NewDelhi2016

TajMahal

Afterthewelcomelunch,pressinterviewsandintroductiontothekitchens,itwastimeforaparty.Delhi’stopbrassreceivedinvitationstodrinks,abuffetstyledinnerandthechancetotalktousaboutthefestival.Thegardensinthefrontofthehotelweredressedforaspecialoccasion,ahugestagewithBritishhighcommissionbannerscelebratingGreatBritainandourrelationshipwithIndia.Abarandindividualkitchensweresetup,readyforustodisplayandofferaselectionofourmenus.MykitchenofferedCoronationchicken,FishandChipsandAppleCrumble.Fishandchipsprovingtobearevelationandhugelypopularwithexpatsandlocalsalike.“Wherearethemushypeas”wasonequestion,“thebestchipsever”anothercomment,“wonderfulfishnchips!”GreatcommentsallroundandactuallyreallyfuntocooksuchaBritishfavouriteinIndia.

Thefollowingdaywebegantocookforthehotelguests,thesewereamixoflocalsandtourists,guestsfrom,America,Australia,Iran,JapanandtheUK,businessmenandwomen,localbloggers,foodjournalists,andtheSriLankanandSouthAfrican20/20Cricketsteams.

ThekitchenteamattheITCMauryawereallincrediblyhelpful,theWestViewwasonthe18thfloor,rightattheverytopofthehotel,ChefSureshKumarranthekitchen,hehasworkedfortheITCfor35years,hardworking,knowledgeableandagreatsenseofhumour.BrilliantchefandIverymuchenjoyedworkingwithhim.

Thepastrysectionwasonthegroundfloor.It’sveryinteresting,andalsoverydifferentfrommyworld.Ina5-starhotel,eachdepartmenthastheirownroleanditisimportantthateachdepartmentdeliverstheirrole.Thepastrydepartmentwastodelivermydessertsandanypastryworkrequiredformydishes.Thepastryteamwereahighlyefficientdepartmentthatoperated24hrsaday.Allcroissants,pastriesandahugeselectionofbreadwerebakeddaily,achocolateroomproduceddelicatechocolatesofallflavours,cakesforthehotelshopandcolourfulEastereggs.(ThefestivalwasonduringEaster)Thedessertswereallbeautiful,intricate,colourfulanddelicious.

I’demailmyrecipestothepastrychefonadailybasisandwithalittledirectiononpresentation,mydessertswouldappear.ClassicBritishpuddings,likeRhubarbCrumble,StrawberryTrifle,SteamedPuddingsandAppleTarts.Puffpastry,shortcrustpastryandfinishedpithiviers.Thiswasallconsideredtheroleofthepastrydepartment,andasIwasinstructed,thepastrywouldbemorethancapableofproducingtheserecipes.

TeamWestViewattheITCMaurya

Wordsoonspreadandthefestivalbegantobringsomeinterestinggueststothehotel:NehaSudanalocalfoodwriterwhoseblogiscalledDigitizingFood;RockyMohan,ambassadorforOldMonkrumandthemanbehindRocky’sChickenKorma,arecipeinRickSteinscookbookandfamoussearchfortheperfectcurry.Rockywasalovelyman,knowledgeableaboutfoodandhadvisitedmyrestaurantsintheUK,hewasgenuinelyinterestedinourvisittoDelhi.Wetalkedeasilyaboutrecipesandfood,he’sapassionatemanthatknowsourindustryverywell.

SourishBhattacharya,oneofIndia’soldestandmostrespectedjournalistsalsovisitedtheWestView.HisbookingbroughtfeartothechefsattheITCMaurya.ExecutivechefManishaBhasinevenarrivedintheWestViewkitchentoannounceSourishsarrival.Wewereonredalertforhisvisit,menusready,topteamonthestovesandalllookingforwardtotheexcitementofcookingforthisrespectedfoodcritic.

Sourisharrivedalone,notepadinonehand,cameraandabookbyPatChapman,TasteoftheRajintheother.HequicklydiscoveredthatIwasnorelationtoPatChapmanandthatthecookingoftherajwasnowwelloutofdateintheUK.TheCurryLifechefswereproducingauthenticcurries,curriesthatyouwouldfindinthesubcontinent,particularlyBangladeshortheBengalregionofIndia.Sourishtastedeverything,startingwithaselectionofdishesfrommymenuattheWestView,andthendishesfromthePavilionrestaurantdownstairs,specificallybroughtuptotheWestViewforhimtotaste.Sourishwasveryhappy,ShepherdsPieandaLambburgerwithmintedyogurtwereparticularlywellreceived,andtheauthenticityofourBritishcurrieswentdownextremelywell.

