1. Your favourite cuisine?
Indian
2. Your favourite dish at home?
Hot hot Vegetable Khichdi with some fresh curd and home made pickle. A roasted papad on the side would be brilliant too!
3. The dishes you love to cook?
I am very passionate about cooking and trying my hand on a variety of cuisines. But my absolute favourites in non-vegetarian are Pork spare ribs with smoked barbecue sauce and Bombil Rawa fry and in vegetarian it would be Vegetable Terrine with pesto cream sauce and Laziz- E- Lauki.
4. Which cities in India and/ or abroad would you rate as best for foodies?
I am from Mumbai so I am a bit biased for the city. If the day is not treating me well the kebabs from Mohammed Ali Road always top my ‘go-to’ list. Also any of those locally famous ‘Khau Ghalis’ that you find in Mumbai are always a pleasure to go to.
5. If you had a choice of starting a restaurant in any city which would these cities be?
I have never lived in Ahmedabad before but if I ever start my own restaurant it will be in Ahmedabad because people here love food, and they are always ready to experiment whether it is fusion food or a new cuisine. I just love feeding people who relish their meals and Ahmedabad is blessed in this!
6. Your most memorable meal or meals?
Back in Mumbai I once had the opportunity of tasting lamb shanks made by a very good friend. It was a get-together of our families but it was the most succulent dinner I have ever had. I have traveled the world but food cooked with love will always have a special place in my heart. The appeal, the ambience and the company adds additional flavours to your cuisine which cant be explained
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7. How would you celebrate a Romantic meal with spouse?
I live away from my family so whenever I visit my family back in Mumbai, I love to cook at home and my wife loves the Pomfret curry I make. So if it had to be a romantic dinner I will set the dinner table up and make her favourite Pomfret curry with rice! Also eating with hand adds a special taste to your meal. ( smiles)
8. If you were told you could plan your last meal what would it be like, what kind of setting and whom would you invite?
My last meal will be on Fiji island indulging in my absolute favourite Fijian Kokoda with my wife by my side.
9. Your career highlights from education to today?
Since the very beginning I knew I wanted to be a chef and I never had second thoughts about my goal. That is why I decided to pursue hotel management in the first place. My journey began with a commis chef and here I am fulfilling my dream of handling the entire kitchen as the Executive Chef of a renowned hotel in the city Novotel Ahmedabad. I continue my learning and honing of my skills as I travel a lot, learn new recipes from the locals, street vendors and home chefs.. As they say cooking is an art that you can’t ever learn it all!
A chef’s journey is no different from any other profession, I would say it is much difficult (but the grass is always greener on the other side) there are no specific working hours, no routine or schedule you can manage alongside neither can you pursue a hobby in your initial stage; all of this never mattered to me. You need to know if you are passionate about your work, if you are nothing can stop you.
Excellent 👌