Shefs @ Leela palace

Shefs at the Leela, conceptualised exclusively by The Leela Palace Bengaluru

Bengaluru, October 21, 2022: The Leela Palace, Bengaluru, held a first-of-its-kind event that celebrates Indian women chefs and their excellence. The trailblazing eight-course dinner was executed by an all-women workforce and headed by four extraordinary women chefs of global repute. The chefs in question – Aarthi Sampath, Amninder Sandhu, Aman Dosanj and Sherry Mehta, are women that truly require no introduction. The event was curated by Dean with us with the ideation and execution process leaded by Madhav Sehgal, General Manager, The Leela Palace Bengaluru.

Shefs at the Leela is a novel attempt to not only celebrate Indian heritage & talent but also foster equal opportunity as a component of true Indian hospitality. While the expertise & brilliance of women should take centre stage, reality presents quite a different picture in India. There needs to be encouragement and recognition considering this.

There needs to be a change.

Putting action behind such promises, Shefs at the Leela is committed to making a difference that inspires generations to come. This growing community is dedicated to cultivating talent, protecting it and watching it flourish in the future.

“When I started out about 15 years ago, I couldn’t see any female chef role models or mentors who were of Indian origin” – Aarthi Sampath

The lack of strong role models and ambassadors is another critical issue that is being addressed. This community recognizes and appreciates Indian women chefs which can inspire the youth through their hard work and talent. Such a meaningful change can create a real impact, one that sends ripples across a variety of sectors throughout the country.

And it all starts by levelling the playing field. Shefs at the Leela is now an IP of The Leela Palaces and resorts and will be taken forward globally to support the same.

Madhav Sehgal, General Manager of The Leela Palace Bengaluru during his opening speech said – ‘Why have we not strived towards equal opportunity yet. What could you possibly be waiting for when the industry has been speaking about diversity and inclusion with such confidence for so long. The need of the hour will come staring at us soon and It’s time for a change…and that’s where Shefs at the Leela comes from a strong moral fibre – dedicated to equal opportunity.’

The Shefs at the Leela first edition prided at showcasing an eight-course dinner which was executed by an all women workforce leaded by the four globally known shefs – Aarthi Sampath, Amninder Sandhu, Aman Dosanj and Sherry Mehta for more than 100 guests and the palace also inspired guests from different sectors who came to support the cause such as Shveta Salve, Rubi Chakraborty, Meghana Harikumar and more.

‘There are women around the world asking themselves why 93% of people cooking at home are women and why only 48 % graduate from hotel school and only 39 % work in restaurants and only 13 % are restaurant chefs. We would all agree that women are key players in keeping gastronomic traditions alive. SHEFS at the Leela is important because not only is it celebrating Indian women chefs from across the world by encouraging and promoting talent but also highlighting the fact that it’s all about hard work and talent!’ – says Rupali Dean

The Shefs at the Leela is now a growing community that nurtures talent and protects it, with a curation of a platform where we recognise and appreciate Indian women Chefs, a community that urges its leaders of the hospitality to not just make promises but to commit themselves in a real and meaningful way. A community that creates Shefs that inspire younger generations, senior shefs who become strong role models and ambassadors for young talent to look up to and celebrate India and true Indian hospitality which is also our commitment at Shefs at The Leela.

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