February 14th, right on Valentine’s Day, I attended the book launch of Chef Kunal Kapoors first cookbook-A Chef in Every Home at The Leela, Mumbai. The Master Chef himself took some time out to give a live demo of two of his recipes from the book and made novices from the audience prepare these dishes for him on stage. A charismatic host, Kapur kept the audience glued with anecdotes from his childhood and the stories of his trials and errors with food.
Going through the book, I realized that Kunal had kept the recipes quite simple and used ingredients which are usually available at all Indian homes. He has tried to include a range of cuisines from around the world, ranging from Mexican, Italian, Chinese to Malay, Sri Lankan and even Spanish. There are small little anecdotes at the beginning of each dish, showing its importance in Chef Kunal Kapur’s life and why it was chosen to be in his first book.
I was impressed by the quality of the book, the fonts used and the pictures of the dishes. It’s quite clear that the publishers have kept the amateur cooks in mind while designing the book. The whole idea behind this book, as Chef Kapur states, is to create a chef in every home and to make people realize that cooking is not really a very difficult thing and is always ruled by the mind and the heart. I guess that is precisely why the chef chose two first timers for the cooking demo. Actor Amal Sehrawat and journalist Mayank Shekahar tried their hand at preparing a Simple Bruschetta and a Prawn
Moilee and were quite amazed and impressed to see the results of their own creations.
The book was launched by my dear friend Rushina Ghildiyal, Mayank and Amal post which there was an interactive discussion over the nuances of cooking and how to make it easy and the chef gave several easy cooking tips to the present audience.
Below is an excerpt from the press release of the book:-
Mumbai, February 14, 2014:
(Publisher: Random House India, Price: Rs 599, Binding: Paperback)
Everyone can cook. You just need to know the easy way to do it. Celebrity chef Kunal Kapur brings you a simple and delectable cookbook with fuss-free techniques, tips and advice that is sure to glean out the chef in you. From simple bruschettas and delectable humus to warm calzones and dal makhnis, Kunal has a recipe for every mood and moment. Use this book to whip up the perfect Sunday lunch for your family and friends, or to churn out fun party foods for your kids and watch how you transform into the star of your home. A Chef in Every Home will make cooking an enjoyable and valuable experience.
About the Author
Kunal Kapur is the Executive Sous Chef at The Leela Ambience and is recognized among the Best Chefs in India by National Weekly Magazine – India Today. He is the proud recipient of the prestigious “Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship 2012” from the Government of New Zealand in the field of Food & Beverage. He has been a judge on the hit show MasterChef India and Junior MasterChef India. Kunal is also a Star Chef with Lufthansa Airlines.