Chef Suresh Pillai, popularly known as Chef Pillai, is a celebrated Indian-born British chef and restaurateur who embarked on his culinary journey at the age of 17. Throughout his three-decade career, he worked as a chef de partie, sous-chef, and chef de cuisine at numerous renowned restaurants in London, while also showcasing his talent through participation in and hosting various cooking shows. In 2021, he opened his eponymous restaurant — Restaurant Chef Pillai — in Bangalore, followed by another establishment in Kochi in 2022. Recently, Chef Pillai took to Twitter to share why his flagship restaurants are named after him. "Well, the answer lies in the dream of a 30-year-old!" he wrote, sharing that when he was working in London in 2005, he was "living paycheck to paycheck and couldn’t really afford any extravagant expenses - movies, fancy restaurants, branded shirts - all of this was out of the question." Why are my flagship restaurants named after me? Well, the answer lies in the dream of a 30 year old! I think the year was 2005 While working in London, I was living paycheck to paycheck and couldn’t really afford any extravagant expenses - movies, fancy restaurants, branded… pic.twitter.com/gKI7TE3Ibs — suresh pillai (@chef_pillai) June 28, 2023 However, Chef Alain Ducasse inspired him to dream big. "Alain Ducasse, my idol, for people who don’t know him, is a legend in the culinary circles. He currently has the second most Michelin Stars under his belt - with 21!" he wrote further. Chef Pillai shared that Chef Ducasse has a flagship restaurant at 'The Dorchester, which is an iconic 5-star luxury hotel in London. "To have a restaurant at this property was in itself a massive feat - but naming it after yourself? That is the stuff of dreams! Well, that is where a young Chef de Partie Suresh, started dreaming. Dreaming of the day he can have a restaurant with his name on it," he said. To further fuel and manifest his dream, Chef Pillai would spend countless nights spending outside Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, reading the 7-course tasting menu, "with food I could only dream of making - and with a hefty price of £250 per person - I couldn’t afford it too, clearly!" Last year, he finally visited the restaurant and dined at the eatery where his dream of launching an eponymous restaurant first began. "Last year, I finally got to visit The Dorchester and dine from the place that started it all. As chance would have it, this happened almost on the first anniversary of Restaurant Chef Pillai. No dream is too high, and no goal is too hard. Back yourself up, and get to it - trust me, it’s worth it!" he concluded. 📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don't miss out on the latest updates!
