Why the Indian celebrity chef loves our version of the show
There is no one in India who does not know his name. sanjeev kapoor. He is a renowned chef, broadcaster, author, entrepreneur and global cooking and food superstar. He has written more than 200 cookbooks, has 20 million followers online and hosts the longest-running TV cooking show in Asia (Khana Khazana) for 19 years.
Kapoor also launched India’s first 24-hour Hindi cooking channel. FoodFoodcurrently watched by millions of people; was the primary judge MasterChef India for two seasons; In 2017, he was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Republic of India, for his outstanding contributions to the field of culinary arts.
But next Sunday, some Australians may meet him as a guest judge for the first time. MasterChef Australia. Lenny Ann Low Ahead of his local debut, he spoke to her about the importance of competitive cooking in India, her favorite Australian ingredients and what a star chef chooses for breakfast when she’s at home.
Hello Chief Kapoor, what’s going on in Mumbai this morning?
We were waiting for monsoon rains and they were delayed. Typically, it starts raining in Mumbai in the first week of June. There has been some concern due to India’s dependence on monsoon rains. But when I woke up this morning, I heard the sound. First day of rain. It’s a short time but I’m out and the roads are wet and everything looks greener, so that’s good.
Are you at home in Mumbai often or do you travel the world a lot?
Normally [I’m travelling]Yes. People ask me “Where are you?” when you ask. “Today “I am here.” For this reason Today I’m in Mumbai.
What does Celebrity Chef Kapoor prepare for breakfast at his home?
I have this fresh mango in my hand [he shows segments of brilliantly orange fruit] and – you may not have seen this fruit [he holds up something that looks like a large dark shiny olive]. This is called jamun. It’s delicious. A type of fruit. It has a large seed and will turn your entire mouth purple. Not only its meat but also its seeds are good for diabetics.
You are known as a pioneer in changing the stigma around men cooking in home kitchens in India. How did this happen?
When I got into this job, this profession was looked down upon. It was something you would say: “Oh, you’re a chef, so it’s hard for you to get married if you want to.” Men in the kitchen were a definite no-no. It was not a place where men could be seen. I got an education, I worked hard [as executive chef at the Centaur Hotel in Mumbai]luck was on my side. I was awarded India’s Best Chef. This actually changed everything.
How did this change things?
To me, this changed everything because I was haunted by the thought of what I would have done with the rest of my life if I had achieved this so early (I wasn’t even 28 at the time). In that case [the 1990s] There were no independent restaurants. They were mostly big hotels, I was working as an executive chef in a big hotel and then I had other hotels under my command. That’s when I said, “No, I need to do more.”
How did you do this?
I worked harder. While working as a chef, I attended a master’s course in marketing management. Then I was on a TV cooking show for one episode, but I was completely immersed in it. I gave a lot more than other chefs because for me it was something different. I turned this episode into 19 years of uninterrupted TV coverage [on Khana Khazana]. It became number 1. In a way, I did in India what Julia Child did in food and TV in the US. And that’s how I realized that men are no longer thought of as not being in the kitchen. And Women began to gain their independence in a sense. My father said at the beginning: “Your contribution is not just teaching them how to cook, but the real liberation of women.” In a way, this was a social change.
Tell me about your popularity MasterChef Australia in India. He is so loved MasterChef Indiareally?
Yes. There are two TV markets in India. someone watching MasterChef India. There are more than four or five MasterChefs In India, in different languages. And later MasterChef AustraliaOf course it’s Australian English, so the audience is very different. It’s very popular.
What was it like to participate MasterChef Australia As a guest judge?
It was great. I know this world [TV cooking shows] very good and i think MasterChef AustraliaIn terms of competitive on-screen cooking, it’s the epitome of how it’s done. This is the first person to crack the code of being competitive yet lovable. This is the friendship you see. It brings everyone together in a world where everyone is trying to tear the world apart.
What is the power of a cooking program, competitive or not?
The beauty of such a show MasterChef Australia is that it has changed the verbal expression of the meal. Not just the country, but the whole world. Shows like this made this possible. The words they use in the series are things you start to taste.
What are your favorite ingredients when you travel to Australia?
I’ve been coming to Australia for a long time. I became, in the words of Tourism Australia, a “friend of Australia”. I’ve been in contact with the chefs there and we’ve actually had one of our most successful shows on television, The Out of the World series included Extraterrestrial: Australia. So I traveled there a lot.
In terms of ingredients, I would say banya seeds [which are] very different. But one thing that I think needs to be brought into the mainstream is finger lime. You can use it on everything. Those little pearls are so beautiful.
Why do you love them?
People ask me “What is the taste of India?” he asks. I will tell you the answer in Hindi: even, Meetha, teekha And namkin. Four tastes. It is sour, sweet, tangy or spicy, hot and salty. So what do I start with? I say sour evenFirst. The finger lime sits right on top. This fruity acidity is something very unique. What it does is, while other flavors are playing on your palate, it starts to clear everything out. It’s a cleanser. In other words, it is tasting, cleaning, tasting. It enhances the taste of everything else. It doesn’t need to be harsh.
Tangerine or orange is nice but too sweet. Lemon or lemon is very sour. Finger lemon – not sweet but sour. It’s very fresh. Sometimes it may be pink and the pearls may look like small, shiny, pink caviar. It truly is like nothing else.
MasterChef Australia Ten and 10 play is played on Sundays at 7pm and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm. Sanjeev Kapoor will be the guest judge on Sunday, July 5.
