Leading chefs want to hone skills of juniors

MANIPAL: Senior and leading chefs of India are on a mission to bring the aspiring young chefs to the limelight. Moreover, seniors want their junior to hone the skills required by the food industry.

On the occasion of World Chefs Day, a dozens of executive chefs from across India were at

Welcomgroup School of Hotel Administration

and department of culinary arts, Manipal, to discuss on various aspects of food industry. Chef

Manjit Singh Gill

, senior corporate chef, ITC Hotels, president of

Indian Federation of Culinary Association

feels that there is a big gap between experienced and freshers. Young generation hesitates to approach their seniors even though they have cooking skills. "To bridge this gap, we want to be closer to the youngsters. So to implement this, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) has undertaken conferences, workshops and other programmes to develop a cordial relationship. The results are positive," Gill pointed out.

Chef Damodaran, holder of

Guinness Record for Longest Cooking Marathon

says that through guidance of senior chefs they can perform.

"Both budding and established chefs need each for career and skill development."

Commenting on more youth getting into culinary arts, Vijaya Baskaran V, vice-president, IFCA, executive chef, executive assistant manager Le Meridian, Bengaluru, feels that modern day kids are well informed about choosing cooking as a career. The cooking profession will grow and enhance if more and more young hands get into this industry.

Senior chefs stress that they are happy people. "Cooking makes one happy, de-stresses. In the coming days, India will have biggest number of chefs in the world."

Reality show was an inspiration

Vikram Cotah CEO, GRT Hotels, Chennai, reveals that TV cookery shows, both in abroad and in India, have inspired people to become chefs. "Looking at a chef's life, the way food is presented and other glamorous things attached to it, more youngsters are taking up this profession," he says, adding that even his daughter was inspired by a reality show.