Chef Danish Mohammad adds “ I don’t really like the term ‘fusion food’; I prefer to call it ‘evolving Indian’. For me it’s about the combination of my culinary heritage with what I have learnt from my Grandparents ( who were Royal Cooks) , and creating modern versions of original dishes .. Dishes that have stood the test of time.. and are still cooked and eaten with great delight all over the country.. I don’t believe that original foods will ever lose it’s authenticity, it will only change and adapt to peoples tastes and preferences”
Born and raised in lucknow, Chef Danish hails from a background that has been cooking for the royal families of the city. During his childhood Chef Danish used to help his parents in the kitchen while they used to meal prep for royal events and marriages.. .
Chef Danish adds “ I happen to have grown up in a family where food was paramount and sacred… At breakfast, we spoke about lunch, at lunch we discussed about evening tea, at evening tea we spoke about dinner and at dinner we talked about what we would take to school in the tiffin the next day. Every mealtime brought out more conversation about the next mealtime and with that stories about food”
Isnt that interesting? With such an upbringing.. I am sure ,.. the essence of food have become a part of Chef Danish’s Heart an Soul!!
Chef Danish adds “ Yes.. when you grow up with such an exposure to food..your understanding of food changes.. .. I feel Food is soul, food has the power to bring people together, foods allows us to sit and rest with friends and family and unwind. Food can heal; food allows us to grow and, brings us all closer. The breaking of bread has always been part of the human story Just imagine – you travel the world and eat the same burgers, and fries everywhere. Would you enjoy living like this? We have to help our national culture to stay unique, pass our traditional cuisine to future generations, and, yes, sometimes surprise our foreign colleagues and tourists. Otherwise we have nothing to say to each other when we meet.. that has become my motto introduce the history of indias vast culinary heritage to food lovers all over the world”
This hunger for lost recipes and techniques has made Chef Danish Mohammd travel to different parts of the country where he has worked with great chefs and pioneers of Indian cuisine to gain an indepth insight into our culinary heritage . it is here that Chef Danish got an opportunity to implement his old family recipes by hosting various royal feasts and weddings in which he headed exclusive dinners on the lines of of sajankot, ponton royal Rajasthani theme and gadi moda
Chef Danish Mohammed adds” I feel our tradition nourishes us.. . . We all grow up on traditions; we look to them for inspiration and try to make them even better. To lose your tradition is like losing your roots. And it’s clear that you can’t live without roots. I feel. A chef is like a conductor of an orchestra ensuring that each part of the culinary team plays their respective roles, to come together in a harmonious way to create gastronomic experiences that are delivered with innovation, passion and quality”
Currently working and training the staff about his royal legacy and lost Indian food, Chef Danish hopes that is research about old techniques and recipes comes in handy and is passed on among the Indian community of chefs all over the world. As his recipes are the foundation of what is yet to come for Indian cuisine. The possibilities are endless
