The right ingredients

Junifa Sundajana I Dewa Made is in love with cooking – for him, it’s not a job but a passion which he follows all around the world. He has worked as a chef in various countries, including Dubai and South Africa, as well as on cruise liners. Junifa, 45, was born in Bali, Indonesia – he grew up in West Java, an hour away from Jakarta. Since a young age, he was inspired by the mix of cultures and foods in Indonesia. His mother was also a great inspiration. “As a child, I was always playing in the kitchen and experimenting with ingredients,” he says. “I don’t have any sisters – we are four brothers – so I would help my mother in the kit­chen. I learned a lot from my mother.” Junifa left his family home when he was 21 years old to work in hotels. Then, when he was 32, he left Indonesia to work abroad. “It’s hard to be away from my family,” he says. “But I had the opportunity to work with great chefs – in Dubai, for instance, I worked with Gordon Ramsay.” When he was working in Dubai, he saw an advert for an Indonesian chef in Malta. “I applied and five minutes later, I received confirmation by SMS. I sent all my details and started doing some research on Malta. I found some information...