Bangalore's chef Manu Chandra is all set to test the pasta making skills of contestants on Master Chef India as the show's first celebrity judge
Bangalore's chef Manu Chandra is all set to test the pasta making skills of contestants on Master Chef India as the show's first celebrity judge
What does the executive chef of Olive Beach, Bangalore and Olive Bar and Kitchen Mumbai do when he is invited as a celebrity chef to judge an episode of Master Chef India? If he were Manu Chandra then he would ask contestants to toss up a difficult pasta that he has been making for the last 14 years and sometimes even up to 500 times a night. 
For in this week's episode, coming up this Sunday the contestants get to pit their skills against Manu Chandra himself. And the punishment if they fail to pass Chandra's test: not one but a double elimination.
We got talking to the Culinary Institute of America, New York graduate and award winning Chef Chandra on why a show like Master Chef should work for India and why Akshay Kumar is the right host for the show event though he is not a pro chef.
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How does it feel to be on the show as a celebrity judge?
It's very cool. This is a large format show with a lot of people watching it. And it is a exciting new concept. It feels good to be featured as the first celebrity chef on the show.
Why do you think the format of this show might work in India?
I think people can relate to food much more than any other form of reality entertainment. In India, there is a direct association with food. More than the glam quotient, of watching celebrities or models in action, there is a real time association with food.u00a0
Tell us more about the episode where you will be appearing?
The first challenge in the episode is to replicate exactly what the chef prepares. For my episode, I prepared a slightly difficult pasta dish, the name of which I am not supposed to reveal right now.
It was challenging for the contestants since none of them have ever worked in a restaurant kitchen or professionally. I liked the contestants' offering in bits and pieces and there were some pleasant surprises too. And surprises are always welcome.u00a0
Tell us some key things you will be looking out for while judging the food?
I will be primarily judging the dish in its entirety. I look at everything from presentation or style of working, understanding instructions and the food and timing.u00a0u00a0
The food on the show looks uniformly brown. For a show where food is the star why do you think the dishes are shot badly?
Indian food is pretty difficult to shoot. Curry doesn't look good on the camera. Also, this is the first time such a show is airing in India, so this is also a learning process as to how to go about such a show. For example, in the Australian version, there are complete fireworks among the contestants and food presented primarily falls into the western cuisine which is easier to shoot but here the show is trying to target both urban and rural India. It is a Hindi speaking show. So, anybody can relate to the show.u00a0
Where does a Bollywood actor like Akshay Kumar fit into a format that is about food and has always relied on professionals and experts from the industry?
I would say popularity ratings. In India Bollywood stars bring with them a strong viewer connect. Akshay Kumar is a big name and even those who might be sceptical about the show might end up watching it because of him. A big star brings in the audience.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
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If you were a permanent judge on this show, how would you do the show differently?
Well, for starters I would make sure that there was a lot more cuisine featured on the show. There is this whole new kind of audience in India now that can relate to food in its many different avatars thanks to exposure and an adventurous palate.u00a0u00a0
Catch Manu Chandra in Master Chef India on November 28, 9 pm, Star Plus
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