Renowned culinarian and celebrity chef Ajay Chopra began his career with Cecil Oberoi in Shimla. Over the course of 20 years, Chef Chopra has worn various hats across segments like heading the culinary department in hotels and restaurants, to hosting TV cook shows, to being a restaurant and food consultant and of late also building his own personal brand in the digital space. Steena Joy speaks to Chef Chopra to learn more about his 20-year journey in the industry
How has the journey been for you in the culinary industry?
I can only say that it has been rewarding because 20 years, when I look back it’s a long time but each year has been very different, very rewarding. There is a song that I sing in the church, “Step by step we are moving forward, little by little taking ground”, and I think that’s what has happened in the whole industry as well as my career. The food industry is growing immensely. So, from the times where we were sitting in offices as executive chefs, or even going back to cooking in the kitchens of various hotels, life was very, very demanding. It’s not any less demanding now, but it is just that now it is a very different kind of thought process that we apply. Building restaurants that is what I really do, while also doing events, television and a whole lot of other stuff. The journey has been very rewarding, I can’t complain.
Who has been your inspiration?
Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av Express Food & Hospitality.
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Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av Express Food & Hospitality.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Managing A Cost Efficient Kitchen In Times Of Price Volatility
The second day of the 39th edition of EF&H Expo saw executive chefs and F&B heads of leading hotels in Mumbai voice their views on the challenges and opportunities faced by them in running a cost efficient kitchen during times of volatility in pricing of staple ingredients.
Think About Where The Market Is Headed, Prepare For Tomorrow, And Move Fast
Chander Baljee, CMD, Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels is a veteran hospitality thought leader and an expert on owned, leased, managed and franchised hotel models. His success story features in a book titled ‘Stay Hungry Stay Foolish’ which follows the professional journey of 25 IIM Ahmedabad entrepreneurs. In an exclusive interview with Steena Joy, he elucidates on the changing hospitality landscape, the demand for industry status and advises hoteliers to boldly venture into newer segments, try new niches and create new experiences.
TODAY'S CHEFS ARE RECOGNISED, NOT JUST AS ARTISANS OF FOOD, BUT ALSO FOR THEIR SKILLS AS CULINARY AMBASSADORS
Chef Davinder Kumar, president, Indian Culinary Forum and VP (F&B Production) & executive chef, Le Meridien New Delhi, started his career in 1972 with the Oberoi Group of hotels. The group later sponsored him to go to the Lychee Technique de Hotelier in Paris, to work with selected chefs specialised in French cuisine. He was also the sole Indian representative at the International Cooking Festival held in Tokyo in 1983 and was awarded a medal for his presentation of Indian cuisine. He speaks to Steena Joy on how the culinary scene has evolved in India and his vision for ICF.
Industry experts laud Centre's decision to boost infra and tourism sector in Union Budget for FY 2020-21
THE UNION BUDGET for FY2020-21 focused on three key themes - aspiring India, economic development and caring society.
The demand-supply gap in Indian hospitality industry
At the second GM's Conclave held at the 39th edition of EF&H Expo in Mumbai, our esteemed panelists from leading hotels in Mumbai and Pune discussed the room inventory status in the metros and why hotels need to change their market mix to open up new opportunities.
Go for the kill: Saving v/s vendor relationship
Organised in association with Hospitality Procurement Managers' Forum (HPMF), the second day of the three-day EF&H Mumbai Expo conducted the Power of Purchase, where the who's who of the hospitality procurement fraternity discussed ways to balance two aspects i.e cost saving and maintaining vendor relationship strategically.
Impact of automated revenue management system using Artificial Intelligence in hotels
It is time that concepts like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning also enter the field of marketing and pricing, and not just directly relating to enhancing superior guest experience, says Siddharth Goenka, founder, Aiosell Technologies.
Economic slowdown: Riding out the storm
The first GM's Conclave panel discussion at the 39th edition of Express Food & Hospitality Expo in Mumbai highlighted how the country's hospitality industry is strategising to face the slowdown.
Designing experiential spaces
Hotels and restaurants are reshaping the look, feel and appeal of their properties, using exterior and interior designs as one of the differentiating methods to create unique experiences. Hospitality spaces are moving from utilitarian functionality to contemporary aesthetics and experience driven developments engaging the senses.
INDIA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST POTENTIAL EXPORT MARKETS FOR JIANGXIAOBAI PURE
VBev, a dynamic company engaged in the import, marketing, sales and distribution of international wines, spirits and beers recently introduced first and only premium Baijiu - Jiangxiaobai Pure in the India market. In coversation with Akshay Nayak, Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO, VBev India and Zoe Fu, director of International Business, Jiangxiaobai, spoke about the future roadmap of the premium white spirit in India market.
