On entering Chef Inam’s Steak House in Hyderabad, the first thing that one notices is a poster on one of the walls saying it loud and clear, ‘There is no love as the love for food’. This, indeed, is the philosophy that chef Inam Khan, the owner of the place, follows religiously.
Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Khan went to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in culinary arts. After cooking at several barbeque parties, his food was immensely appreciated, which prompted him to open his own restaurant, Maharaja of Ohio, at Dayton in Ohio.
The young chef soon made a mark in the US for his steaks, pizzas and healthy food and his restaurant was frequented by Hollywood celebrities, including Naomi Campbell, Jean Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Cindy Crawford, Al Gore, among others. He also starred in a few shows on Fox News, an experience he says he thoroughly enjoyed. With positive reviews flowing in from all quarters, his network was widening and everything was going well for him, when a family matter forced him to return to Hyderabad.
“It was tough for me to come back, a part of me wanted to stay in the US, but I decided to come back and be with my family. I was in the US for nine years without once visiting Hyderabad, so it took a while for me to adjust to the weather, people and lifestyle here,” shares the chef.
Even though he had a family-run business to bank upon, it was only a matter of time before he was back in the kitchen and he opened Chef Inam’s Steak House in Masab Tank, Hyderabad, in 2010. “I realised that I was not cut out for anything else but cooking and decided to pursue my passion. It was a small joint and it was nothing compared to what I had done in the US, but it made me happy,” he explains.
The steak house, with many celebrities from the Telugu film industry and businessmen turning regular customers, soon became the talk of the town. Encouraged by the positive response, the 35-year-old chef soon opened a renovated restaurant (with the same name) in Hyderabad’s upmarket Banjara Hills.
In a city that is known for its biryani, Khan managed to draw in crowds, by serving steaks. “I wanted to introduce something that people are not used to eating in Hyderabad. Things are slowly changing and people are travelling at a very young age. They come back with the taste of international food and can appreciate a good steak,” he observes.
Providing an insight into his unique style of cooking, he says, “My goal is to provide fusion food with spices, herbs and meat which has a lot of nutrition but still tastes good.”
He endorses healthy food and wants to serve food which helps people to build muscles and stay in good shape. Chef Inam’s Steak House is often frequented by fitness freaks, gym trainers and athletes. “There is often a misconception that eating meat is unhealthy and fattening. However, the right quality of meat with the right amount of vegetables provides all the nutrients that the body requires,” says Khan, adding, “It has proteins, low carbs and fibre. I noticed the trend of people going to the gym was on the rise in Hyderabad and wanted to do something that is my passion but provide healthy food at the same time.”
Pointing out that health and hygiene are of utmost priority for him, Khan, who also has a certification in food safety management from Boston, says, “Over the years, I have gathered experience and have realised that there is a proper way of selecting meat and vegetables. By looking at a piece of meat, I can tell if it’s fresh or stale. Also, we cook the meat only after an order is placed and do not store cooked meat,” he says.
With most Hyderabadis preferring to stick to biryani and kebabs, Khan admits it was a challenge for him to establish his brand of cooking in the city. “It was a gradual process. My food still has the values of an American Barbecue, but I slowly decided to change the taste. I made a conscious attempt to make sure the food is not bland. Many models, actors and athletes often visit this joint. But surprisingly, I also see a lot of college students here. It is evident that the food served here is being appreciated,” he adds. Khan is planning to open another restaurant soon where he can serve an open-air barbecue.
