21/03/2018
You are in a kitchen. You have made the Salmon entree with a lot of love and care. Even the garnishing is just perfect. Alluring. It glistens with the sauce gently poured. The fish is plump with the vapours of whatever you had put during the cooking. You watch it go in the hands of a server towards the restaurant as you are already onto your next creation.
Many minutes later than server is back. "Chef, the guest having your salmon fish entree wants to meet you!"
You are perspired. Immediately, your defence instincts rise within you. You think, now what's gone wrong. Was the fish overdone? Was it not sauced enough? Was the salmon supplier playing truant again with the quality? Though, you very well know that the quality is perfect.
You move towards the table in the restaurant. You size up the guest. Fat, double chinned, Delhi type, loud, quick money, shirt one size tight, napkin on the side and that means etiquette is on the blink. You reach the table. He looks at you. Then he gets up and shakes your hand. "You know I don't know much about all this high funda food, my wife does. She tells me this is the best fish she's ever eaten. Thank you Chef. I had to personally say that you made our day."
You look at the lady. She's made your day silently. Yes, she's overdone the diamond bit and maybe the top she's worn is from a Zara sale. But she's classy enough to know the fish has worked.
Then you watch Vikas Khanna speak about his life. A boy with afflicted feet. A boy constantly home. A boy watching his grandma cook. A boy learning. He distills all his learning into his culinary space. He redefines Indian food for the world.
And he expresses the joy of our earthern cooking, simply and suavely.
At a TED talk, he explains the happiness of sitting near a home tandoor and watch the Dal being cooked slowly and the rotis being made while the women traded news and gossip.
I am reminded of those numerous nights we have sat waiting for the Biryani, the khichdi or the Kosha Mangsho.
He has used in a best possible manner to get ahead. He's met Presidents and been the Chef to celebrities. He's even jet set. But he's not forgotten his roots and the stories.
We use at to create the same kind of stories to help you, your brand and your business.
Who knows, the next Vikas Khanna could be you.