Sourishwrotealovelyarticleabouthisvisittothefestival,itappearedinvariouspapersandmagazinesinIndiaandevenmadeitintotheUK’SDailyMail.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3517902/FORTUNE-COOKIE-Understated-British-chef-help-curry-win-Michelin-recognition.html

ThefestivalsarebecomingmoreandmorepopularinIndia,Ihavevisited3differentcitiesandthreedifferent5starhotels,theCurryLifeteamhavemanydifferentopportunitiesinthepipeline,oneofthoseopportunitiesistoworkwithahospitalitycollege.Onemorningat5am,SyedBelalAhmed,editorofCurryLifeandI,flewtoChandigarhinthePunjabandvisitedtheChitkaraSchoolofHospitality.

Thiswasanincredibleexperience,thewelcomewereceivedwasamazing,wewerepresentedwithtwobeautifulIndiansilkscarfs,breakfastandanintroductiontothecollege.Wemetmanyoftheprofessors,theywereallhugelyenthusiasticaboutthepossibilitiesofworkingtogether.Ouraimwastoinspirethestudentstodrivestandardswithinthehospitalityindustry.

StudentsatChitkaraSchoolofHopitality

Aftermeetingtheprofessors,weheadedforalargemeetingandfunctionroom.Unknowntome,weweretobeintroducedto150students,futurerestauranteurs,hotelmanagers,chefsandhospitalitygraduates.

Itwasabrilliantexperience.Onceagainwewerewelcomedandintroducedtothestudents,theyevenplayedashortclipfrommyappearanceonGreatBritishMenu.Iwastheninvitedtogiveatalkonmyexperienceofbeingachefandrunningrestaurants.Itwasactuallyahugehonourtohavebeenaskedtovisittheuniversity.Thestudentsweremassivelyinterested,enthusiasticandextremelyrespectful.

AftermytalkweweretakentothecampuskitchenswithallthestudentchefswhereIwastodemothreedishes.Indiaisadiversecountry.EducationisthemostimportanttopictoanyparentandtheChitkarauniversityispassionateabouttheeducationofitsstudents.

Ihadpreviouslysentfullinstructionsofingredientsrequiredformydemo,onarrivalatthekitchensmyingredientswerereadyformetocook.

IngredientsaresometimeschallenginginIndiaandthiswasgoingtobeachallengingdemonstration,thePunjabisfamousforitsfarmsandthecropsthatareproducedhere.However,theingredientsformydemonstrationwerealittletiredandmyequipmentlimited.Thedemonstrationwentwell,IhadagreatladhelpingmeclearpotsawayandmakesureeverythingIrequiredwasonhand,weproducedthreedishes,stuffedartichokes,Piedmontesepeppersandcoronationchicken.Thestudentsaskedlotsofquestions,afterthequestions,astreamofselfieswererequested,Iknewselfieswereaworldwidecraze,butthisrubberstampeditasaworldwideobsession.ThestudentswerebrilliantandinasimilarwaytocookingwiththeAcademyofCulinaryArts,Adoptaschoolprogramme.Itwasaninspiredday.Thefestivalsareinspiringinsomanyways,myonegoalonthistriptoIndiawastovisittheTajMahal.Thiswasanotherearlystart,wedecidedtotakeataxiandvisittheiconicbuilding.ThreehourssouthofDelhiisAgra,atouristhotspot,andhometotheTajMahalandanotherRedFort.OnarrivalattheTajMahal,youareimmediatelybombardedwithtoutssellingpostcards,daggers,t-shirtsandlotsofothersouvenirs.AguideapproachedusadvisingusnottotakefoodordrinkanywhereneartheTaj,healsoofferedusagoodpriceonaguidedtour.Thisbombardmentcanbytotallyoverwhelming,howevertheguidesareregisteredandactuallyveryhelpful,weagreedagoodpriceforaguideandheadedfortheTajMahal.PetrolcarsarenotallowedtoventuretotheentranceoftheTajMahal,touristsneedanelectrictuktuk,camelorhorsedrivencart.Wedecidedonatuktuk,aquickjourneyupthehillandweweresoonoutsidethefamousmausoleum,itsmorethanabuilding,itsmajesticandlikenothingIhaveeverseenbefore.

MughalArchitecture,AgraWepaidourentrancefeeandenteredthegroundsoftheTajMahal.Theintensesurroundingsoftheexteriorofthesegroundsandtheexperienceofourarrivalhadgone.WewerenowenteringapeacefulparadiseofMughalarchitecture,immaculategrounds,manicuredlawns,fountainsandtombs,ashortwalkthroughthesegroundsandwewerefacedwiththeentrancetothemostfamousstructureitself.

