Grey is the new black, and this ash-tressed jetsetter makes it look ridiculously chic.
“There’s nothing interesting about me!” That's what Margie Van Elten Blommaert said when we first got in touch with her.
There’s a candidness in Margie's manner as we chat about a range of topics—from her diverse career choices (think: former model, talent booker who placed actors in TV series like Xena: Warrior Princess and homecare nurse) and equally diverse family heritage, to the Instagram account she uses to document her myriad “food-scapades”, to her serious passion for fashion, and her signature grey locks.
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Her love for food and travel is also the main reason why she embarks on food-centric holidays with her businessman husband, Joe. “The both of us are huge foodies and go on these getaways we call food safaris, because we are mostly eating, doing lunch and dinner tasting menus at different restaurants in a country,” says Margie, who is of Dutch, Indonesian and Chinese descent. The couple’s first ever meeting was also around yummy edibles. “We met at my first birthday party and Joe stole my cake.”
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These “food safari” trips have seen them traversing Australia (where Margie grew up), Japan and even Singapore, where they have been based for the past two years after Joe's company posted him here following nearly a decade in Texas, USA. “We brought some friends from Texas around Singapore and had them taste the classics—from nasi lemak to char kway teow to chilli crab at Jumbo Seafood. They loved everything, except for durian. They smelled it and didn’t dare taste it. I had some without them anyway!” She’s not a fan of desserts though. “People don’t really know this about me, but I don’t have a sweet tooth. I prefer to end a meal with cheese and wine.”