Embarking on a 'global' journey

Ask Chef Madhu Krishnan about her favourite cuisine and she comes up with a generic term like ‘Global’! Then she goes on to explain, “I was raised in a family where food was of prime importance. It was discussed, debated, relished and experimented with constantly. My mother would try out magazine and cook book recipes from all over the world, substituting hard-to-get ingredients ingeniously with what was available locally,” she laughs as she remembers coming home from school everyday to the aroma of a perfectly baked fish pie, a layered chocolate cake or a fresh culinary delight.

“Cooking was a passion I lived with so I had to make a career out of it. But like my mother, I cannot limit myself to one particular cuisine when there is such a variety of ingredients and flavours around the world just waiting to be explored,” she exclaims.
Ingredients and presentation are as important to her as taste. While she remains faithful to classic cooking techniques, she always adds her own improvisation to a dish to make it special.

“My speciality is to use the best ingredients available and bring out their flavour as artfully as possible. Even a simple carrot coleslaw can become a culinary delight when the carrots are fresh and juicy, the mayonnaise is perfect and the raisins are just right. An omelette can turn into a healthy meal with freshly-cut wheat grass added to it or an indulgent pampering of the palate with a slice of melted Brie (French cheese) on top,” she says. Although many of her creations read like a gourmet’s manual with exotic dishes like porcini macaroons and ginger-flavoured grilled eel, she says that one can develop a taste for global specialities with a little curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

“Start by occasionally moving away from the standard dishes you eat everyday. When choosing an ice cream, go for a berry or green tea flavour instead of chocolate or vanilla. Eat at a felafel corner at a food court instead of the one serving channa batura. Try out a dim sum or sushi place for a change instead of a standard fried rice or chilli chicken hang out. When you travel, sample local dishes instead of desperately hunting for restaurants serving familiar Indian food. You will be able to embark on a whole new culinary adventure which will be very rewarding,” she advises.