On a recent visit to the capital, a group of US senators? wives almost ended up cooking at the hotel they were staying in. Before your imagination runs riot, stop. They did it by choice, as they had a special class to themselves on Indian food. Not many had realised that it could be so diverse. ?We helped them learn about the variety that Indian cuisine offers,? says Vijay Wanchoo, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, the Imperial, Delhi, who organised a special class for them as part of the hotel?s recently-launched Culinary Club.
?The purpose of the club is to understand and appreciate food better and to create awareness,? says Wanchoo. ?We often ignore the science of food and the effects ingredients have on us.? The club, which still is a rather select gathering of either in-house guests or regular clients, takes up a different cuisine each time. The aim is also to expose the hotel more to the high-end local clientele.
Hotels have used many ways to connect to their target audiences. Not many, however, would have gone the way The Imperial did. A brainchild of Wanchoo, the culinary club has been gathering strength as it meets fortnightly at the picturesque Daniell?s Tavern.
The sessions, stretching to about three hours, including lunch, are paid ones, costing Rs 1,500 per session. The set-up is impressive?imagine a TV cookery show along with a giant screen to see the chef up close?for no one has to stand around, crowding up the chef. Every attendee has a printed folder of all recipes that are going to be prepared during the class, and then some related ones. Usually a session numbers about 20 to 25 people and there is an occasional male too!
Those attending are full of questions. ?How thick a butter paper should I use??, ?How will I know when it is done??, ?Can we change the shape of the cookies?? Not often do they get to grill a hotel chef who is an expert at his or her cuisine, as the dishes are prepared in front of them. They also assist in the cooking in turns, often getting instant takeaways in the forms of rolled dough or the like!
The fee also includes a privilege card for discounts at the hotel?s restaurants. Those attending four sessions get a certificate as well. ?Cookery is close to my heart,? says Renu Malhotra, who has been attending the sessions, saying, ?The sessions help me pick up new dishes as well as details ? little touches that I might not have known about earlier.?
Wanchoo already has plans for the future, which include jazzing up the classes quite a bit by having tarot readings, jewellery displays and fashion shows. Malhotra says the club is also considering meeting at the houses of guests.
?We are not a cookery class, where the focus is on home-style cooking,? Wanchoo clarifies where the difference between this club and the umpteen cookery classes across the land lies. He also points out that those attending have already started asking for specific classes, even repeats of cuisines already done once. ?Thai, Italian, Kashmiri, pastry and bakery have all proven to be popular,? says Wanchoo, admitting that preparation of Indian cuisine generally takes longer and the guests are unlikely to be interested. For those interested in finding out more about the experiences, well, the club is already on Facebook. Go connect, for it?s not just for senators? wives.