Neha Deepak Shah was having breakfast at Taj Deccan when a woman approached her with a familiar smile. “She was thrilled and said, ‘I know you.’ She couldn’t recollect my name but said she felt like she knows me. That’s the kind of love I get from people after Master Chef, ” recalls Neha with a smile. Neha, Master Chef (India) finalist was in Hyderabad for a two-day culinary workshop titled ‘Culinary Cuteness’ for kids. Organised by sisters Pooja and Pranitha, the session saw a group of lively children listening attentively to Neha.
During a break, Neha talks about her Master Chef journey which began in Hyderabad. “You won’t believe with Master Chef Season 2 , my journey started in Hyderabad. The shoot was in Leonia where we stayed for 10 days. It was in 2011 and that was around this time of the year,” recollects Neha. She looks around and exclaims, “This is my first workshop ever. I want to do workshops only for kids.” From teaching a healthy bread spread and an asparagus cream pasta to granula squares, the session was an opportunity for young children to go creative with food.
Master Chef is the result of her dedication, states Neha. “More than struggle, Master Chef is a result of perseverance. I think I have been very consistent about my dreams. A lot of time, “ Sapne dekhte hain, aur sapna tooth jaata hai toh unhe chod dete hain ( Many times we see dreams; when our dreams don’t come true, we leave them ) but I kept following my dream. I was very headstrong and consistent about what I want,” she avers.
So is she disappointed that she was not the winner? “No, not at all,” she retorts and adds, “It doesn't disappoint me as the top three contestants were selected by the judges. And, then there was a public voting, they are people who vote but can’t taste the food. They only see us and decide. It is a matter of luck. Someone has to win in life. I feel more than the destination, the position and journey matters. The journey has made me a better person. It has made me calm and I have learnt not just about food but also about life and how to live with different people.”
Neha credits her mother for her diverse interests. “I am a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, and classical singer. I am trained in fine arts. I have learnt swimming, basketball, done theatre and given commercial performances in Prithvi theatre. My mom gave me a canvas to experiment everything and develop my own interests. I think that is what is lacking nowadays. With the onset of digital world, kids are glued to their ipads and laptops and when they watch YouTube videos, they think humne seekh liya .”
Neha quit her job as a flavourist in Delhi and is back in Mumbai. She is starting her two new restaurants in the Maximum City. “The first restaurant will start by this month-end and will have comfort food, home-style food. I lived in Delhi for five years and was away from home, and the restaurant khana I used to have was not comforting. I wanted the love for home food to be retained in a restaurant as well. We are recreating lost recipes, traditional khana at this restaurant. I am a Marwadi and I want to create dishes like Fade ki khichdi and Daal dhokli . The second one is a modern Indian restaurant, which will have progressive food. We are trying to create drama on the table and make it more interactive.”
