shot-button
Maharashtra Elections 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024
Home > Mumbai Guide News > Mumbai Food News > Article > Learn the art of being a home chef from seasoned names in culinary business

Learn the art of being a home chef from seasoned names in culinary business

Updated on: 24 March,2018 10:43 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Phorum Dalal |

Want to make it big in the home chef space? Learn a trick or two from four seasoned names - all nominees in the Best New Home Chef/Pop-up category of The Guide Restaurant Awards 2018

Learn the art of being a home chef from seasoned names in culinary business

O
O' Tenga Fish Meal with Payox


Home chefs, over the past few years, have taken the city's palates by storm and tempted us to try regional cuisine. Who would have thought we would sign up for a meal in a stranger's home, breaking bread with unknown people and organically improving our vocabulary and taste buds to appreciate Indian food?


Priyangi Borthakur and Joyee Mahanta
Priyangi Borthakur and Joyee Mahanta


For the upcoming Guide Food Awards, a special category was made for Best New Pop-up and Home Chefs. These four nominees, who have created a niche for themselves, share lessons for aspiring home chefs.

Idli

'Research your cuisine'
Prabha Kini, home chef Organises pop-ups with Authenticook.com
First of all, you have to be a superb chef who makes interesting conversations. You must know the history of the state where the cuisine comes from, so that as a host, you can share insights about it and add some lesser-known trivia. It is necessary to know when the dish is supposed to be traditionally served, for example, at a pooja or during a marriage.

Prabha Kini

I am from Mangalore and promote GSB and Tulunadu (region that spread over parts of the Karnataka and Kerala). I specially cook dishes that are not available in restaurants. The toughest challenge for me was to nail the quantity to be cooked. It is not true that women eat less than men! I serve only freshly cooked food to the guests. Leftovers become our home meals.

Danda Food

'Cook, create'
Aditya Raghavan Co-founder, The Danda Food Project with Anandita Kamani
Stick to your strengths and cook food with love. It took us a while to sell all our tickets. Apart from word of mouth, we used social media to get our name out and have now gained enough traction so that we can continue to work on this project.

Aditya Raghavan

We give ourselves long-term targets, ranging a few months so that we can keep tabs on our growth in developing technique and creativity in the kitchen.

'Do what you love'
Joyee Mahanta Co-founder, O Tenga, with Priyangi Borthakur
This is the time for a home-chef revolution, so if you love food and cooking, just follow your passion and cook from your heart. As long as you are doing something you love, it will never get boring. We feel very lucky that people are adventurous with their food choices in Mumbai and open to experimentation and trying out new cuisines.

Ou-Tenga aru Xoriyoh Paator Gahori
Ou-Tenga aru Xoriyoh Paator Gahori

We were sceptical when we started out as we weren't sure if our [Assamese] cuisine will be easily accepted by the people here. But the simple and unique flavours of our food seem to have hit the right notes.

Lunch spread

'It's important to be focused'
Pooja Pangtey Co-founder, Meraki with Teiskhem Lynrah, for Kumaoni and Khasi food
Passion is the key for becoming a home chef. It is important to be focused - cooking for hours on the go is not easy. You need to know what you are getting into because when you are running a proper kitchen, you have to handle operations, purchasing as well as marketing! When you have your own business, you have to be your own CEO and peon, doing on-ground work like picking up the chairs.

Pooja Pangtey

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK