The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Getting to know you
TV celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala shares his taste for food and life in general.
Q Which chefs inspire you?
A Anton Mosimann. And Indian mothers as well who are the most amazing cooks in the world. I admire Paul Bocuse for what he gave to the world and cuisine in general. He left an amazing legacy, which is incomparable, apart from the great Augusté Escoffier.
Q What do you love most about what you do?
A I love that I am the master of my creations – the freedom, the ability to create, but above all the happiness of those that I poison on a daily basis!
Q What was your plan b career wise?
A Agriculture.
Q Theme song for your life?
A Mistake by Mike Oldfield.
Q Last meal on earth?
A Rice, lentils, caramelised onions and garlic, and a pile of my favourite fried papads.
Q Dream dinner party guests?
A How large is it going to be? David Attenborough, Prince Charles, Michael Palin, Dadabhoy Naoroji, JRD Tata, Abdul Kalam, Rowan Atkinson, and my family if I cannot have more.
Q First thing you’d do if you won £1 million?
A Clear our debts and breathe normally, then work out the rest. First would be giving our faithful hard-working and loyal team a good bonus each, by way of investing in each one’s family.
Q Quiet night in or big night out?
A Mostly quiet night in. We crave those.
Q City break or weekend in the country?
A Both really because I haven’t seen much of this amazing world of ours. So first a city and then the country.
Q Home or abroad?
A Love home as there is so much to do that has piled up for years. But abroad too as we enjoy the change and love travel.
Q Sweet or savoury?
A Savoury.
Q What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?
A Overcome the fear of marriage and fatherhood.
Q Happiest memory?
A Many come to mind as I recollect my life. But if I get a smile from my wife my happiness soars.
Q And most embarrassing?
A Being at Clarence House, in conversation with HRH while my trousers were torn at the rear, feeling the breeze but unable to move for fear of exposure.
Q What are you proudest of?
A My family.
Q Who do you admire most?
A Tough one. I admired my dad most of all but you admire those that left behind a footprint in the sands of time... and I only hope I can do the same.
Q Who would you like to thank?
A Many, starting with my parents for all the sacrifices and yet not showing it, my wife for always being my bastion and for her unfailing support and belief.
Q What advice would you give to your younger self?
A Be bold, be brave, go forth and challenge everything, but above all demand what is rightfully yours.
Q Hardest thing you’ve had to give up?
A A safe secure senior management job in a large organisation to go and start life all over again.
Q Biggest regret?
A Leaving Mum and Dad in their old age to come to the UK to make a new life and not being there for them is something I can never live down.
Q What was the worst punishment you had as a child?
A Being unable to eat the foods I would love to eat. I was on a diabetic heart patient’s diet as a child for several years and yearned to eat the food my sister, cousins and friends could.
Q What keeps you awake at night?
A Creativity, blending ingredients, creating menus, mumbling and talking to myself how to correct those who have done wrong, people’s bad attitude and more.
Q Write your own epitaph.
A Here lies a man who knew not where he was going until this hole in the ground found him.
Cyrus is hosting a dinner and masterclass at Fairmont St Andrews on the weekend of Saturday March 24 – Sunday March 25 2018, with a menu designed to showcase the best of local Fife produce. For more information see www.fairmont.com