The Sunday Telegraph

My Kitchen Rules’ Sam Bui was relaxed at her Collaroy home this week but cooking was once a matter of survival. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: The Daily Telegraph

Food was life or death matter for My Kitchen Rules’ Sam Bui

FOR My Kitchen Rules’ Sam Bui, her passion for food was born from necessity.

Abandoned by her mother when she was just 11, Bui was forced to raise her five siblings until authorities found them and arranged foster care.

Now, the reality TV contestant hopes her food future will involve helping children with similar family problems.

“I don’t think I’d ever be a chef, but I would love to do something in the industry and have always wanted to work with kids,” Bui said.

“I was with DOCS and if they wanted to do a thing where kids come in and I could teach them to cook then I’d like that.

“For me food and cooking meant I could switch off, just forget about things.”

Bui, 23, was often left alone by her problem-gambler mother – occasionally for “weeks on end”.

“When my brother was six I let him go to Broadway shopping centre. It was in hindsight the best thing that ever happened to us as police found him and came to the house. They asked where my parents were and I said it was all OK. They forced their way in and said: ‘My God! There’s two newborn babies here’.”

After being placed in foster care, Bui learnt that her mother had been arrested and imprisoned in Korea for drug trafficking.

“I don’t hate her, she’s my mother and I wouldn’t be here and wouldn’t be who I am if she didn’t make her mistakes,” she said.

Bui and her boyfriend’s mother Jillian cook to remain in the series this week.

Channel Seven’s My Kitchen Rules continues to dominate in the ratings, with Tuesday’s episode securing 1.9 million viewers nationally.

Story by Richard Clune The Sunday Telegraph March 04, 2012 12:00am