Themarblegleamsinthesunlight,thebluestofskiesbehindthisshinningstructure,itisquitesimplymajesticandwithoutdoubtthefinestmanmadestructureIhaveeverseen.Ittook20000peopleand20yearstocompletetheTajMahal.Therewereplansforanidenticalblackstructuretobebuiltontheoppositeriverbank.YoucanstillseethefoundationstothisBlackTajMahaltoday.TheTajMahalisoneofthesevenwondersoftheworld,IhavevisitedtheGrandCanyonandAyersRock,thesearebothmagnificentnaturalphenomena.TheTajMahalisamanmadephenomenon,itshonestlyaplaceeveryoneshouldhaveanopportunitytosee.QuitesimplyanawesomepieceofarchitecturefromUstadAhmadLahauriandatruemasterpieceofworldheritage.

SomeofthemanygroundstaffattheTajMahalAfteradayattheTajMahalitwasbacktotheITCMayuraandmoreVIPguests.DuringmystayattheWestView,theworldcup20/20wasbeginningtogetserious.Itwassemifinalstime,SriLankawerestayinginthehotelandthenSouthAfricaarrived.Onthreeconsecutivenights,membersoftheSouthAfricancricketteamdecidedtoeatintheWestViewrestaurant.Onthethirdofthesenightsitwasthewholeteam,coachingstaff,physiosanddoctors.TheteamwereplayingSriLankathefollowingday,neitherteamwerethroughtothesemifinalsandIguessitwasagoodchanceforthewholeteamtoenjoysomedowntimeafterabusyworldcuptournament.20/20cricketisafastandfuriousgameandhugelypopularinIndia,givenanopportunitytolivewiththeseplayersforaweek,youreallygetanunderstandingofhowhardaprofessionalsportsman’slifeis.Youareconstantlylivingfromasuitcase,movingfromonehoteltoanother.Certainlynottheglamorouslifeweallthinkasportsmanlives.Indiaisnoeasycountrytolive,workorvisit.Ifeelprivilegedtohavebeengiventheopportunitytocookinsuchanincrediblydiversecountry.IloveeverythingaboutIndia,butsometimesitisimportanttoescapethemadness.IescapetherealIndiawhenIdrivethroughthegatesofmyarmedandguardedfive-starhotel.SecurityiseverywhereinIndia,shoppingmalls,hotels,parksandalltouristattractions.TherealIndiaisextremeinmanywaysandthesecurityofasafehotelisareassuringretreat.

OneofmyfavouritepastimesisvisitingthemanymarketsyoufindthroughoutIndia’stowns,villagesandcities.Thesemarketsarepackedwithpeople.Thefoodmarketsinparticularinterestme:fruitstallssellingabountyofcolourfulexoticfruits,butchersshopssellingmainlygoatandchicken.Livechickenssitonthecountersliterallynexttoalreadybutcheredmeat,goattripe,wholecarcass,legsandanarrayofoffalaredisplayedinthewarmmiddaysun.FliesareeverywhereandforanEnglishmanthisisparticularlyhardtounderstand.Themeatisfresh,veryfresh.Goatsareslaughteredtoorder,chickensaswell,alittlewalktothebackofthesemarketsandyoufindtruckloadsofliveanimalsreadytomeettheirunfortunateend.ThisisIndiaanditisafascinatinginsightintolifeinAsia,thedemandforthismeatismassive,localtradersenjoygoodbusinessandtheconsumerishappywiththeproduct.Healthandsafetywouldhaveafielddayinthesemarkets,themeatisnotforme,butthenIamluckytohaveachoiceandthatisaveryhumblingexperience.Inthefishmarket,you’llfindahugearrayoffishdisplayedandfilletedtoorder,livefishareforsale,riversole,hugeprawnsandcrabs.Iwascasuallywalkingthroughamarketenjoyingthesightsandsmellswhenacatfishjumpedoutofabucketandontomyfeet,IcanhonestlysayIscreamedlikeagirl!AclassicmomentinalocalDelhimarket.

