“When you're cooking live, you have to be very expressive about what you are cooking and how you're doing it …”
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“When you're cooking live, you have to be very expressive about what you are cooking and how you're doing it …”
July 11, 2023
Mrinmoy Dey
Saurabh Singh Chandel, Executive Chef, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida discusses the recent trends in kitchen design and how a well-designed kitchen can increase the efficiency of a chef, with Mrinmoy Dey
Indian kitchens have evolved significantly. Previously, the construction of these kitchens was driven by utility mostly, which involved cooking on an open fire. The kitchens then went under a transformation and then came the trend of cooking on pits with fire. “The kitchen spaces are no longer confined to just cooking. They are incorporating places to hang out, have a space to eat, the centre and side stations are also occupying good space and appliances have become compact which gives more space to move around,” shares Saurabh Singh Chandel, Executive Chef, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida.
Talking about kitchen trends he adds, “If we see the trends today, you'll find colourful cabinets, invisible shelves, neutral colours, marvel effects in the kitchens nowadays. Island kitchens, open kitchens and live cooking are in trend right now.”
In an exclusive interaction with Kitchen Ideas, the chef shares his take on the recent kitchen design trends:
How do island kitchens and open kitchens work in an Indian context?
What has given rise to the concept of island kitchens and open kitchens is the need to accommodate more in less space. Some people might say that these kitchen concepts don't work well in the Indian context but keeping in mind the needs people have today, these kitchen concepts are widely preferred by people. Both of these kitchen concepts allow people to have extra space, more storage, a good eating area, and even a space to put up an appliance.
Saurabh Singh Chandel, Executive Chef, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida
Nowadays, show kitchens and live cooking are in trend. How do you go about this?
Yes, show kitchens and cooking live are a lot in trend right now and there are certain challenges that a chef faces in doing this. Whenever you are cooking on your own, you are in your comfort space and can cook the way you want without being conscious and without your focus being divided to show things on the camera and explain them clearly. When you're cooking live, you have to be very expressive about what you are cooking and how you're doing it and you have to focus on making the whole thing look more interesting. This poses a challenge because cooking is something which requires absolute focus and when you are cooking live, your focus gets divided.
At my hotel, whenever I do live cooking, I make sure that I enjoy doing it. If you love the process of live cooking then ultimately the people watching it would also have fun watching you cook. So according to me, the key is to just be yourself and go with the flow when you are cooking.
What are the challenges involved in live cooking as far as kitchen design is concerned?
A well-designed kitchen places a very consequential rule in enhancing the efficiency of a chef. If the kitchen has been constructed in such a way that it lacks proper ventilation, then it becomes problematic for a chef to cook. Another very common problem that comes is lack of proper storage which makes things cluttered and hence hampers the efficiency of the chef.
The kitchen triangle is another factor which majorly affects the efficiency of a chef. The kitchen triangle consists of the stove, the sink area, and the refrigerator. If all these elements are not equidistantly placed, then the workflow gets hampered.
According to me, the must-haves in a kitchen are all the necessary appliances which make cooking a hassle-free process for the cook, sufficient counter space so that things do not get cluttered, and a good space to move around.
A well-designed kitchen places a very consequential rule in enhancing the efficiency of a chef. Photo Courtesy: Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida
Appliances have become an integral part of the kitchen. How does this enhance the cooking process?
The appliances in the kitchen have impacted the way a chef work significantly. Over time, the appliances in the kitchen have changed and have undergone a significant transformation which makes it important for us to stay updated with the technology so that we know how to use these appliances to make cooking a more convenient process for us.
In terms of design, these appliances are becoming very compact. So, they occupy less space and provide more utility. So far, what I have noticed is that these appliances are quite easy to use and once you learn the process it's a cakewalk to cook using these appliances.
I use those appliances which I am comfortable using and I try to explain to my guests how I use these appliances and how these things have made cooking an easier process for me. My goal is not just to show them what I am cooking but also to explain to them how I am doing it and what are the necessary things involved in my cooking process, one of which is using modern gadgets and appliances.
How do you see a kitchen about 20 years from now – in terms of design, appliances and technological advancements?
The kitchens are going to witness a very substantial transformation in the coming 20 to 30 years. We will see a lot of new appliances which means that automation is going to take over the kitchens as well. Hopefully, this automation will help the cooks to focus all their attention on the cooking process rather than dividing their focus on doing menial jobs in the kitchen. This is going to help in saving a lot of time and ensure efficiency in cooking.
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