Celebrating food

‘Romancing the Chicks’ is a compilation of Chef Mandaar’s writings in various publications as a food columnist and guest writer.

This is chef’s first book and he is planning to come up with one more book in a year or two. “I have been writing continuously for newspapers and various publications, for a long time now.

And I have a fairly good fan following and people used to say that they cut out the article from the newspaper and then keep it with them as a collection.

So the intention was actually to bring it out as a compilation of all my writings. This is an effort of at least two to two-and-half years.”

Why the title ‘Romancing the Chicks’? “There was one of the articles in winter season which I wrote and it was about green chickpeas, and the title of the article was ‘Romancing the Chicks’.

People found it very interesting and we retained the same title for the book also,” he informs.

The first time author has put in all his experience in this book and gives a fresh perspective on various cuisines.

“The articles, which I wrote were for home audience and the absolute given fact is that the recipes are very easy to cook at home. They are meant for home cooks and it is a very workable book. Whoever picks up the book can make these recipes at home,” he shares.

“In the book, a story leads into a recipe. If one does not want to cook the recipes from the book, they can simply read the story, which is just one page and then they can go to next story.

It will definitely get the reader thinking. Photography is also an essential part of my book. I believe that food has to speak to you. It’s a visually pleasing book too,” he adds.

Chef Mandaar says that it was a tad bit difficult for him to pen this book as it was his first time. “It was a tough phase for me because I didn’t know how it works here.

But I have seen in foreign countries that a whole team is behind a book. Here it is a solo effort. However, I talked to a couple of people to sort the grammar part out and it was a challenge.

Having done it once, I am confident to do it a second or third time or probably even more. Coming up with books will be a lot easier in future as I know the craft now.”

Chef Mandaar has career spanning of 20 plus years in various five-star hotels across the country. Mandaar states that his immense passion for food made him tread the path to becoming a chef.

“Food fascinates me. I am passionate about food especially eating it. I figured out that if I have to be around good food then the best place to be is in the kitchen and make it.

In the last 24 years, I travelled across the globe a lot and collected various cuisines around the world and I am enjoying the journey,” he says.