An inspirational chef made a stop in Atlanta to cook up a little advice. The winner of FOX's hit show Masterchef, Christine Ha, reminds us to never let life's obstacles keep us from our dreams.
If there is anyone who could teach a class on cooking, it would be Ha. The way food looks isn't as important to Ha because she can't see. In her 20s, she was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica or NMO.
Ha says the disease is similar to MS. She says it affected her optic nerves and over time, they atrophied.
But her love of cooking, which started in college, never diminished. She says she botch a few dishes in her early days, but once she could see people enjoying her food, it brought joy to her.
It was a joy that carried her all the way to the kitchen on the world's stage as a contestant on Masterchef. Ha was the only blind competitor, and the first visually impaired winner of the show.
"When I'm cooking I have adaptive equipment that helps me just prepare food more safely. And I think a lot about using the other senses for clues on what you're doing in the kitchen," said Ha.
The Houston native stopped in Atlanta to offer advice to parents and participants of the Center for the Visually Impaired, letting them know that blindness is merely a minor obstacle.
"Everyone has their set of challenges. And I think if anything, I've been able to inspire people to pick things up and move on because of the challenge. I think that's the bigger picture. And I think that's what I was I was probably placed on this earth to do," Ha said.
As the winner of Masterchef, Ha won $250,000 and a deal for a cookbook. The cookbook, Recipes from My Home Kitchen, will be out in May. For more information, click here!
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:09 AM EDT2013-05-23 14:09:40 GMT
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Thursday, May 23 2013 9:34 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:34:51 GMT
Married to Medicine is the hottest new thing on Bravo, and the reality series is based right here in Atlanta!
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Thursday, May 23 2013 9:27 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:27:50 GMT
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Thursday, May 23 2013 8:44 AM EDT2013-05-23 12:44:55 GMT
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Thursday, May 23 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:32:32 GMT
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 7:31 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:31:33 GMT
You've probably been to a yard sale or two in your life, and you might have found some great deals. But would you know how to get the most out of your own yard sale?
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Thursday, May 23 2013 7:27 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:27:37 GMT
Summer in Georgia means mosquitoes—and lots of them. Even if you're just stepping outdoors for a few minutes, you need to protect yourself. But how do you pick the right bug repellent?
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:37:15 GMT
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:30:53 GMT
Does your summer road trip include mouth-watering stops at mom-and-pop eateries? Ours does, and it'll be even better with the help of a new Southern Living book!
Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings is dedicated to finding the best meals in the south-- and it features some great restaurants right here in north Georgia. Good Day's Paul Milliken checked out two of those gems-- The Hil in Serenbe, and Weaver D's in Athens! As usual, he didn't leave hungry.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:17:14 GMT
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show.
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show. But first, she stopped by Good Day to cook us up one of her favorite recipes.