One career choice for those who love travelling? Become a chef! That’s what Amiel Guerin does for a living, well, almost. t2 met this 26-year-old French chef from Brittany who was recently camped at The Stadel in Salt Lake, curating a French food festival menu. 

You were in Bangalore for almost five years...

Yes, I went to Bangalore as a tourist and two days before my tourist visa expired, I joined this place called Cafe Noir. I spent four years there.... I kept shuffling between France and the US until 2010 when I came to Mumbai with a friend. 

And you are touring India now...

Yes and I am loving it. I have been to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and now Bengal. The food is totally different in each place.
 
One thing you love about India?

India is crazy! Indian hospitality is very different from the rest of the world. Indians are very welcoming people, warm and helpful.

Your fave dish?

I love my beefsteak. Simple, with mashed potato and wine sauce. I also love my grandma’s clam in basil and cream, a kind of cassolette. Fave food has a lot to do with memories!

What’s your forte? 

I love to work with seafood because it is delicate. Tuna steak is a favourite.

Your favourite Indian food?

I like all your bread... rotis, naan, Kerala parotta (the southern version of lachchha paratha).

Have you tried any Calcutta food?

I want to try phuchka. I really liked the lamb stew called Kosha Mangsho. 

Pictures: Anindya Shankar Ray