Chefs in the making

They say age is only a number. And the participants at an exclusive HT Café-initiated cookery session in the city proved that.

They say age is only a number. And the participants at an exclusive HT Café-initiated cookery session in the city proved that.

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Conducted by Suresh Thampy, the executive chef at Courtyard by Marriott, the interactive workshop saw a motley group spending their Sunday afternoon indulging their love for food. The participants included a pre-teen girl, a couple in their 30s and a 50-something mother amongst others, all there to improve their culinary skills.

The menu for the day included Balsamic Chicken with Roast Vegetables, Champs Mash and a Balsamic Sauce; Risotto of Mushrooms, Sage and Panchetta, and Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Cherry Soup for dessert.

For 11-year-old Manvi Bhat, the youngest attendee, learning by watching the chef at work was a dream come true.

“I watch all the cookery shows on TV, but it’s the first time that I’m attending an event like this,” she said.

Her mother, Vaishali Bhat, added, “I came for this workshop especially because of her, as she loves to experiment with different dishes in the kitchen. In fact, she doesn’t even let me cook breakfast for her!”

The two-hour long interactive session saw chef Suresh generously offer tips to the participants and frequently invite them to assist him.

“Most people think that these dishes are difficult to prepare because of their exotic nature, but actually, they’re very simple,” he said.

The event was held in partnership with Star World, which airs Masterchef Australia Season 4 from June 14 onwards.

While mother-daughter duo, Chetna (52) and Kalpa Vakilwala (32), hoped to try out the recipes as soon as they got back home, husband-wife Kiran and Pinky Dholakia thought it was a good bonding exercise.

“My husband helps me in the kitchen, so I’m glad we spent time learning something new,” said Pinky.

The workshop concluded with chef Suresh handing out exclusive MasterChef Australia merchandise, including an apron, cap and oven mittens.