What did you have for dinner last night?
Other than my off-day dinners, all my dinners are in one of our own restaurants. Last night’s was soba noodles with chicken and veggies from Teppan.
What are you reading now?
I happened to receive a coffee table book on the works of the great Austrian architect and artist called Friedensreich Hundertwasser. So right now, I am going through this book and reading through his amazing works and eccentricities.
What's your favourite recipe book?
There is no specific recipe book which I can mention here. I love the book series Culinaria, which explains a lot about each cuisine, culture and recipe with lots of pictures.
Next vacation? What do you plan to eat there?
Vacations rarely happen and many a time it is going back to my roots, visiting parents and grandparents in Kerala. Maybe this time of the mango season, I would love to have all the curries and manga pulissery made with ripe mangoes.
Best meal?
Nothing specific. I consider a meal with friends and family as the best one. Last weekend, we had a barbeque at a friend’s place with a variety of meats, veggies, plenty of wine and conversation.
What about the worst?
There could be food which is badly made or that tastes bad. Any meal will have something which is interesting and so I don’t consider any meal as the worst one.
Places you eat at most often?
That would be Hotel Maris in Chennai and Windsor Pub in Bangalore, and also accompanying my daughter for her monthly dose of junk food to pizza and fried chicken places (but this is because I have no choice).
Lessons learnt in the kitchen?
Hard work and long work hours have no short cuts.
Any secret junk food confessions?
Fried Indian snacks like the bajjis, misal and murukku are my all-time favourite junk food.
Last meal on earth: What would you choose?
I wouldn’t prefer a last meal as I could not enjoy it.
Aji Joseph is the corporate chef of Oriental Cuisines Pvt. Ltd
