WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST?
Baked beans cooked with onion, coriander on toast
IS THERE A CHILDHOOD COMFORT FOOD THAT YOU THINK ABOUT?
Oh yes, my altimeter favorite comfort food is Khichdi- India’s superfood, a savory porridge made with rice and lentils
WHICH TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE THAT YOU DON’T POSSESS?
I would love to sing, but can’t even hold a simple tune
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DO BEFORE YOU STARTED COOKING?
A super fancy hotshot, conquering the business world
OF ALL THE FRENCH PASTRIES, WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE TO MAKE?
A simple croissant
IS THERE ONE FOOD THAT YOU’RE SECRETLY OBSESSED WITH HAVING AT HOME?
Yogurt
IS THERE A FOOD THAT YOU DISLIKE?
I really dislike broccoli in every form
IF YOU COULD FIND OUT ANYONE’S SECRET RECIPE, WHOSE AND WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Chef Massimo Bottura’s tortelli
WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MEAL AND WHY?
Way too many
WHAT MENTORS HELPED YOU ALONG YOUR JOURNEY OF BECOMING A CHEF?
Anna Tasca Lanza from Sicily who now has passed away, Faith Willinger, my dearest friend, Serra who helped me appreciate Italian cooking
THROUGHOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY, HAVE YOU NOTICED A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KITCHENS THAT ARE RUN BY MEN VS. KITCHENS THAT ARE RUN BY WOMEN? IF SO, WHAT WAS THIS DIFFERENCE, AND HOW DID IT IMPACT THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT WHILST PREPARING FOOD?
Women are more detail-oriented and also by nature don’t like wasting, so I always find kitchens run by women are always sparkling clean and zero wastage
IT IS REALLY SAD TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING GLOBALLY. YOUNG ASPIRING CHEFS ARE LOOKING TO THEIR HERO’S HOW TO TURN PAIN INTO CREATIVITY. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO TURN THIS DIFFICULT TIME INTO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE?
At this moment all young chefs need to embrace the change that is happening and be more aware of the food crisis on our planet they need to get creative on these lines and use their talent in creating zero-waste cooking, farm to table, and simplicity
WHAT IS ONE POSITIVE AND ONE NEGATIVE EFFECT COVID-19 HAS HAD ON YOUR LOVE FOR MAKING FOOD?
I went back to cooking my home meals that grew up with which is Indian food, I don’t think I cooked as much in the last years as I have done in the last 10 months. The negative has been that we were forced to shut some of our restaurants which have been heartbreaking
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN SPENDING YOUR TIME RECENTLY, HAVE YOU HAD TIME TO CREATE NEW RECIPES?
I have been reading a lot, cooking food that I grew up with, and for the first time in my life making myself a priority
RESTAURANT CONTACT INFORMATION & SOCIAL MEDIA Delhi and Goa, India| Milan, Italy Diva, The Italian restaurant Cafe at ICC Latitude 28 PDA Martinis & More Cittamani, Milan SPICA, Milan email: [email protected] Address: C-107, Pocket C, Okhla Phase I, Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi - 110020, India Telephone: +91 011 4107 4016 website: http://www.divarestaurants.com and https://www.cittamani.com/en/ and https://www.spicarestaurant.com/en/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritudal/