All those TV shows, hosted by celebrity chefs, portray the chef life to be one of glamour and ease. In reality, working as a chef is not a bed of roses, but is all about hard work, standing for long hours, making sure that the food is cooked with precision and so much more.
Chefs play a vital role in the hospitality industry, while cooking is an art, a craft that takes months, if not years, to perfect. And, amidst the chaos of delivering the best, chefs often face misconceptions that they need to dispel.
Gomantak Times Digital got in touch with a few chefs, on International Chefs Day, to find out some of the misconceptions that they have to deal with.
CHEFS EAT THE BEST FOOD
One of the biggest myths which chefs have to deal with is when they have to explain about the kind of food they eat. Well, reality check, they don’t like to eat sweets every day, nor do they eat biryani or pasta. They prefer simple food.
“I love to eat ghar ka khanna. My home-cooked food is always very simple like paratha and curd, dal and rice. This is what I like to eat on a regular day,” says Chef Manjit Singh Rattu, Senior Executive Chef at the Holiday Inn Resort, South Goa.
I love to eat ghar ka khanna. My home-cooked food is always very simple like paratha and curd, dal and rice. This is what I like to eat on a regular day.
Chef Manjit Singh Rattu, Senior Executive Chef, Holiday Inn Resort, South Goa
CHEFS KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT COOKING
Kunal Arolkar, a pastry chef from Foodybreaks, Porvorim, says that when he started his career, people would ask him to make different types of food, but he would correct them, and tell them that he was a 'pastry' chef.
“In the formative years, we are taught about various cuisines, but we always have to take a specialisation, and mine is 'pastry'. So, not all chefs know all cuisines,” explains Kunal.
ALL CHEFS ARE RICH AND FAMOUS
Another pastry chef emphasises that a chef must be self-motivated, constantly finding new ways to stay inspired and driven in their craft.
“A chef is an artisan, and like any artist, the best in that person comes out when you give great feedback and praise. In reality, not all chefs are rich and famous, but that doesn’t mean they are not good. Some got an opportunity to get on TV and be famous,” says Chef Pratik Roy, co-owner of Cinco, a bakery and pastry boutique in Margao.
He explains that just because one soldier receives an award, it doesn’t mean the other soldiers are not brave.
A chef is an artisan, and like any artist, the best in that person comes out when you give great feedback and praise. In reality, not all chefs are rich and famous, but that doesn’t mean they are not good. Some got an opportunity to get on TV and be famous.
Pratik Roy, Cinco bakery and pastry boutique, Margao
CHEFS COOK TASTY FOOD AT HOME
After cooking and tasting a variety of dishes all day long, cooking meals at home can be tiring. So, no, they don’t cook food at home, (well, not all the time, at least).
“I love to cook, but I also make sure that I cook only when my daughter asks me to cook a dish. But, that may be only once or twice a month,” says a chef from Vasco.
CHEFS WHO ARE CHUBBY ARE GOOD CHEFS
This is another area where people believe that chefs who are on the heavier side are better cooks. But, this couldn't be further from the truth.
These days, chefs are very health-conscious, and it’s not just about the physical perception.
“It’s all about looking good and being fit. Today, chefs prioritise keeping their weight in check so as to be fit and prevent illness. It is also true that chefs have a lot of running around to do when they are in the kitchen,” says a chef from a resort in North Goa.
So, the next time you see a chef, don't be quick to judge them, because most of them are not famous celebrities, but regular people just like the rest of us.
