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Chef Hermann Grossbichler’s 25-year romance with India (Societal Feature)

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By Vishnu Makhijani
New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) He was born and trained in Austria, spent time in Switzerland where he developed a likeness for Italian cuisine, travelled the world in a cruise liner and eventually began a 25-year-romance with India that continues to this day. For Chef Hermann Grossbichler, the learning never ends and each day is a new beginning.

“For me every day is a new beginning. I am always excited to wait for what’s to come, and to learn new skills. I believe that without hard work, there is no success. My goal is to leave my mark wherever I go and the best way to do this to make sure that the people you’re serving food to have a memorable experience. I strive to be the best I can be. The learning never ends,” Grossbichler told IANS.

That’s the spirit that guided him as he launched the iconic La Piazza at Delhi’s Hyatt Regency 25 years ago to introduce the city to authentic Italian cuisine for the first time. It’s been an exciting journey over the past quarter of a century.

“It has never been difficult to cater to the Indian taste buds since every culture is indirectly related. It’s all about having a long-term vision and offering the right experience to your customers.

“Indians love to eat different types of food every time they go out and with Italian being one of the most popular cuisines, it is always in demand. Indians are also extremely knowledgable and well-informed about Italian cuisine which is why the authentic Italian menu has done so well wherever we have introduced it,” Grossbichler said.

Noting that there are similarities between Indian and Italian cuisines as the two countries are quite similar to each other in terms of their culture and history, Grossbichler said that in both cuisines, “spices and carbs have a really important role to play”.

“They may be cooked in different ways but are an essential part of the dish. Also, chillies are very important in both the cuisines. The Italian food people eat in India is usually adjusted to suit people’s tastes. It is amalgamated with Indian masalas to make it interesting. A typical Indian menu can be quite overwhelming with all its spices and masalas but it is not difficult to understand the basics of Italian cuisine,” the Chef added.

At the same time, there haven’t been any extreme adaptations “as the goal is to serve authentic Italian cuisine and that is what people love”, he pointed out.

Grossbichler is currently Executive Chef at the Grand Hyatt Kochi. Since the city is heavy on seafood, which doesn’t find too much of a place in Italian cuisine, how has he adapted?

“Everywhere I have been, I have seen people like to experiment with their food. Everyone has their preferences and dishes that they love but what they look for is variety and different types of food to excite their taste buds. In Kochi, Italian cuisine is a big hit for destination weddings.

“We also do a lot of European food and grills using local ingredients to adapt to people’s tastes. A good chef must understand how flavour and textures come together to make a great dish and alter dishes to adapt to people’s preference,” the chef explained.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at [email protected])

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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