Revelations: Avinash Shashidhara, head chef, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai, London

11 August 2023
Revelations: Avinash Shashidhara, head chef, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai, London

We delve into the life and inner thoughts of a top chef. This week: Avinash Shashidhara, head chef, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai, London

What was your best subject at school?

Science. I loved biology and botany as I was always fascinated by plants and human anatomy

What was your first job?

Working at a hotel called the Oberoi in Bangalore as a trainee chef

What do you normally have for breakfast?

I normally have raw cacao with milk and agave syrup, a slice of brioche and seasonal fruit

What do you do to relax?

I like to go for a walk in Holland Park or by the river. I do a bit of yoga and HIIT, but I also love cooking with a glass of wine while listening to records. It's my favourite way to relax

Which is your favourite restaurant?

I've got to say the River Café as it feels like going back home every time I eat there

What is your favourite drink?

I love a good negroni or a gin martini, dry with an olive, sometimes dirty! I love Champagne, a good Brunello or a Burgundy with food. Depends on the occasion, really

What is your favourite food/cuisine?

My comfort foods are Indian and Italian cuisines as they are soulful and truly represent the culture and people who make them without being pretentious

What flavour combinations do you detest?

Ham and pineapple on pizza. Warm or cooked cucumber is also something I don't really like

Which person in catering have you most admired?

Rose Gray

Cast away on a desert island, what luxury would you take?

A luxury RV with all the amenities

Describe your ultimate nightmare?

Being stuck in a lift

What irritates you most about the industry?

The work-life balance, lack of affordable training or courses available for young professionals to come into the industry, and entitled customers with an opinion about everything that we do

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