TYC learning meet, Marwari book launch

Tomorrow is a red-letter day in the history of The Yellow Chilli brand. We have our first ever Chef and Managers (coming from all over India) meet in the office tomorrow and day after. We are calling it The Yellow Chilli Learning Meet. There are a number of sessions planned. Once I finish with my insights on the business plans and future of the brand, our COO Rajeev will talk about the ethos and culture of TYC. Corporate Chef Harpal is going to be talking about the new trends in food hygiene, and also an interesting review of a day’s routine at TYC. Mr Mukherjee will be covering the marketing aspects of the brand. All these sessions have been designed in such a way that there is sufficient time for feedback from all those attending it.

In a couple of days time my long awaited new book Marwari Vegetarian Cooking will be launched. Marwari cooking has its own unique flavour where the simplest and the most basic of ingredients go into the preparation of most of the dishes. A dominating realm of Rajasthani cuisine, Marwari cooking can simply be defined as the refined art of desert cooking. Earlier there was paucity of ingredients because vegetables and other produce could not travel on tough desert terrain but now with access to many more foods, Marwari food has more variety and more reasons to be celebrated. This book is proof that there is a lot more to Marwari cuisine than the famous dal bati and churma. I have yet to plan what snacks should be served during the launch as the proof of the pudding is in eating it! Could either have the Mirchi Bhajiya or the Aloo ke Sooley, or the Dal Samosa….Rashmi Uday Singh will be launching it at the Crossword, Linking Road, Bandra on Thursday the 3rd December, 2009 at 6.30 p.m.

Right now time for lunch and then busy again with back-to-back meetings!

Sanjeev Kapoor.

First ever all vegetarian restaurant, The Yellow Chilli in Ahmedabad

It is Undhiyo season! And the flavour right now in office too is Gujarati as things begin to take shape for the making of the The Yellow Chilli in Ahmedabad.

It is the first ever, all vegetarian restaurant from Sanjeev Kapoor’s table and the menu has been especially designed for the people of Ahmedabad who are great food lovers. My objective is to draw them out between Monday to Friday as they are known to eat out only on weekends! The site has been inspected, approved and stamped and the floor plan is on the drawing board.

Had an induction meeting to discuss all the other matters of importance of starting a restaurant from scratch. This meeting has the objective to bring onto one platform, the owner and the team about the philosophy of The Yellow Chilli restaurant, its positioning, its food, service, value for money and overall experience so that there is no over promising, no over expectation and we aim for realistic goals. And the whole idea is to give people of Ahmedabad a unique experience in enjoying Indian food. There was too much pressure on us to go in for a multi-cuisine restaurant but we are very confident of our product and we are sure that this will continue the trend of single-cuisine restaurant that is doing so well in Ahmedabad.

But, as systems are in place, it is a matter of time and concerted work, and the TYC Ahmedabad can look forward to an Uttaran opening!

Like I said it is Undhiyo season. That’s what’s cooking on the hob right now. The various beans, the green garlic, the raw bananas and glistening small brinjals and the purple yam all are in place. Along with this, we are being treated to Shahi Paneer, Jeera Aloo, Tariwale Kale Chane, Mini Paranthas, Saffron Pea Pulao and Rasmalai for lunch.

Have a nice weekend!

Sanjeev Kapoor.

26/11 Anniversary

We were not to know what lay ahead on 26 November 2008.

We never know what the day ahead will have in store for us anyway. We always hope to have a nice day and get things done, push the goals, and live life to the best.

But last year, this date’s night was horrendous. The terrorists had a master plan with five major targets in South Mumbai – two of them being important and landmark buildings of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and the Oberoi (Trident) Hotel. These are not mere buildings. They are historic icons not only for Mumbai but for the entire nation. This was the reason why these were chosen as the targets. Amongst the people at the receiving end of the terrorists’ bullets, there were my professional colleagues. And if you remember, the entire staff of Taj and Oberoi faced the challenge of safeguarding the lives of their guests first, before theirs, and in doing so many brethren lost their lives. Chef Banja, Chef Borris and Chef Kaizad known to me are not with us anymore. My heart goes to their families and everyone else who died facing bullets.

We all love life. That is why I would like to say do not nurse any hatred for those who have done these dastardly acts. Instead, use your energies to pray – pray that better sense prevails. In such a troubled time, how I wish Mahatma Gandhi was amongst us to guide us. Leaders like him become more relevant in such situations. What are the lessons for us? That though such a situation may rise again, however much is the security and the preparation, the difference has to be in reaction and in response time. Let’s make our contribution, however small, instead of showing complacency and complaining.

Sanjeev Kapoor.