CW games: Chefs gear up to dish up ‘authentic’ grub

“We are in touch with the Government and have discussed at length about the requirements during Commonwealth Games. We are in process of hiring many foreign chefs at that time on a temporary basis.

“In the last 2-3 years there is a rise in the number of international chefs as hotels want to give authentic look to the dishes. We are confident of meeting the target,” says Manjit Gill, President, Indian Federation Of Culinary Association (IFCA).

Adding that the foreign chefs are finding India a hot destination for their profession as Indian hotel industry is at boom, he says, “I can’t comment on other hospitality sectors but food industry has chefs of all origins and the future looks brighter with many more chefs joining us soon to bring a sense of culinary veracity to the menus.”

According to an industry report, the Commonwealth Games in 2010 is expected to attract 50,000 foreign visitors to Delhi and approximately 30,000 rooms will be required to accommodate these visitors.

However, Irshad Ahmed Qureshi, Master Chef, Intercontinental Hotel, says there are not more than 20 per cent foreign chefs and that too in five star hotels in India and most of them are at the higher levels and ‘desi’ chefs are the ones who are contributing at the operating level.

“It will be difficult to manage so many tourists at that time but Indian chefs are also well trained and have expertise in making every cuisine. Restaurateurs are hiring chefs from the country of origin of the food to promote the brand and attract more and more customers through food festivals and special arrangements,” says Qureshi.

While adding that a foreign chef demands some changes in the style of preparation of the food or the designing of the kitchen, he says, “They want more interactive or live kitchen so that they cook the same food, they used to cook in their country. But that will not be the problem as now every five star hotel has that kind of kitchen culture.”

Admitting that hotels are witnessing a marginal decline in the total number of visitors due to the global meltdown, he says, “Hiring authentic chefs, helps in the certification of food.

The tourists who will come during the games would surely go for food made by the chef from their country. Despite language and cultural barriers, they understand the psyche of their customers better.” Shobha Mishra, Deputy director, FICCI, says the globalisation and easy visa rules have helped the Indian hospitality industry to add diversity in the chef profession.

She adds that it is worth noticing that demand of Indian chefs worldwide is increasing by the day and the number of foreign chef in the country is still very small and making their presence felt slowly and gradually.

Hospitality industry insiders say that it would be very difficult for them to fulfill the large requirements of hotel rooms during games.

Against a requirement of 30,000 hotel rooms, only about 11,000 hotel rooms in star category are available in the capital to host the visitors during the 2010 Games, says O P Mendiratta, secretary, Unit Hotel Forum.