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Food is the reason for the existence of all beings on this planet. Not only does it satisfy your hunger but also provides your body with nutrition to stay healthy. When you look at a meal individually, it is a means to curb your cravings and get on with your day, but when you look at it collectively, food is a reason for bonding.
Do you remember how you made friends in school, college, or office? For many students, adults, and working people, if you are not an extrovert, coming up with conversation starters can be jarring. You would hear many say that small talk is not their cup of tea. However, food makes it all possible. From an ice breaker to a deal shaker, a meal can do so much more than it is given credit for.
Ahead of the Friendship Day celebration on August 4, 2024, Slurrp connected with chefs across India and collected their stories of ‘bonding over food’. The heartening tales will leave you reminiscing of old days when you made a friend over a recess break in school or tea time in the office.
Chef Atul Lahkar
Image Credit: Chef Vikas Khanna Group/ Instagram
Celebrity Chef Atul Lahkar, owner of Heritage Khorikaa Restaurant and Vice President of the North East India Chef Association, says, “Every chef strives to learn new recipes, and all of them understand the language of food.” From making friends with Vikas Khanna and Vineet Bhatia to working with Gordon Ramsay, he adds that he connected with his peers over their shared interest in recipes, spices, cooking techniques, and regional delicacies.
With over 28 years of experience in the industry, Chef Atul Lahkar has not only connected with fellow chefs but also villagers to get his hands on traditional recipes and methods. He believes, “Food is a medium for cultural bonds. It helped me connect with my roots, understand cultures across the globe, and diversify my knowledge.”
In July 2018, celebrated Chef Vikas Khanna shared a post with Chef Atul Lahkar with the caption, "My obsession with Northeast India. For decades, I have been inspired by the 'Land of Seven Sisters' (plus Sikkim).Their food, culture, music, festivals, tribes, rituals.....everything. Here I am having my favourite Assamese cuisine with the legendary chef-teacher-guide @chefatul_lahkar at his iconic restaurant #Khorikaa.”
Chef Pawan Bisht
Image Credit: Pawan Bisht/ Instagram
“When you bond over food, it’s all about good taste, good experience, and good company,” says Chef Pawan Bisht, an independent food consultant and expert on the cuisine of Uttarakhand. In 2009, when he was working in one of the prestigious restaurant chains across India, he used to go out and about with his peers to gorge on street food as well as experience fine dining.
“From nihari and chicken delicacies in the crowded streets of Delhi to opulent restaurants in the capital, we used to recommend each other and make plans just to eat and widen our knowledge about dishes, ingredients, and various cultures,” he adds.
Chef Pawan Bisht has also worked in this industry for more than a decade. He has fond memories of working with Virat Kohli and his restaurant chain One8 Commune. Speaking about his bond with the former captain of the Indian Cricket Team, he says that the athlete used to love mushroom dim sums and avocado-corn tartare. “He was bowled out when he first tried these dishes,” adds Chef Pawan Bisht.
Chef Madhusmita Soren
Image Credit: Chef Madhusmita Soren/ Instagram
Chef Madhusmita Soren, a MasterChef India participant in season 8 and an expert in the Tribal cuisine of Odisha, the story of bonding over food started when she was seven and used to help her mother in the kitchen. Her passion for cooking helped her develop a strong bond and friendship with her mom, who she considers her biggest cheerleader as she used to taste her experimental meals and guide her when she was young.
“I am the only one who chose to be a professional in this field,” says Chef Madhusmita Sore. Reminiscing about her time as a participant at MasterChef India, she shares that she made good friends with many of her fellow contestants, especially Chef Mohammed Ashiq and Chef Kenneth Gopinath. She is food friends with Chef Avantika Haflongbar, a contestant of MasterChef India season 6.
“I connected with them on a deeper level because our food philosophies were quite similar. There were other talented chefs on the show but my vibes matched with theirs,” she adds while sharing that she learned many new things about food and cooking from them.
Chef Sameer Sewak
Image Credit: Sameer Sewak/ Instagram
Sameer Sewak, a pilot-turned-chef who lives in Dehradun and runs an Airbnb (Lal Kothi) and a cloud kitchen (Na Cheez), has an interesting tale of connecting with celebs and food enthusiasts around the globe. From food writers to historians, he connected with people over a shared interest in Indian dishes, the tales of their origin, and how each ingredient adds to the symphony of flavours in any recipe.
He shares that social media helped him connect with people around the world who were impressed by his cooking and wanted to taste the food he prepared. He adds, “Whatever followers I have gained or the community I have built on social media in the last 3-4 years, it is all because we all share a love for food.”
When Chef Sameer Sewak moved to Dehradun, he used to cook in the morning and deliver food in the evening. “Once I was invited to a party, and I was ensuring nothing went wrong in the food department. When people liked my food, they struck up a conversation with me about what and how I cooked and invited me to parties which helped me make more friends. All of my contacts are through food,” he says.
