CHENNAI: Five years, two cook books and many successful TV stints later, Shipra Khanna still cannot believe her luck. “I was going through what can probably be called the most difficult time of my life. But life had other plans for me,” she smiles.
For a seasoned MasterChef fan, she is the charming woman from Himachal who faced the many culinary challenges head-on and won the second season of the popular show in 2012. For the uninitiated, she is the gritty home cook who braved a broken marriage and became a household name overnight after her big win.
“I still can’t believe how my life just changed overnight. It was a combination of hard work and luck…that much I can tell you,” says the celebrity chef who was in the city recently for a vegetarian starters and desserts workshop hosted by Faccia Events. “Winning the show definitely opened exciting new avenues for me. However, what many people don’t realise is winning the title is easier than living up to it. Sometimes you make decisions you regret but you learn, like I have learnt through trial and error.”
Ask her what was the most difficult thing about her journey so far and she says: “Making a mark in a male-dominated industry, of course! However, I truly believe that the odds are not skewed against women today as was the case a few years back. Earlier, you had one Tarla Dalal for a hundred Sanjeev Kapoors. Today, women are more determined and clear about the kind of goals they want to achieve. That is a good thing, definitely.”
Apart from food, if there is anything else that thrills her, it is travel. “I got the opportunity to visit many countries in the past few years. In fact, I just returned from Spain two days back. Their tourism ministry invited me to train their chefs,” says Shipra, who was also honoured with the title of ‘The Culinary Ambassador to Spain’ by the Spanish Ambassador to India, himself.
“I have also visited Malaysia, Czech Republic, France and UAE on food trails as the brand ambassador of Cox and Kings. All the recipes gathered from these experiences shall be compiled into a book and a TV show soon. Wait for it,” she grins.
Back home, Shipra has tied up with travel giant Yatra to train chefs in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. “You have fresh produce and exciting ingredients in the Andamans, but sadly they were not being put to great use. I am trying to collaborate with restaurants there to compile an exciting menu for tourists…an even better reason you have to visit this undiscovered gem of a place!” she declares.
Die-hard fans of MasterChef India will not forget the legendary yam mousse, garam masala carrot cake, and tandoori chicken pâté that she came up with. “I have always wanted to add a different touch to simple dishes…I think that fuelled my interest in fusion cooking. I even gave a different spin to palak paneer — whipping up a cheese quenelle with spinach, at a dinner I put together recently at The Jumeirah in Dubai,” she avers.
The self-taught food wizard is full of hopes for the future. “I think I have a god-given gift. I want to visit more countries…and I am not done experimenting with food and life, just yet.”
Top TV shows
Rock a Bowl
Masterclass with Shipra Khanna onTata Sky Cooking
Desi Gourmet Cooking with Shipra Khanna
Shipra’s Kitchen
Award galore
Shipra’s second book Sinfully Yours won the Best TV Celebrity Cookbook at the World Gourmand Awards in China earlier this year. It is the first book by an Indian chef to win this award.