Chef Sanjeev Kapoor on what keeps him on his toes at 59

The chef began his career in 1984 in the hospitality industry after completing a diploma in hotel management from the Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, New Delhi. All through the years, he has had the opportunity to cook for various personalities including world leaders, film stars, cricketers, and even the Indian army.

Out of all this, one moment that is close to his heart is when he was honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award – India’s fourth highest civilian honour – in 2017. “I still remember, when I received the call from the Ministry of Home Affairs, I thought it was a prank. To my surprise, however, it wasn’t! I was on cloud nine, and still getting goosebumps as I speak,” Kapoor fondly recollected.

From continuing to reinvent and the crucial role his family has played, Chef Kapoor laid bare a few humanising aspects of his luminous career, and his favourite Ghar ka Khaana (homely food).

Excerpts:

As a chef, how do you keep reinventing yourself and your recipes?

I have a healthy affinity for novelty which keeps me on my toes and allows me to explore avenues. I also believe any recipe be it the recipe of a dish or recipe of life – you just cannot go wrong when you add in innovation and ‘dher saara pyaar’ (lots of love). So, my mantra for reinventing is to keep things simple, but play with the ingredients, methodology, and presentation, to ensure you are doing something different as compared to your previous one. However, to do so, you need a knack to analyse the changing dynamics. As the young generation would say ‘be relevant to the trends’, I do the same. I research and then adapt to make sure that every recipe has that much-needed tweak required to suit the current trends. To give you an example, I have noticed consumers are now more aware of their food choices, so as a chef, I work accordingly to create healthy and innovative recipes.

Who inspires you?

I believe my constant drive to explore inspires me to keep going, but it wouldn’t have been possible without my family’s love and support. My parents were, are, and will always be my inspiration! They have taught me and encouraged me to go that extra mile with patience, be grounded, and never stop learning. Also, I think my audience inspired me to do more of what I do and all that has brought me here today!

Is there a typical day at home?

Just like everyone else, I also have a routine, breakfast, workout, off to work, come back home, enjoy time with family, and call it a day. The only difference is that my routine is not monotonous, each day I am doing something different at work. Some days, I’m trying out new recipes, working on ideas, and attending meetings, other days, I am doing my social responsibility and being a philanthropist like right now, raising funds with Akshaya Patra, a nonprofit organisation. All of which I enjoy thoroughly so it never gets boring or tiring.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor said that his wife makes the best masala dosas (representative) (Source: Freepik)

What is your go-to dish at home or comfort meal for you?

Due to my love for gastronomy, rather than just one dish, I love to try out a variety of foods each day. There’s always the world on a platter at our home! My favourite is the dosa made by my wife Alyona. She makes the best masala dosas. Other than that, comfort food for me is ‘maa ke haath ka khana!’, especially kadhi chawal. To date, I can never get enough of it!

Tell us about your association with ProV Foods

Understanding the need of the hour like the busy lifestyle and the growing shift towards healthy snacking, on-the-go healthy snack alternatives are something I carry. ProV Foods aims to inspire such healthier choices for nutritious living and sustained well-being via nature’s most nutritious snacks and that makes them unique. It offers a wide range of high-quality natural produce that includes almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins, and pistachios, sourced from the finest orchards across India and abroad to ensure a balanced nutrition.

How do you unwind?

I usually have a lot on my plate as I am constantly trying something new. So to relax and unwind, I play some music on the radio and cook. That is an incredibly meditative combo for me. Honestly, sometimes, I just drum my worries away. Moreover, looking out for my loved ones, spending time with family, talking to friends, a sound sleep, and being positive are some of the other things that help me remain all the more stress-free!

Any word of encouragement for the new generation?

Our culinary world has reached new heights and it makes me happy to see that. Today’s youth and even the coming generations have great potential. One thing that I would suggest is to always take challenges head-on with a smile and not be afraid to try out new things. Hard work and patience is the key to success.

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