Hustling it out with Heston: What happened when British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal got a taste of a Mumbai sabzi mandi

Hindustan Times | ByLubna Salim

Apr 28, 2019 04:48 PM IST

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We took the celebrated Michelin star chef on his maiden trip to a bustling Indian vegetable market where he ended up frying bhajiyas at a roadside stall.

It’s one thing to escort celebrity chefs through the bustling bazaars of Old Delhi on toasty winter afternoons, but to trudge through a local vegetable market on a sweaty summer noon is a mean feat! More so when the superchef in question is the iconic Heston Blumenthal, who recently made his debut dinner for people in India and was here with his lovely wife Stephanie and doted-upon eight-year-old daughter, Luna.

The iconic chef Heston Blumenthal, who recently made his debut dinner for people in India; Make-up and hair: Ashwin Shelar(Rohit Chawla)

Heston had his very first Indian dish over 40 long years ago when, at the age of 10, he was living with his parents in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (Rohit Chawla)

“I love the warmth and comfort that sharing an Indian meal offers”

Heston takes the vendor’s seat to browse through fresh green chillies and okra amongst other veggies (Rohit Chawla)

Heston’s most favoured

Indian dish: Chicken korma

Ingredient: Tamarind

Chef: Alain Chapel

Street food: Tandoori roti

Dessert: Ice cream

The superchef manning the kitchen at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar (Rohit Chawla)

“[On My First Visit To India] It was 37 degrees celsius. They turned off the extractor fan in the kitchen for the cameras, and it became 60! And the chef’s paper hats disinegrated”

Heston Blumenthal with his wife and daughter in the Vile Parle vegetable market (Rohit Chawla)

HT Brunch columnist Vir Sanghvi conducted an informal chat with Heston Blumenthal at the dinner at JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity

HT Brunch columnist Vir Sanghvi conducted an informal chat with Heston Blumenthal at the dinner at JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity

The chef trying his hand at frying bhajiyas (Rohit Chawla)

“I’m generally a savoury person, though in the kitchen it’s easier to be creative with desserts”

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