Celebrity chef and restaurateur, Kunal Kapur is famously called the “curry and kebab guy” by some of the best food critics worldwide.
Born in a Punjabi family, his love for food started early. Proud recipient of Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship 2012, titled Gourmet Guru by Food & Nightlife magazine and honoured as one of the top 20 chefs in India, the executive sous chef of Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon has many laurels to his credit.
He talks about food, the changing food scene in the country and his future plans in an exclusive chat with AskMen India.
How do you describe your style of cooking?
My style is rustic, simple and homestyle bursting with flavours.
Which is the dish you call your Signature dish?
Haleem Kebab has been my signature dish that has stood out and has been appreciated by all. There are a lot other chefs who have tried to copy it.
Is there a secret ingredient that you love to cook with?
There are a few spices that I play with when I am cooking Indian food. They do the trick all the time and get me accolades. They are my best kept secrets.
Is there a Chef you truly admire and why?
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is an inspiration. He has faced many odds in life but never gave up on his dream of making food big in our country. I draw immense inspiration from him, want to be like him.
What is Chef Kunal's favourite meal?
My favourite meal is the Karela Subzi that my mom cooks. Karela is cooked every second day in my house and it is because I like it. I just wrap a few in the chapatti, make a roll and enjoy it on the go.
Do you have a guilty food pleasure?
I am addicted to chocolates. I am a person who has to have a chocolate a day.
Are you asked to cook at personal gatherings? Does it annoy you or you enjoy it?
Actually I am expected to. My family feels that they have a privilege of having a chef at home. I am the most loved and pampered in my big family. So I get my family involved as well and we all cook together whenever possible.
How do see the food scene changing in India?
It’s simple math actually. More spending power = More Travelling = More Eating out. Cooking was once considered an option for the hopeless in academics, but is now a sought after career. Food is the 4th largest employer in India and there has been a huge thrust to the food economy of India recently.
Travel is not about the destination anymore, it’s about sampling food. The latest trend in India is to go local, research and bring out the lesser known ingredients or dishes in a new avatar.
Source: https://in.askmen.com/cooking/1097548/interview/an-interview-with-celebrity-chef-kunal-kapur
Read more about: Exclusive Celebrity Interviews
Born in a Punjabi family, his love for food started early. Proud recipient of Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship 2012, titled Gourmet Guru by Food & Nightlife magazine and honoured as one of the top 20 chefs in India, the executive sous chef of Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon has many laurels to his credit.
He talks about food, the changing food scene in the country and his future plans in an exclusive chat with AskMen India.
How do you describe your style of cooking?
My style is rustic, simple and homestyle bursting with flavours.
Which is the dish you call your Signature dish?
Haleem Kebab has been my signature dish that has stood out and has been appreciated by all. There are a lot other chefs who have tried to copy it.
Is there a secret ingredient that you love to cook with?
There are a few spices that I play with when I am cooking Indian food. They do the trick all the time and get me accolades. They are my best kept secrets.
Is there a Chef you truly admire and why?
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is an inspiration. He has faced many odds in life but never gave up on his dream of making food big in our country. I draw immense inspiration from him, want to be like him.
What is Chef Kunal's favourite meal?
My favourite meal is the Karela Subzi that my mom cooks. Karela is cooked every second day in my house and it is because I like it. I just wrap a few in the chapatti, make a roll and enjoy it on the go.
Do you have a guilty food pleasure?
I am addicted to chocolates. I am a person who has to have a chocolate a day.
Are you asked to cook at personal gatherings? Does it annoy you or you enjoy it?
Actually I am expected to. My family feels that they have a privilege of having a chef at home. I am the most loved and pampered in my big family. So I get my family involved as well and we all cook together whenever possible.
How do see the food scene changing in India?
It’s simple math actually. More spending power = More Travelling = More Eating out. Cooking was once considered an option for the hopeless in academics, but is now a sought after career. Food is the 4th largest employer in India and there has been a huge thrust to the food economy of India recently.
Travel is not about the destination anymore, it’s about sampling food. The latest trend in India is to go local, research and bring out the lesser known ingredients or dishes in a new avatar.
Source: https://in.askmen.com/cooking/1097548/interview/an-interview-with-celebrity-chef-kunal-kapur
Read more about: Exclusive Celebrity Interviews
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