Foreign chefs spice up hotel scene

How Chinese is the 'Chinese' cuisine? Many may have often wondered over the genuineness of 'foreign food' dishes that are on offer in restaurants.
How Chinese is the 'Chinese' cuisine? Many may have often wondered over the genuineness of 'foreign food' dishes that are on offer in restaurants.To bring about a sense of culinary veracity to their menus, restaurateurs are hiring chefs from the country of origin of the food to titillate taste buds."Foreign chefs are finding India a hot destination for their profession as Indian hotel industry is at boom. Occupancy levels at most hotels today average at around 80-85 per cent through the year, thanks to the host of conferences and trade shows beings hosted in the country. And the future only looks brighter," says Rajesh Mishra, Chairman, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI).

"Indian chefs are incomparable but hiring a foreign chef adds glamour to the restaurant in attracting guests. In fact, many of Indian chefs are doing a great job in US and Europe and are in great demand overseas. Still, hiring authentic chefs, helps in the certification of food," he adds. Shobha Mishra, Deputy director, FICCI, says the globalisation and easy visa rules have helped the Indian hospitality industry to add diversity in the chef profession. She adds that it is worth noticing the demand of the Indian chefs is increasing by the day and the number of foreign chef in the country is still very small. "They are more skillful and efficient professionally and add more authenticity. In spite of the language and cultural barriers, they understand the psyche of the customer better and if you are a connoisseur of good food, a authentic chef is a must," says Ajit Sharma, Senior General Manger, Jaypee Siddharth. While adding that a foreign chef demands some changes in the style of preparation of the food or the designing of the kitchen, he says, "They want more interactive or live kitchen so that they cook the same food, they used to cook in their country.