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“I envision myself as a story-telling food Sufi,” says Ranveer Brar, an Indian celebrity chef, MasterChef India judge, restaurateur, author, and actor. While it seems impossible for a man to possess many talents, Chef Brar keeps adding new feathers to his cap. Search a recipe on YouTube, and his name will pop up among the top videos.
Chef Ranveer Brar is often quoted saying in his videos, “Khana banana koi rocket science nhi hai (Cooking food is not as complex as designing a rocket),” and his phrase will be followed by easy-to-follow recipes along with handy cooking tips to help people cook a variety of delicacies at home.
In an exclusive chat with Slurrp, he says, “I am to share stories not just through my narratives but also via cooking. Food is a common denominator across cultures and cuisines and also, the perfect conversation starter. I keep looking for ways to initiate conversations about food and food practices that need to be sustained.”
Chef Ranveer Brar Exploring His Food Fantasies
Image Credit: Chef Ranveer Brar/ Instagram
Ranveer Brar was born in Lucknow in 1978 in a Sikh family. He says that the city of Nawabs offered him “a perfect canvas to explore my food fantasies.” What fascinated him the most were the stories associated with the local dishes. “Between meandering through the lanes of Lucknow and connecting with my roots in Punjab, the budding chef in me kept absorbing all that was on offer,” he adds.
His first tryst with cooking was meethe chawal (sweet rice) at a local Gurudwara. He associates this memory with the importance of ‘Nishkaam Seva’. A few years later, his conversation with a local kebab vendor paved the way for him to follow his passion for cooking.
But today, Chef Brar not only captivates his audience with his skills in the kitchen but also his narration of history and stories associated with spices and dishes. He says he reads a lot, and “when it comes to information about food, I become quite the ‘sponge’, soaking up every fact and folklore that I read or listen to,” he adds. The chef loves meeting people and listening to their stories about their culture and how different dishes fit into those narratives.
Chef Ranveer Brar Is Trend-Agnostic
Image Credit: Chef Ranveer Brar/ Instagram
One of the things that has remained constant in the cooking videos of Chef Ranveer Brar is his rising popularity on social media, a place where everyone struggles to stay relevant. While talking about his evergreen popularity on YouTube and Instagram, he says, “I am quite trend-agnostic! Not to say I don’t jump in for fun once in a while, but my content is more about who I am and what I think.”
“Your identity and your unique content become the USP that will sustain you in the long run,” he adds while advising content creators. Now his fans know the reason behind his ever-soaring fondness on various social media platforms.
Chef Brar often cooks Indian food, from a variety of paneer and lentils to mutton and seafood, you can locate recipes spanning from North to South on his YouTube channel. From a recipe of instant masala dosa to a veg chilli chicken, he makes the process of cooking fun and easy to follow.
Chef Ranveer Brar Says, ‘Chinese Cuisine In India Is Ever-Growing’
Image Credit: Chef Ranveer Brar/ Instagram
There was a time when people used to relish Chinese delicacies once in a while. However, one can find vendors selling popular Chinese dishes, like honey chilly potato, manchurian, noodles, and whatnot, at budget-friendly prices, making the cuisine an integral part of Indian street food. Speaking about the same, Chef Ranveer Brar says, “The appetite for Chinese cuisine in India is vast and ever-growing.” He believes that the palate of Indians is evolving, and it is diversifying with globalised culinary experiences.
He says that his recent collaboration with MasterChow, a food brand that is making it easy for people to cook a variety of Asian delicacies, has happened at the right time. He says, “Together we aim to showcase the rich diversity and flavours of Chinese cuisine. MasterChow's Asli Chinese sauces and spice mixtures offer a convenient solution for students, working professionals, and cooking novices to enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine at home. With these high-quality products, students can create flavorful meals on a budget, while busy professionals can save time in the kitchen without compromising on taste.”