DelhiFishMarketIndiaisanemergingeconomy,thetraditionalmarketsandstreetvendersareeverywhere,butmoreandmoresmartshopsandrestaurantsarebeginningtoopeninthecities.ThereishugewealthinIndiaandalotofthiswealthcanbefoundinNewDelhi.ConnaughtPlaceisoneofthelargestcommercialandbusinesscentresinthecapital.Itisahugeshoppingarea;worldbrands,popularrestaurantsanddesignerlabelsareallhere.Localtailorsworkalongsidethesefashionhouses,theyoffertailoredsuits,handstitchedwithbeautifulfabrics,butnegotiationonpriceisnotavailableinanyoftheseshops.CompareConnaughtPlacewithChandniChowkandyoucouldbeinadifferentworld,thisistherichtapestryofIndia,abrillianttapestrythatIwouldnotwanttochange.ConnaughtPlaceistheOxfordStreetofDelhi,fulloftouristswantingtoshop.itsalsotheplacetoavoid

professionalbeggars,shoeshiningstreetkids,transvestitesandmanyotherinterestingcharacters.IboughtpresentsinConnaughtPlaceformyfamilyandthesepresentsrepresentedthetruecultureofIndia.IwantedtobuypresentsinChandniChowkandIfounditofferedawonderfulexperience.ButthequalityofmerchandisewassecondrateandcomparedtotheshopsofConnaughtPlace,thequalityandchoicesimplydidn’tcompare.ThemarketsofChandniChowkarefascinatingtovisit,thesmells,colours,people,animalsandintenseactionareallawonderfulexperience.ThemarketsareattheheartofIndianculture;localsgoabouttheirbusiness,oxpullcartsloadedwithgoodsalongthebusystreets,trafficishorrendouswithhornssoundingeverywhere,rickshaws,tuktuksandbicyclestransportanythingandeverything.Chaosreignsyeteverythingworksbeautifully.

ChandniChowkDelhiboastsIndia’sbestrestaurant.FoodjournalistAndyHaylerrecommendedIvisitedIndianAccent.http://www.andyhayler.com/restaurant/indian-accentTherestaurantwasfullybookedandItriedmosttricksinthebooktogainatable.Nojoyatall.IntheendSourishBhattacharyacalledtherestaurantandmiraculouslyatablebecameavailable,wearrivedonEasterdayat11.30am,therestauranthadactuallycontactedtheITCMauryatosaythatourreservationhadnotbeenpossible.AlittlementionofSourish’sphonecallfromthepreviouseveningandourtablewasconfirmed!IndianAccentisarestaurantinthetop50intheworld.ChefManishMehrotrahasjustopenedasecondIndianAccentinNewYorkandthereistalkofopeninginLondon.Theservicewasexcellentandthewinelistvariedandinteresting.Thiswasaproperrestaurant;arestaurantyoucouldfindinanycapitalcityinEurope.WebeganthedaywithaglassofSula,sparkingwinefromIndia,actuallydelicious,themenuwasbrilliant.ModernIndianfoodthatkeepsholdofitsroots,flavoursthatweretruetoIndiancookingyetgiventhatmoderndelicatetouch,myfavouritestarterswereChickenkhurchanphulkataco&theduckkhurchancornettoandbreadsofchillihoisinduckkulchaandwildmushroomkulcha.

WehadabrilliantlunchandfinishedwiththelightestpuddingofDaulatkiChaat,FreshTandooriFigs.ThiswaseasilythebestfoodI’veeateninthiscountry.IndianAccentwouldmakeagreatadditiontotheBritishfoodscene,ChefManishisamanonamissionandhehasabrilliantrestaurantthatIhopehemaybringtoLondon.

DaulatkiChaat,FreshTandooriFigs

Delhiwastrulyanincredibletrip;itisamazinghowmuchcanbeachievedin10days.Thesefestivalstakeahugeamountofplanning.SyedBelalAhmedandSyedNahasPashaofCurryLifehavecreatedanamazingadventureforallofuschefsintheUKtoexperienceandenjoy.Thesetripsareajourneyofexploration,weshareIdeas,experiencecookinginacompletelydifferentenvironment,weshareourpassionforhospitalitywithsomanywonderfulpeople.

Thefestivalsbuildfriendshipsacrosstheworldandopenoureyestothepossibilitieswithinourindustry.Food,cookingandhospitalitybuildbridgesandcreateinterestfromallcornersoftheworld-ourworldisnowsosmall,weareconnectedthroughemail,socialmedia,networking,cheapflightsandtheinternet.Goodcookingistheheartbeatofeverynation,thereissomuchcultureinthisworldtodiscover,cooksneverstoplearningandthatisthemostexcitingthingofall.

IlovemyjobasachefandIlovethepeoplethatworkwithinthehospitalityindustry.Foodandcookinghastakenmeallovertheworld,Ihavemetsomebrilliantcooksandsomebrilliantpeople.Indiaisacountrythatofferssomeworldclasshospitality,aswellassomeoftheverybesthotelsintheworld.

Thankyouteamforthiswonderfulexperience,youareallamazing.

Biglove.

DominicChapman-April2016