Leading women chefs talk about equality and grit over Iftar meal

Equality, diversity and inclusion – keeping these three trending topics to the fore, British Council hosted an intense discussion with UK-based chef Asma Said Khan, Urvika Kanoi, Doma Wang and Manzilat Fatima on Wednesday. Radhika Singh, the global lead for British Council’s anti racism programme, opened the discussion with the question: What is the reason for men dominating the specialty chef universe, when it is the women who primarily steer the home kitchen?
Explaining the age-old patriarchy, Asma replied, “It is a practice even in Italian and French kitchens.In India, it is worse. Because of the patriarchy in India, we don’t even see boys go to the kitchen. That is why I have a kitchen with nine women, who are not trained chefs. And I love to flaunt them to the world. These women cook the way we learnt cooking from our household, In my case, my ammu.”
The event began with an iftar celebration in which all the chefs, including Auroni Mookerjee, presented their speciality delectables.