Kiran Arora
/ prabhjot bediKiran Arora is Executive chef at Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Sydney
Kiran Arora - Winner 'Young Chef Award 2010 - FHRAI'
Here is the quick interview with him after he won the FHRAI Award
Editor: first of all Kiran, many many congratulations on winning the 'young chef of the year award'. How do you feel?
Kiran: I feel honored and elated as well. It is certainly nice to be recognized at such a prestigious national event.
Editor: Tell us about your journey. how did it all start?
Kiran: Well, I just happened to visit one of my friend's place and saw the prospectus of IIHM Aurangabad on the table, fortunately, he had an extra form with him, so I thought lets give it a try and that moment changed my life and I started my journey as a chef with Taj. I would like to give all the credit to my institution Taj and its work ethics.
Editor: what according to you makes a chef great?
Kiran: Cooking is a science as well as an art, of course being passionate about your job is a must and in today's world it's a lot to do with your man - management skills as well. There is no place for complacency and ego, just keep learning every day and explore the intricacies of a cuisine with a childlike curiosity.
Editor: How is Australia treating you?
Kiran: Great place for food as people love to dine and are erudite about food as well. Believe me its lot more challenging than i thought, the work culture is very different than what we are exposed towards.
Executive Chef Interviews
A good chef doesn't have to be a popular celebrity, even a small south Indian café chef prepares delicious dishes which people stand in a queue to get hands-on, I feel is successful in a way of its own.
If I were to transform into a vegetable, the choice would be clear: I would be broccoli. Not only is broccoli one of the most nutritious and versatile vegetables, but it also embodies a unique blend of resilience and adaptability that mirrors my own traits.
My passion for cooking and the late- night cravings of a young adult led me to launch a small home-based kitchen named 'Night Foodies' in 2013. Working through the nights making burgers and pizzas, I discovered a deeper truth: food was my true calling.
Learn to cook first and then think of becoming famous. Focus on skills and knowledge development rather than looking to become a social media star. Money will come for sure provided you don’t run behind it.
Guler Kabab is my family recipe, and this is what my parents used to make together in the kitchen. It has a surprise stuffing element that is a little sweet and spicy, which usually people don’t expect in a kabab. I learned this recipe from my mother, and I always ensure to serve it to my diners. It gives me extra brownie points. It is a home recipe and something that you won't find otherwise in anyone else’s house.
There was this one time where a guest requested a “Omelette without egg”. It was something that really shocked and amused me. I had not even imagined this kind of dish. But since it was requested by the customer, I had to take up the challenge.
Each recipe is a creative genius of someone who is willing to think out of the box and that is an important characteristic that a chef should possess and be able to appreciate that same quality in others.
I think to be a successful Chef one needs to have presence of mind as we are playing with different ingredients and we should understand them better and their combinations apart from a passion and love for cooking.
What according to you does it take to become a successful chef?
Willingness to Learn.
Genuine Passion.
Stay organised to stay in control.
Ability to Skilfully Multitask.
Creativity.
Time Management.
Teamwork.
Leadership Skills.
Resilience.
Stamina.