Meet the food curators and adventure seekers

PUNE: In most cases, a degree from Oxford would either make it to the mantelpiece or grace walls of book-stacked studies. But there are some exceptions now - people looking beyond plain vanilla lives and linear career graphs and plunging headlong into the unknown, armed with a passion to do something different.
Thirty-four-year-old Jayesh Paranjape, with a masters in environmental science, worked with a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Nagpur for wildlife conservation and environmental education and then with a wildlife magazine where he handled its marketing, media and public relations.But he had other dreams. "I thoroughly enjoyed my work, but I wanted to start my own venture. The plans varied and changed from time to time, but I was always clear that I wanted to pursue two passions - travel and food."
So he took up masters programme in 'responsible tourism management' from Leeds, UK, came back to Pune and started The Western Routes - that provides travellers unique tour experiences in unexplored corners of Maharashtra. And food is an integral part of these trips.
Like Paranjape, Sajjani Nair was fairly successful as a graphic artist when she got married and moved to Pune. "We entertained a lot and friends and family who loved the fare I laid on the table. Though I had certain ideas regarding food, I couldn't think of going commercial as I lacked conviction," she says. She then showcased her fare at the Pune wine tasting festival and overwhelmed by the response, she finally decided to follow her calling.
"That is how 'The secret chef nextdoor' came about. I didn't advertise as I didn't want any investment or to make a noise about it. It has all been word of mouth," says Nair, who doesn't have a delivery system, but manages a clientele across the city. "Every once in a while, I do a 'secret spin night' when I put up a menu on a Monday morning on Facebook and take pre-orders for a particular area. Then I set out on a Friday evening to that particular area, park somewhere, and people come and pick their orders. I open the boot of my car with extra goodies too for walk-ins," says this entrepreneur.
For Shreeram Kunte, it was after 16 years in his sales job that he decided to quit and help revive regional cuisine instead. "I was professionally successful, but on a personal level I wasn't very happy because I heard a different drummer. I always wanted to follow my passion in food and change the way regional cuisines were promoted," he says.
Kunte launched Zipmeals.in, an online platform that offers home delivery of home-cooked food. Handpicked home cooks display their pre-approved menu on the website and customers select the menu of their choice. "We pick up the food from the home cook's kitchen and deliver it to the doorsteps of our customers. Helping people eat the right food and at the same time being able to showcase the richness of regional cuisines are my drivers," says he.
For Oxford-returned Saket Khanna, it was the craving for typical home fare that made this self-confessed geek try the impossible. "My cofounder Neeta and I created MealTango - a site through which you can find home food options wherever you go. Next time you're in Tokyo or Osaka, for example, you can dine with a Japanese family. Similarly, if you are in Italy, it could be pasta in an Italian home. We are in 16 countries now," says this proud 34-year-old who gave up his career in technology consultancy. "We have all sorts of home options here in India. We also have scenic getaways with delicious food options," he adds.
All these entrepreneurs swear by the strong support they received from their families. And, of course, they also acknowledge their courage to take the plunge.
"This has been a nail-biting adventure. Better than any movie. There are all the elements of action, suspense, drama and thrill. I would encourage everyone to consider entrepreneurship, if even just for a year or two. As an entrepreneur, it's not the paycheck, but every step forward that's the reward," smiles Khanna.
"What drives me now is the love of everyone who has eaten from my kitchen. It's more rewarding than anything life can bring me," says an equally exuberant Nair.
They all agree that though taking the big leap may seem daunting and unnerving, what matters finally is to follow your calling. "Everything finally falls into place," says Khanna. Kunte agrees, "You just need to do it."
"With food there's no hiding behind anything. So how much energy you put in it is what comes out. Just take the leap if you want to do anything. There's nothing to lose. In my case, I didn't even know this was my dream till I decided to give it a shot," smiles Nair.
Paranjape sums it up for everyone when he says, "At the end of the day you will realise that the plunge was absolutely worth it!"