He might be endowed with the chocolate boy looks but Chef Kunal Kapur is the quintessential Kebab and Curry guy. Chef Kunal is the Executive Sous Chef of The Leela, Gurgaon but is popular for being the judge and host of MasterChef India. He talks about his passion for food and travel in this interview. We love the tip that he shares with us. Read on:
China Kitchen in Hyatt, Akira Back in JW Marriott and Megu in Leela Delhi.
I would most definitely choose a route from Delhi to Lahore via Amritsar. This is a route that has the best Punjabi dhabas and exploring them would be interesting. Dhabas for me have a strong memory of traveling in my childhood with my parents. Visiting them again would be like revisiting childhood memories for me. Also on this route are iconic places such as Murthal known for parantha, Ambala for dal makhni, Ludhiana for sarson saag, Amritsar for Lawrence road eateries and Lahore for anarkali bazaar and its dhaba feasts. I will be doing a dhaba trail on this route as part of the Times Passion Trail on 23rd December.
Outside of India I would love to follow a culinary trail in Melbourne covering the great wine, produce and sights there. Australia is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. The experience of its sights, smell, food, wine, vineyards, chefs and associated adventures is something that I would love to explore again.
Chef Kunal in Yarra Valley on his recent trip to Australia
If you look at quality, produce, ambience, wine or service there is no difference left. Restaurants have become very competitive and charge and give the same as a 5 star restaurant. With a hotel there is a fixed clientele that stay with the hotel so automatically your restaurants get business whereas the standalones have to hunt for each and every cover. It’s a tough and competitive business.
I love Chinese. The authentic Chinese and not the Indianised version. Though I am not saying I dislike Indianised chinese but I just prefer to have authentic Chinese.
Today you have options and you can choose from plenty. Now my suggestion is call up the restaurant and speak to the chef. Ask him what he suggests from the menu. A chef will always tell you a dish that is the best.
During my recent stay in Gold Coast, Australia I stayed at Palazzo Versace hotel. I loved the warm service with luxurious interiors. The rooms were spacious and cuisine at Vanitas the Italian restaurant was fabulous.
Nestled on the picturesque Andaman island of Koh Lanta, Thailand, Pimalai Resort & Spa stands as the epitome of luxury, offering a tranquil retreat amidst 100 acres of tropical jungle leading to the stunning Kantiang Bay. With 121 lavish rooms, this five-star property ensures an unforgettable holiday experience. Guests can spend their days lounging on the seemingly private beach or indulging in thrilling activi... more
Yes! In fact our USP is the kind of unique hotels that we represent. In our kitty we have luxury hotels in some of the most exotic locations. For example in Italy, we represent a stunningly beautiful hotel, Therasia Resort Sea & Spa on the island of Vulcano in Sicily. This is one of the few places in the wor... more
Aparupa: For us, our two dogs, Maya and Mowgli always meant the world and we always felt a tug in our hearts everytime we travelled to the mountains without them, which is why when we found this house, it seemed to be the perfect summer-home for all of us. Perched on the edge of a beautiful oak f... more
Park Hyatt Hyderabad is the first urban Park Hyatt hotel in India. As a contemporary and elegant hotel, it offers business travellers and local guests a sophisticated ambience. This top brand of Hyatt believes ‘luxury is personal’ and weaves rare and unexpected pleasures into each and every day. W... more
Today this 8-hotel old entrepreneur says despite the challenges he wouldn't want to turn the clock back! Considering we at The Hotel Explorer love stand-alone, boutique properties and always on a look-out for them, we wouldn't want that either.
I was a management consultant abroad for 15 years before realized m... more
I did Hotel Management from IHM Calcutta. I joined Welcome group Management Institute (WMI) as a Hotel Executive Trainee and graduated in 2001. My career includes pre-opening and operations of ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai and ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton in Calcutta. Have also worked with ITC Grand Kakatiya Sheraton, Hyderabad and ... more
There isn't much difference between medicine and hospitality. One is a profession that guides to be well and the other is about staying so! Small wonder then that after qualifying in medicine, Pavithran Nambiar, the General Manager of JW Marriott Mumbai, chose to shift to handing out smiles in hotels. With over 17 years of experience, Pavithran has worked with renowned brands across the world such as Accor and Mar... more
Here is a freewheeling chat with the man who has the humor, wit and lots of experience in the travel industry. No wonder there is never a dull moment when you are interviewing Mr Anand. While his social media page is full of witty status messages, here is all you need to know about his hotel chain. He also shares some interesting booking tips. Read on:
