly updates and I would love to hear from you too. Happy for you to share my post 🙏 for a 🙏 Life is a gift 💝

23/09/2026

The judges have tasted. Now comes the moment.

Indian week on The Chef's Line and every dish on that pass carried a story.

Mine was around my version of "samosas" - modified curry puffs I made from memory, spice and a whole lot of love!

And now they have to pick a winner.

I'm not going to lie..... standing there waiting for that verdict from Melissa Leong, Dan Hong and Mark Olive was one of the longest moments of my life 🙈

Who do you think wins? Drop your guess in the comments 👇

(and make sure you follow me Simply Sarj so you don't miss the final reveal next week!)

22/09/2026

Pakora/fritter batter made with chickpea flour and soda water 😋 ❤️

17/09/2026

Growing up, curry puffs were the go-to snack at every family gathering 🥟

Flaky pastry, spiced filling and that little crescent crimp that tells you someone made it with love.

This was a modified "samosa" version I made on The Chefs' Line for judges Melissa Leong, Dan Hong and Mark Olive.

The green chilli chutney was my little extra to give a bit of heat. Happy that the judges loved it 😄

If you want to know how my dish went, make sure you're following me Simply Sarj so you don't miss the next part!

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Adelaide, SA
5000

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