FEA has been a catalyst for collaborations between home chefs and restaurants or hotels for food festivals. Mridu Parikh talks about the Amritsari and Ludhianvi Food Festival at The Green House, and the Lohri and Makar Sankranti Festival at Turquoise Villa.
Do you think such food festivals can support home chefs?
It was an experience of lifetime and an opportunity to believe in myself.
How did you decide the menu?
Anil Mulchandani told me that I should serve popular and appealing delicacies of Punjab but the taste should be home-style. So with his guidance, I tried to offer home-cooked dishes of Punjab to the guests. I made him try Bhee-ka-kofta made with lotus stem and other dishes for his opinion.
Was it challenging to work in a commercial kitchen?
Working in a big kitchen was for the first time, I was surprised to see the size of the knobs to switch on the gas. Huge utensils made me nervous. Fortunately, the superb staff of House of MG supported me and didn’t let me feel like I am an outsider. The fear quickly gave way to big-time learning. Their smiles to reassure me if I came close to panicking to meet a large quantity order made me feel at home. It was an experience that is beyond words.
It was a challenge to plan, to handle, to execute and work in big kitchen without getting overwhelmed by the size of the orders and the magnitude of the hotel kitchen, and learning the minute details of consistency of driving a good commercial kitchen .
Bhura Mahraj and his team is phenomenal. Ashish makes you feel so comfortable. Bansari was there to coordinate with the relations. The kitchen and waiting team told me, `madam have tea and start your work’ or `madam it’s time you eat something *, making you feel as if you are a part of their team. House of MG has justly named itself a house, they make you feel truly at home.
Who encouraged you to take on the challenge?
I was thinking of making just a few dishes but Anil Mulchandani said I had to design an entire Punjabi thali and a number of combos. I was nervous but my husband and he trusted me more than I had faith in myself. This was my highest motivation.
Which were the heart-warming moments?
You, Ankita Sharma, said I am transported to lanes of Delhi and Punjab mentally, after eating this food. The customers kept asking when I am doing another festival. The compliment brought smiles to my tired body.
