8216;I8217;m a Mannequin8217;

How do you handle those midnight hunger pangs? My biggest weakness is junk food. My wife flies, so the kitchen8217;s always stocked with Br...

How do you handle those midnight hunger pangs?

My biggest weakness is junk food. My wife flies, so the kitchen8217;s always stocked with British crisps and onion-chive flavoured dip. I8217;m blown away by platters of dips, not the usual hummus or garlic types but the pesto and tomato varieties.

Any food nightmares as a kid?

When we knew my mom was cooking karela, my brother and I didn8217;t come back home. Fish days left us with a bad aftertaste too, though I love it now. Yet, every afternoon my mother used to whip up some delights: banana fritters, French fries, French toast8230; it was the biggest source of my weight, and ensured I was always at the bottom of the human pyramid in gym class.

Do you have a special date menu?

More than food, I8217;m big on ambience: mood lighting, aroma, candles. My brother and I once hired the top deck of a boat, off the Gateway of India, and took along his girlfriend and Sabina, who I was courting at the time. We set up a table, brought food from home, had jazz playing lightly, no lights and one waiter. It was a shitty boat but we made it special with a few touches. For a great date, you need the whole experience to fall into place.

Favourite ingredients?

I8217;m a sucker for bacon. Even when I8217;m at a restaurant with a complex menu, when I see bacon, my eyes light up. I always ask for extra bacon and add it to everything. I8217;d eat it even if it was in Tiramisu.

Why are you opening a restaurant in Delhi?

Eight years ago, I saw the Qutub Minar. I was hooked, and always wanted to have a restaurant in its vicinity. Heritage and food will go together. If anyone likes the Qutub, he will like my food too.

How is the Delhi food scene different from Mumbai?

Well, Delhi has more meat eaters. They have nice houses, but fewer quality hotels. The restaurant culture in Delhi is relatively new. Mumbai has always been a khao city, it has a fetish for food.

What inspires your dress sense?

I am a mannequin, which my wife dresses. Left to myself, I will turn out in a lungi and T-shirt. Sabina chooses my dress, like she chooses so many other things for me.