DSSC embarked on a quest to discover what top chefs from the city order on the rare days they get to slip outta work & dine elsewhere. Pulling out the big guns with our rapid fire, we found out the dining habits of these culinary artists, down from their repetitive orders to dodging dishes.
Enjoying the tad bit nippy weather with refills of cutting chai, we got candid with chefs at some of our fave restaurants in town – Chef Abhishek Basu from The Park, house of Delhi’s sensational Indian restaurant Fire; Chef Anuj Wadhawan from The Roseate, one of the biggest superstars of Chef’s Table Week; Chef Pujan Sarkar from Ek Bar, the city’s most indie chic restaurant & also an awardee of #DSSCPowerPackers2016; and Chef Anahita Dhondy from SodaBottleOpenerWala, the pioneer who introduced Delhiites to the wonders of Parsi-Irani cuisine.
What is the one dish you find yourself ordering frequently when dining out?
Chef Pujan: It has to be Kachche Gosht Ki Biryani! Nothing beats the flavour of mutton layered with rice & aromatic spices cooked slowly to yield a perfect biryani. I have to have biryani when I go out. A little suggestion – take some back home with you, it always tastes better the next day!
Chef Wadhawan: I go for a duck dish! Sometimes pork dishes excite me as well.
Chef Basu: I too have to say, BIRYANI!
Chef Anahita: It has to be dim sums!
Image: makemytrip.com
Any personal associations with this dish?
Chef Pujan: I have so many memories with biryani! It takes me back to my college days in Hyderabad when my friends and I used to visit Café Bahar for lunch. We would order 1kg biryani and finish it amongst ourselves. I still cherish those memories whenever I have biryani.
Chef Wadhawan: Yes, the flavours and texture.
Chef Basu: I spent a little more than 10 years in the South and we ate biryani all the time! Biryani for Sundays, birthdays, celebrations, you actually don’t need a reason to eat biryani! I miss that a lot in Delhi.
Chef Anahita: I have some really good memories of enjoying dim sums on my day off, so whenever I am not working I crave something Pan Asian and dim sums are the go-to choice.
Image: wowreads.com
What is the one all-time favourite comfort food when ordering-in?
Chef Pujan: All-time comfort food has to be traditional Bengali food. Fish Paturi, Bhappa Aloo, Radhaballavi, anything reminding me of the food back home is the kind of comfort I need, when ordering in. Now we can’t cook at home every time we are nostalgic, can we?
Chef Wadhawan: I adore Bruschetta at home with a glass of wine! Aglio e Olio Pasta at Big Chill is another favourite.
Chef Basu: I order-in from Dunkin’ Donuts (bursts out laughing)!
Chef Anahita: Comfort food while ordering-in is definitely Thai Basil Rice. Usually from Asian Haus, Sushi Junction, Big Wong, Mamagoto or Asia Central, since they have really good delivery.
Image: postinowinecafe.com
What is the one dish you steer clear of from any menu?
Chef Pujan: Anything with smoke coming out of it or that looks super pretty, you know the taste can never match up to expectations! I like simple, bold flavours that can put on a show just by aroma.
Chef Wadhawan: None as such.
Chef Basu: Seafood! I’m allergic to prawns, but I don’t risk eating seafood anywhere except when my mom or mother-in-law cook. Of course, the fact that they make it the way I like it best, doesn’t hurt!
Chef Anahita: One dish I don’t order is crab. I stay away from it even when ordering sushi.
What are your favourite eateries?
Chef Pujan: Bijoli Grill & Banga Bhavan! Food should be the only thing on your mind when you go here. They are authentic, not fancy but they know exactly what they are up to.
Chef Wadhawan: I prefer eating in the comfort of my home, so we order in more often than we go out. However, I have a few favourites across the city – The Fatty Bao, Dum Pukht, Big Chill and Lavaash.
Chef Basu: I am not a huge fan of eating out, unless there is a new place to try. The only thing I crave from time to time, with my wife fuelling the yearning is DUNKIN’ DONUTS! I love ’em to bits.
Chef Anahita: For dine-in my favourite place is Guppy By Ai. I eat Indian food almost every day and continental food goes bad during delivery, so I prefer Pan Asian food when ordering-in, from the same places (scroll up!). Ladakhi Kitchen does some great momos which are perfect for when hanging out with friends.
Image: dunkindonuts.com
Now that we have our guide from chefs, let’s head over for dinner?
