There is more than culinary skills in the role of chef

KUALA LUMPUR: Viewers have seen the celebrity chefs showing off their culinary skills right in front of their screen. How about those chefs at hotels and posh restaurants who have to sweat out in the kitchen to prepare the gastronomy fare for hundreds of guests?

Surprisingly Chef Ashar Daud, the Executive Chef at PNB Darby Park, vouches that in a day’s work, there are times that he hardly touches the knives or the kitchen utensils. The preparation and the cooking are all done by his helpers.

“The role of chefs at major establishments are more towards managing and monitoring the gastronomy preparation and presentation. The chef sets the menu and how it would be presented for the day for the guests whose number could reach hundreds.

“The chef’s role is to ensure everything goes on smoothly, the preparation is clean and the food is fresh and a brilliant presentation adds to the customer’s palate,” explained Ashar in detail to Bernama recently.

If there is something to go wrong, though it may be petty, the chef is the one answerable.

Hailing from Tanah Merah, Kelantan, Ashar who is in his 40s has more than 20 years experience in culinary.

And Ashar could vouch that it is no easy task when comes to pleasing the diverse palate of the diners. Not only the diners may felt let down by his offering but also his own working colleagues. Yet he takes both praises and criticism with pride.

“What matters most is to let go the ego. Listen to the views of others. Though one may feel slighted but one has to take it positively,” he said with a wide grin.