Food and drinks are perhaps the best friends of every Calcuttan. And what better way of understanding it than hearing it from the masters themselves. Which is why Signature Start Up Masterclass in association with The Telegraph, hosted by Diageo at The Park, saw industry experts like Birgit Holm, Gaurav Karnani, Sharad Dewan, Shekhar Mukherjee and Suborno Bose come together for a masterclass on March 10, ahead of the The Telegraph Food Guide 2018 Awards ceremony.
Each panellist spoke about their experiences and struggles to make it big in the food and beverage industry. The masterclass was moderated by Shantanu Sengupta, brand ambassador, Diageo East India.
The afternoon also saw three chefs and mixologists, who had placed in a competition held by Diageo under the Signature Tasting banner from March 7 to 9, getting rewarded by the panellists.
THE PANELLISTS
Birgit Holm, general manager, Hyatt Regency Kolkata
“It takes a lot to be a general manager and I had to work my way up. And I love working in Calcutta, it really is the city of joy where people are so warm. I am open to suggestions and I believe in explaining things when it comes to my work.”
Message for the young: Work hard and work smart. F&B is a lifestyle, enjoy it and keep at it.
Your Signature moment: When I got my first job in New York. It really opened my eyes about the F&B industry.
Suborno Bose, CEO, International Hospitality Council, and IIHM
“Leaders are made and one must translate their strength and attitude into action and execution.”
Message for the young: To be hospitable is to be human, that’s the mantra. The rest will follow.
Your Signature moment: When I signed the contract with the landlord for IIHM.
Sharad Dewan, regional director, food production, The Park Hotels
“Nothing ever happens smoothly, you have to strive for it and only then you will achieve great heights. Create something different and new. Play around with textures and temperatures. Learn new things about what is around.”
Message for the young: Take pride in your cuisine culture.
Your Signature moment: When I joined The Park Hotels.
Shekhar Mukherjee, general manager of Taj SATS
“I have been associated with the Taj group for 33 years now and reaching here was difficult. It is all hard learning but all those lessons made me what I am.”
Message for the young: Interact with those around you to learn more if you have a passion.
Your Signature moment: When I would leave for home at 1.30am after cleaning the tables at The Esplanade (Taj Bengal) which was a busy coffee shop back then.
Gaurav Karnani, director, The Grid
“My passion drove me to open my own brewery. Hospitality is what I wanted to get into since school although my family is from a different background. Every corner of The Grid was measured in cubes, hence the name.”
Message for the young: Follow your passion. Make mistakes and learn from them but do not repeat the mistakes.
Your Signature moment: When I tasted the first sip of our first beer made.
VOICES
“It is so good to see that so many people from generations younger than me are taking an interest in the F&B industry. Senior chefs enjoy their work. If you graduate with hotel management you can’t be jobless,” said Pradip Rozario of KK’s Fusion, who had also judged the chefs in the competition held by Diageo.
Andrew Samling, the senior bar captain at Roxy, said, “I like the way the chefs and other people from hospitality shared their stories and experiences with us to give us a better understanding. The concept was good.”
Indranil Chatterjee took the masterclass as a learning experience. “We need activities like this every month. It’s a learning and development session. You meet others and share knowledge and get to know more,” said Indranil, beverage manager, Pa Pa Ya.
THE WINNERS
Text: Urvashi Bhattacharya
Pictures: Rashbehari Das
