TheHotelTimes: Do you have any advice for the students here to become successful in this field?
Kunal Kapoor: My first advice to young hoteliers and aspiring chefs is to look for a mentor who can teach and guide them. We live in a wonderful world of the wide web, all the questions in the world has answers online. Youngsters should take advantage of this abundant access and learn more and more each day. I think for the Initial 4-5 years, they should focus on learning skills of trade and work as much as they can. The thought of making money comes much after.
And most importantly, they should remember to always enjoy what they are doing and travel as much as they can. And yes the most important is to smile & laugh as much as possible.
TheHotelTimes: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Kunal Kapoor: My biggest inspiration is my father. I have grown up watching him being relentless. My work ethic comes from him. He is someone who has always exposed me to so many hobbies as a kid which later became my passions. He gave me the encouragement and unconditional support to so what I love and pursue my dreams away from the traditional stereotypes. He gave me the courage to dare to become what I wanted to be instead of what was expected of me. My photography comes from him, my cooking began watching him cook and he has always inspired me to travel more, explore more and learn more.
TheHotelTimes: What do you feel the hospitality scene in India needs in order to take it to the next level?
Kunal Kapoor: The success of Government of India’s ‘Make In India’ initiative is exemplary and the same needs to transpire in the hospitality industry, Our service is a benchmark in the industry but the same can’t be said about indigenous products and ingredients. The Government should help provide a global platform, access and exposure to homegrown ingredients, products and experiences to create aspirational value for them.
TheHotelTimes: What was your proudest moment in the last 10 years?
Kunal Kapoor: One of my proudest moment was working with Street Food Vendor Association of India to educate them on basic hygiene and cleanliness practices in association with NASVI. Our country has a rich treasure of street food but there is often a negative connotation attached to it due to hygiene concerns. I endeavoured to educate hundreds of vendors on best practices and there is no match for the satisfaction you get from sharing your privilege with the ones who don’t have access to it.
TheHotelTimes: What was the highest moment in your career?
Kunal Kapoor: I have been extremely fortunate to receive immense love and encouragement throughout my career. I have been bestowed with several culinary & television awards.I have been honored with Dr. S. Radhakrishnan National Media network award. The Indian Television Academy awarded me the Best Jury/ Anchor on television for Junior Masterchef India. I am a proud recipient of the prestigious “Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship 2012” from the Government of New Zealand in the field of Food & Beverage. I have won 6 times best restaurant awards in a row for my restaurants. I was given an opportunity to present Satvik cuisine to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Ms. Merkel, in Bangalore. I also cooked for 42 first ladies on the India Africa Summit besides an interactive cooking session with them during their recent visit to India. Every milestone has been immensely rewarding but sky is the limit and there are many more to come.
TheHotelTimes: What was your time like on Master chef?/ Is there something that you learnt on that show?
Kunal Kapoor: When you train as a professional chef, there’s a certain arrogance that get seeded in you that you are better than people who cook at home. MasterChef has been a very humbling experience for me as I realised through the home cooks I met that the real culinary talent is still locked away in home kitchens. There are so many flavours and skills and innovations that come out of home chefs and are way beyond what a textbook can teach you. It has been an extremely fun, enlightening, humbling and memorable.
TheHotelTimes: What made you come to this event and why?/ Why did you choose to speak at this event? Do you think this type of event will make difference to the people who are just entering the hospitality industry?
Kunal Kapoor: I think of 18 years back when I was a new kid on the block raring for exposure and striving for opportunities to learn. An event like this would have been a dream come true. I am excited to share my learnings and experience with the young aspirants and also look forward to interact with fellow industry stalwarts. I think it is a wonderful platform for youngsters to learn and for best practices and skills to be exchanged. Forums like these bring the industry together making them spare some time from their hectic lifestyles and collectively nurture the industry.
TheHotelTimes: What do you like about being a chef?/What is the biggest pro about being a chef?
Kunal Kapoor: The best part about being a chef is being the blessed child of God who gets to be amidst in the best of food always and I get to live my passion for a living.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
