Megha Kohli
Megha Kohli, chef-partner at Delhi's Mezze Mambo and executive chef at the Wine Company and Cafe Mez in the NCR and Mademoiselle in Goa, is known for her excellent tandoor skills. So, it comes as a surprise to learn that the worst dish she ever made was lamb seekh kebab - it was raw on the inside, burnt on the outside and had absolutely no flavour. It was the late 2000s. She was 18, cooking at a posh resort hotel in Udaipur. "I had not spent any time in an Indian kitchen until then," says Kohli, now 33. "I remember being so embarrassed in front of the chefs, that I continuously worked on my tandoor skills. Today all my restaurants are known for their kebabs."
The worst food mistakes are those that endanger diners. Kohli recalls a time, more than a decade ago, when she served a prawn risotto to a VIP guest who was allergic to the shellfish and had requested chicken. His allergic reaction needed medication. His mood needed more work. Kohli apologised in person, "I also sent him our entire dessert menu because I didn't know what to do". He's been a regular at her restaurants since.
How mistakes are fixed are lessons unto themselves. Kohli was 17, learning how to make lamb jus, when the chef asked her to strain the stock that had been cooking for hours. Kohli did throwing away the precious liquid, and retaining the useless bones. "I will never ever forget the look on chef's face. I thought he would kill me," she says. "But he calmed down. We spent six hours remaking the jus. I think of him with so much respect and love when I make lamb jus today."
Dhruv Oberoi
A few years ago, Dhruv Oberoi, 35, executive chef at Olive Delhi and The Grammar Room Delhi, attempted a dish called braised red cabbage. He had two references, a dish from Kerala and one from Germany. But what promised to be a mash-up just ended up an epic mishmash.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 09, 2023 من Brunch.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 09, 2023 من Brunch.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
How To Pin Down A Scam
They pose as cops. They ask for OTPs. They lure you with bonuses. They're so smooth. Here's a cheat sheet to suss out a scam caller before it's too late
Sunny Leone
Entrepreneur, actor. @SunnyLeone
Going above and beyond
Marom specialises in nature photography. He started with macro photography, or capturing tiny subjects in extreme close-up, to make them look bigger.
Get cot in the act
Vivan Sundaram's 12 Bed Ward is sparse, simple, but haunting. Is this an abandoned hospital, a forgotten dorm, a bombed-out base or something more familiar?
In it for the long haul
Travelling gets better as you grow older. But less pressure and more funds bring with them aching bones and low energy. Here's how to cope
A whole different ball game
The kofta varies in name, taste and texture across continents. It's time India acknowledged its own contribution to the multiverse of meatballs
Opening acts
These young, new musicians are facing family pressure, juggling full-time jobs, and battling the rise of AI. They tell us what it's like to debut in 2024
Bring me the manager
Money won't conjure up a handbag that's out of stock. Angry calls will not get you off a waitlist. Don't be an entitled customer
Is there truth to this tale?
It's biopic season. It's also a good time to test what movies have learnt from true-life stories and from life itself
Mercury in the microwave
Heat wave? Wave back. On screen, summer looks gorgeous. These 10 films showcase the bright side of the season