Sunday, March 8, 2015

FROM THE TRIDENT, HYDERABAD............3

"TUSCANY IS  MY BABY"

                                                              


"Oh, who has written this? He is my mentor. He has 2 Michelin stars to his name and the spelling is wrong" Chef Rahul Gomes Pereira (24) reacted when he saw a piece of paper on my breakfast table.

Now, the flashback: This happened last Friday morning. Myself and one my students were having breakfast at  Amara  at Trident, Hyderabad. I was supposed to have dinner at the Italian Restaurant  - Tuscany that evening. My student asked someone a few  details  about Tuscany  and that is how the Chef Adriano Balldassare's name had popped up . My student scribbled the Chef's name on a   piece of paper and left it on our table, which is when Chef Rahul walked in ....

Rahul works with full ownership."Tuscany is my baby" he asserts confidently. Last Friday, I saw him during the breakfast session at around 8.30am. In the evening at 8.30pm when I signed off from Tuscany after  my dinner, I thanked him profusely. I was surprised to see the consistency in his energy levels. He is very energetic; radiates enthusiasm when he interacts with the guests; he explained everything in detail on the restaurant to me in the afternoon hours when I met him in the Tuscany; during my dinner, he plated the dishes for the photo shoot; checked whether the dinner is okay after every course. Suggested me to try two more Pastas.

                                     

When asked about Michelin Chef  Adriano, he opened up: "Chef Adriano never says NO to guests; I have never seen him complaining on lack of ingredients at any point of time; his energy levels are the same at work; if any guests compliment him on the food, he will in turn will come back to the kitchen and appreciate his juniors". Incidentally, Rahul got trained by Chef Adriano at VETRO, the Italian Restaurant at The Oberoi Mumbai.

Goa born Rahul represented OCLD for the World skills 2013, organised by FICCI. He represented India, first in Australia, then in Germany. One of the only two in the Oberoi Group to be nominated for an advanced Italian specialized training. Worked and trained in the Italian Specialty Kitchen Travertino at the Oberoi New Delhi under the guidance of Chef Davide' Rebecatto. Chef Parvinder Bali, Corporate Chef, Oberoi Group, guided him in simulating Italian dishes from different regions of Italy with techniques and best practices.

Presently,  Rahul is responsible for the overall kitchen operations of Tuscany, the Italian Restaurant, at Trident Hyderabad. /He has already visited Germany, Australia, Istanbul and Singapore.

Very articulate, Inter college debate winner Rahul reads a lot. .....Mostly on Italian cuisine. I won't be surprised when he makes it big. ..he has it in him.

Text and Pictures: R Kesava Mallia in Hyderabad



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