Pastry chefs are no less than other professionals in skill and dedication, say Junior Pastry Indian Cup 2023 title winners

Final moments and winning the competition

On their victory, Sadia said, “The feeling is indescribable, mainly because our next step is to represent India. As we held the trophy, the word ‘INDIA’ struck me, filling our hearts with pride and honour.”

Kothari said, “I was eyeing this competition from a very young age and this was an absolute dream come true for me.”

The title winners who competed against six teams from leading culinary institutions across India at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida, NCR were lauded for their “desserts, flavour pairings and artistic skills used in our showpieces”.

“The pressure to deliver our creations on time weighed heavily on our shoulders from day one. With many desserts to present within a limited time frame and space… made us a little nervous. Nonetheless, we knew we had to push through and give it our all,” recounted Sadia.

Describing the final hour in detail, with the temperature and humidity rising in the hall and the limited working area, Sadia recalled, “Since we had been travelling from Bengaluru, we had to carry 300 kgs of baggage to Noida. Coming out to win the event was remarkable and learning how to deliver with pressure was an intense experience.”

When Kothari was making the sugar showpiece at a height of 120 cm at the buffet table, it almost fell down. “The humidity in the arena was very high and the pieces were not sticking and were falling apart. My showpiece almost fell apart into two pieces a few minutes before the final presentation. But what helped was patience and perseverance,” recalled Kothari.

The Junior Pastry Indian Cup 2023 was a two-day competition (Source: PR Handout)

Their journeys

Their team manager Dhuria also opened up about how the team came together. “Sadia was our student who approached us directly and we knew she could do that. Prerna approached us through social media. We took interviews with both candidates and then after a few trials, we were satisfied with their performance, and I can say now that our selections were not wrong,” said Dhuria.

For Kolkata-based Kothari, who comes from a traditional family of commerce and finance professionals, it was very difficult “to convince my parents about wanting to become a chef”. “It has been quite a journey to pursue my passion with all the struggles and hardships. But I’ve never been more content in my life. I wake up every day with this same feeling of excitement and curiosity to make something new. This victory has proved to my parents that conventional paths are not the only option to make a career, it is extremely difficult to pursue your passion but the joy of doing what you love is over and beyond,” said Kothari.

Bengaluru-based Sadia also has had a somewhat similar journey. “It was not an easy journey for us to follow our passion and not choose a career in medicine or engineering. Initially, our family found it hard to accept, but this win has convinced them that pastry chefs are no less than other professionals in skill and dedication. This victory holds a special place in our hearts, as it signifies a personal triumph and our families’ acceptance of our chosen career path,” said Sadia.

 

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A post shared by Prerna Kothari (@_prernakothari_)

Takeaways

The happy winners shared that their takeaway from the competition is that relentless pursuit is key once you set a decisive goal for yourself. “There will be tough days, but during those moments, you need to remind yourself why you started in the first place. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your vision; together, you can achieve wonders,” said Sadia.

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