4 minute read
HOME CHEF OF THE MONTH
HELGA MOTHA
By FNH Team Images by Helga Motha
Helga Motha grew up in a family where cooking and baking were a regular fate. Her grandmother used to run a school of arts, crafts,s, and basic culinary skills and that is how Helga ’ s interest in culinary art grew and she began being a part of every batch of the students. Although Helga does not have any formal education in the field of Culinary her deep interest in cooking and baking finally made her a master chef in baking.
Please tell us about your background and how you entered the field of culinary. Baking and cooking have been in our family for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a Home where Cooking or Baking was a regular feat. My Grandmother ran a school of Arts, Crafts, and also basic culinary skills called MasterKraft. Being in that environment gravitated me towards the culinary arts. As my interest grew, I was much a part of every batch of students. Yes, I did get a shout for every finger dipped into the batter for tasting.. but that didn ’t stop me and my love for food and particularly my sweet tooth got me interested in the culinary field. Baking a Cake or cooking up a feast at home didn ’t require an occasion. We could create one!! Every birthday for me was a special one… I got to choose my own cake design!! This in turn did inspire me to create those beautiful memories for my family and my Kids. The first cake baked and decorated by me was for my engagement. Have you done any formal education in the field of Culinary? No, I haven ’t pursued a professional course. My background helped me whip up recipes on the
go
What was the reason you choose to bake the cake? Though I' m well-versed with other dishes, baking came naturally to me. Baking and decorating a cake is like therapy to me. Kneading the dough, and using the icing creatively have helped me destress in the past. It' s a creative job. What are the hurdles you faced while perusing your dreams and how did you overcome them? I have come a long way in baking and decorating cakes. Being a self-taught baker, some of them have been based on trial and error. I have looked almost everywhere and anywhere for tutorials, how-tos, and information. I learn more every day with every new cake... it’ s an unending process. But the spark never dies down. “Cannot Do ” has never been in my dictionary!! I sit up at night planning my cakes… but never exhausted!! So far, the major hurdles constantly faced are the frequent power cuts and the humidity. The humid climate can be dealt with by working in an air-conditioned room but the power cuts just keep you waiting and watching! And in this line of work, power is a most essential part of bringing our cakes to the table. Such issues delay work and our commitment to our clients get affected. What are the USPs of your cuisine and how do you deal with the competition? We pride ourselves on offering our clients products made from the best ingredients. If I cannot feed the same cake to my family, I definitely wouldn ’t serve it! We never compromise on quality. Utmost attention is given to detail while decorating the cakes for that final WOW effect. The competition will always exist. But a good Cake, reasonably priced and a Happy smiling Customer will bring the customers back to you. Hard work always pays off!
Tell us more about the types of cakes that you bake and your specialty Our varied flavours are a hit with clients. Our vast range allows them to select what favours their taste buds. Chocolate cake (the eggless variety too) and the rich boozy fruit cake is an all-time favorites. I also love doing Kiddie theme cakes. No cartoon character is difficult to sculpt into an edible cake topper. What is the weirdest food she has ever tried? Back in Coimbatore, there ' s a restaurant that serves the goats head, roasted. Ewww. Just couldn 't eat it. Never forgot it either! If not a Chef, what else would be doing? I enjoy what I do. It brings me immense joy to create a slice of happiness for our clients that Smile is truly a reward! Can 't imagine doing anything else apart from baking. Tell us about your top 5 favourite dishes I love Fish and anything with chocolate in it. Tell us about your top 5 favorite dishes I love Fish and anything with chocolate in it. Tell us 5 kitchen tools you cannot live without. Oven, Planetary Mixer, microwave. Basically, I have my own Bakery space. Kitchen tools if missing can be improvised. But having your own space is priceless. Any msg that you want to give No dream is too small…. Hard work, determination, and sincerity always bear fruit. Criticism is always Constructive! Every failure is a lesson learned…. At least you tried!! You ’ re still better than those who never have or never will!
