Cloud Kitchens: Kunal Makhija, Arabisque

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Wine & Dine


Textual content and Images by Mallika Chandra.

Kunal Makhija, 27
Arabisque
Location: Mahim
Speciality: Center Japanese

Kunal, inform me just a little about your journey as a chef.
I developed an curiosity in cooking round 2007 due to my father’s restaurant in Dubai and after education there, I used to be fairly positive that this was what I needed to pursue. I accomplished the culinary speciality programme on the Institute of Lodge Administration in Aurangabad after which interned at Taj West Finish, Bengaluru for a yr. I used to be fortunate sufficient to additionally intern at Gaggan in Bangkok (now shut) for 2 months, following which I labored at Indigo Deli in Colaba for a yr.

A batchmate, who had additionally been my roommate from school, known as me sooner or later and requested, “Do you wish to come to Dubai?” I had been on the lookout for a change at that time. So, I labored at a couple of locations in Dubai, together with a Lebanese restaurant the place I learnt most of what I do as we speak. Earlier than I moved to Mumbai, the final place I labored at was a advantageous eating restaurant by the identify of London Venture.

How did you get into the cloud kitchen enterprise?
I had at all times needed to start out one thing of my very own. In the course of the lockdown, I had seen plenty of residence kitchens developing and I assumed I might give it a strive. It was not a really calculated transfer, to be trustworthy. It was a leap of religion.

How did you set collectively the idea, the menu, the identify?
I have to give credit score to my household and to my girlfriend as a result of whereas it might seem like I’m the one one who handles the model, they’re the spine.

My grandmother let me work out of her kitchen and offered me with a base for one yr. My mother and father, who stay in Dubai, had been very supportive. Loads of my substances nonetheless come from Dubai, like za’atar powder, sumac and fava beans which we use for our falafel and it was my father who discovered one of the best sources for these. My brother and sister-in-law look into the funds of the corporate. So everybody has helped me to get the place I’m as we speak. The identify was steered by my brother.

Does your loved ones nonetheless play a really lively position?
At any time when I wish to add one thing new on my menu, my relations are the primary to style it. My grandmother was my official hummus taster, and I wish to imagine that I by no means get any complaints as a result of she tasted each batch. I usually focus on future plans with my brother.

Regardless of the help, it should be difficult to juggle each roles — of chef and proprietor?
After I was working for another person, I used to be liable for a bit. Now, I’m liable for your complete model — from sourcing of substances and prep to coaching of workers and advertising.

A giant side of working a cloud kitchen is having a strong social media presence.
I underestimated the facility of social media. I assumed I might concentrate on the meals and all the things else would fall into place. Two years in, I realised that it’s greater than 50 per cent of the sport. Personally, I’m not very lively on social media in order that’s been one change since my journey as an entrepreneur. Getting your identify out there may be tough. That is the place my girlfriend comes into the image; she has an excellent sense of aesthetics. I’ve performed picture shoots up to now however individuals have advised me to start out clicking photos in actual time. I concentrate on that now.

Cooking the meals, then again, has been simple. That’s what I’m skilled in. However once more, we hold updating the menu. Generally, I strive one thing on a Tuesday, get it tasted by Wednesday, and put it up as a particular by Friday for the weekend. It helps hold me on my toes. However truthfully, that little house I’ve created wouldn’t exist with out the shoppers. They’ve been brutally trustworthy which I actually admire.

What sort of perception has interacting along with your viewers offered when it comes to the hole Arabisque fills out there?
I’ve performed my education in Dubai and I used to be not pleased with the Center-Japanese meals that was obtainable in Mumbai. I did see a giant distinction within the style and value factors in what was supplied right here. There have been manufacturers that served rolls after which there have been advantageous eating Lebanese eating places. There was nothing within the center. I felt that was a great phase for me to focus on. In order that’s the place Arabisque matches in. It’s good-quality meals at good costs.

How do you keep requirements across the freshness of the meals?
We produce in restricted portions. We will serve a lot of clients if want be, however all the things’s made to order. We make hummus 5 – 6 occasions a day. We attempt to make all the things from scratch. Our breads — pita bread, the entire wheat pita, pide dough, manakish dough — are made in-house and to order.

Did it’s important to do plenty of trials?
It took plenty of trial and error. Despite the fact that I had a recipe for the bread from my time in Dubai, I needed to tweak it to swimsuit the local weather right here. Loads of trials went into the hummus as nicely.

Does the delicacies swimsuit the supply mannequin?
Because the lockdown, I’ve noticed that individuals have come to phrases with the truth that there may be going to be a distinction between consuming in a restaurant and having meals delivered to your private home. Since I get plenty of direct orders, I attempt to think about the gap that the meals has to journey. For instance, falafel, which is fried, tends to get soggy. So, if an individual is at a distance from my kitchen, I ship it half fried, if they’re okay with ending the dish at residence.

Have you ever been in a position to handle a work-life stability?
I’m nonetheless making an attempt to determine a work-life stability. I’m not saying I’m a workaholic however work is at all times on my thoughts, which I’m not very happy with. My work hours are pretty respectable — from midday to 10 pm. Generally it might imply that I attain late for a social dedication, however I do attempt to make it. It’s a part of the sport.

In culinary school, they inform you on day one that you simply’re going to be working when everybody’s having fun with themselves. You may say goodbye to celebrating all of the festivals. I do miss it and my household do miss me being there, however I’m very happy to be in my kitchen or at a catering celebration as a result of that’s the time that you simply get most of your small business.

How are you fascinated by the expansion and scale of your small business sooner or later? What are your metrics for achievement?
I do wish to make a reputation for myself. If you happen to consider Lebanese meals, I wish to be among the many first 5 names that pop up in your head. In order that’s the aim.

How are you influencing individuals’s concepts of what Lebanese meals is?
Even after we exit to eat in Dubai, I see the vast majority of individuals ordering hummus and falafel, not a lot else. However there’s much more that the delicacies has to supply. What I’ve performed with Arabisque is that I’ve stored the classics however I’ve additionally tried enjoying round with them. I’ve seven totally different flavours of hummus. A few of them — the truffle hummus, for instance — aren’t authentically Lebanese, however they’ve been doing nicely. Even the peri-peri hummus has appealed to individuals. Indian audiences love a little bit of fusion.

Given the present socio-political local weather in our nation, do you discover serving meals from the Gulf area to be a problem?
None of my dishes set off any spiritual or political sentiments although I’ve chosen to not serve pork or beef in my kitchen. I can do so much with rooster, lamb and seafood. Whereas I’m not a really spiritual particular person, I respect the viewpoints of others and anticipate the identical from them. If a buyer has an issue with the meals apart from the style then I can’t actually assist them. I can’t change the origin of a dish.

What’s the good order from Arabisque?
If it’s a meal for one, I might counsel a mezze bowl. We provide falafel, paneer, lamb and totally different preparations of rooster. It’s the optimum amount for one particular person and offers you the chance to strive a number of components just like the hummus, tabbouleh and our breads. It’s an ideal pattern of what Arabisque has to supply.

Earlier: Introduction
Subsequent: Rehan Mehta, East seventh Pizza & Deli



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