Chef's Interview

The Creators of Delicacy -- the Chefs

I interviewed Five Chefs from "India 4 You," an Indian contemporary restaurant that my family loves. Usually, we have our Saturday or Sunday lunch there so interviewing their Chefs and seeing their restaurant closer was a great opportunity for me.

All five Chefs of "India 4 You" were males. This is surprising because in India, it is traditionally the women who became cooks. When asked about this, one of them said that times were different and men are trying this aspect of work more. Clearly, traditions can be broken depending on the person's willingness to break boundaries and explore unchartered courses.

In addition, although the restaurant is managed and manned by men, it is elegantly decorated and offers a relaxing ambiance. Maybe some will be surprised to know that a restaurant painted in red and gold is being maintained by men.

All of five Chefs got into the restaurant business based on necessity. Junior Singh, owner and head chef, started working in a restaurant at twelve years old while Kazi, Abdul, Lal and Kabir became Chefs because it is the only work they knew.

Junior was also a hotel management graduate while the other four were all high school graduates. Although they came from different academic achievements, all five are working harmoniously on their specific cooking tasks and they are all willing to explore and discuss menus and recipes together. All of them are also one in giving the best meal they can in the shortest possible time so customers will enjoy dining in their restaurant.

Most significantly, working in a restaurant, especially one that often has a lot of customers; necessitates skills, hard work and dedication from its employees. "India 4 You's" Chefs may not have come from good family backgrounds, educated from fancy culinary schools or dressed beautifully like the Chefs seen on TV but they are working from their hearts and their dreams propel them to give their best all the time. By the end of a long day's work in their restaurant, all five feel satisfied knowing that they offered excellent meal and service to their customers.