Now Showing: A Blockbuster Curry Western

Chef Prem Kumar Pogakula may relish whipping up all-time French classics, but he’s still mastering his mom’s countrystyle chicken curry

- PRANNAY PATHAK

When did you decide that you wanted to be a chef?

I was a teenager when I decided that food was my true calling and I wanted to pursue it professionally. Until then, I was simply acquainting myself with food in my hometown, Hyderabad. Helping at family events or enjoying different cuisines at my neighbours’ homes, exploring the street foods and biryanis, all seemed quite novel and interesting to me. What started as a culinary exploration gradually grew into a passion. In those times Sanjeev Kapoor’s TV show was the only inspiration and it was very hard to convince a south Indian family about the profession of a chef. Hence, I joined engineering, did my three semesters (electrical & electronics), then called it quits to follow my passion, hotel management, where my heart belonged.

Which is your most favourite ingredient to use?