One of the best-known celebrity chefs in the State, Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni (38) died of a massive cardiac arrest at a private hospital here on Sunday evening.
Popular for his TV show ‘Aaha Enna Rusi’ aired on a popular Tamil television channel every Saturday, chef Jacob was an expert in authentic south Indian cuisine and always conducted his cookery shows along the anyone-can-cook stream of thought.
He was diagnosed with a minor heart ailment about six months back and was in and out of hospitals for a while. Friends relate how the chef returned to his new restaurant on the Khader Nawaz Khan Road and worked dedicatedly despite his legs swelling up quite often.
A master chef, Jacob also entered the Guinness Book of World Records for cooking the longest barbeque at a stretch. He has written a number of books like Manakum Tamilzham, Kitchen Clinic, Saapitu Parunga and many more.
Jacob was also a consultant for popular restaurants like Rassa, owned by Sri Krishna Sweets, Crimson Chakra and has conducted food festivals across India. Jacob is survived by two brothers and a sister. He lost his father at a young age and his mother passed away a few years ago. Though Jacob always wanted to marry a widow, he died a bachelor.