|
|
|
Recipe for a book
His family knows. His friends know. Now so does
everyone else. Rakesh "Rocky" Mohan, executive director of Mohan Meakin Ltd and
now author of the cookbook The Art of Indian Cuisine, is a food freak.
"Cooking is my passion," he says. "I am constantly looking for new
recipes." He's been at it for almost 15 years now, and unlike corporate strategies --
though "developing a recipe is an art while replicating it is a science" --
Mohan does not mind sharing his culinary secrets with the world. Is life easier being a
big-shot foodie? Well, says Mohan, "I've had things thrown at me like, 'he's an
industrialist and he must have hired a few chefs and put it all together'." Actually
the secrets seem to be in the genes. Like Bangalore socialite, food stylist and film
producer Ranee Vijaya Kuttaiah whose Cuisine from Coorg was released by former
Karnataka chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde last week. "Coorgis are extremely
secretive about their recipes," she admits. "But I don't mind sharing what I
learnt from my mother and grandmother with others."
Mohan and Kuttaiah are not the only busybees who are
foodies on the side. Frenny Billimoria -- governing body member of the ngo-for-the-elderly
Helpage India and the Delhi Music Society -- recently released The Party Cookbook,
which includes some Parsi dishes gleaned from Pakwan Pothi, a book written by her
grandmother in the previous century. The idea, she says, was to have one comprehensive
volume with everything from starters and sauces to desserts. Is anyone counting the
calories?
-Anna M
M Vetticad with Rehmat Merchant
|
Bar Association
