| CUISINE |
Prateek Sadhu, A Nomad Chef On A Mission Hailing from Kashmir, he finds himself at home in the mountains while challenging modern gastronomy. From mentoring MasterChef contestants to opening a restaurant Naar nestled in the pine forests of Kasauli to hosting the ambitious Cannes 2023 dinner, celebrity chef Prateek Sadhu has more than a plate full. by Vidhi Narula
A
| Peach Kanji
fter dreaming about becoming a commercial pilot and preparing for entrance exams to the National Defense Academy, Prateek Sadhu ultimately found his calling in cooking and hotel management. He calls it a “total fluke” because becoming a chef was never a part of his plan. “In my first or second class in the hotel management course, I realised this is what I wanted to do all along. It was weird because I never cooked at home. I would always shadow my mum in the kitchen, but I loved eating more than cooking,” says Sadhu. While his parents believed a person had to be a doctor or an engineer to make it big in life, Sadhu carved his own path with conviction. Today, he leads a fulfilling life as a chef in the spotlight, with a famous restaurant in the mountains. India’s Pride at Cannes 2023 The recent feather in Prateek’s cap is hosting a fabulous millet-themed inaugural dinner at the Cannes Film Festival 2023. The guests of honour included the Minister of Culture, award-winning producer Guneet Monga, and actor Vijay Verma among other prestigious people attending the festival. “It was an incredibly proud moment for me to represent and showcase our country’s food on a global stage. I believe Indian food is so diverse and complex that people need to see it beyond the usual Butter Chicken and Naan. I wanted to show how India cooks in 2023.”
| Smoked Pork, Tungrymbai, Jadoh, Bamboo Shoot Salad, Charred Tomato Chutney
34