Paving Way For The Lady Chefs In Lucknow | Featuring Lucknow Chef Virendra Kaur

Lucknow is a place of authentic food delicacies embedded into our history since the mughal era. The city has evolved perfectly with times in areas of taste while keeping its cultural essence intact. It takes a lot of talent to be a chef in place like Lucknow and Chef Virendra Kaur has proved time and again that she has more than talent to be the renowned chef she is.

Recently, Fashion Herald met Mrs Virendra Kaur, the Chef of Münick, Gomti Nagar to find out the perks and owes behing a chef’s life in Lucknow.

Chef Virendra Kaur is one of the few lady chefs working in the commercial restraunt arena of the city. With a family to look after too as well, she is one of those rare souls who are brave enough to risk it all to follow their passion and become successful. Although she had different aims in life before following into this career, Chef Virendra always loved to cook and gained appreciation for her cooking. The spices, the ingredients, the materials that she uses to cook her dishes are her passion. In the kitchen, she is no less than a scientist, working in her experimental lab, working on creating something better for her customers. Her balanced taste and wonderful presentation has given her recognition in this field more than any other lady chef in the Lucknow.

Virendra has won many awards in her journey such as the U.P. Mango Festival, gaining fame and recognition. But this never came easy. Working 12 hours a day,that too, as the only female staff managing a team of around 60 people is a huge task for anyone.

Headaches, muscle fatigue are a part of the work in this field. Preparing food for 300-400 people daily takes a toll on your body. Also, managing your team has its fair share of troubles. “Every challenge that came my way was a learning experience for me” – adds chef Virendra enthusiastically. I believe that failures are important to get success.”

For Chef Virendra Kaur, cooking is an expression of everything, all her emotions are expressed in a constructive and creative way through her preparations.Virendra Kaur is most famous for the Mughlai dishes she prepares and the appetizing desserts that she so heartily prepares. She can create mouth-watering desserts out of anything. Some examples of her creative and innovative mind are Mango Mint Onion Kheer (this was awarded the first prize in U.P. Mango Festival), Garlic Kheer, Karele ka halwa.

“ I love listening to music on the radio while cooking. Gives me the extra boost to prepare my stuff and keeps me sane”. Now we loved that Virendra thinks so seriously about keeping a good mood while cooking. You don’t want your chef to be in bad mood when you are hungry right ?

Family support has been tremendous for Virendra.She is very grateful towards her husband and daughter for always standing as a support for her and believes that her success would have not been possible without them.

Her dream is to work with some of the best chefs in India one day and get a chance to test her talents out infront of them. And we have no doubts she will come out with flying colors after tasting her food ! Infact , she has already been awarded as the best chef by non other than of her inspiration, Master Chef Pankaj Bhadouria.

Along with being an excellent cook, Chef Virendra Kaur is also an amazing mother who not only supports her own daughter to pursue her dreams but also believes that every parent should support their daughters. She believes that every woman should stand on her feet because the satisfaction and respect a woman gains after earning on her own is something that everyone deserves. She believes that proper parenting revolves around trust and friendship with your children.

Chef Virendra Kaur also broke the taboo that this profession is unsafe for girls by putting forward the fact that indeed this is one of the most respectable jobs. As for safety, she believes that if you know how to handle yourself, every environment is safe for you. For struggling cooks, Chef Virendra Kaur revealed that this field has become very open and creative and the success totally depends upon the hard work of an individual.

When we asked Chef Virendra to name her favourite food, she said that she loves all kinds of parathas and sweets ( Undoubtedly the Punjabi in her ). She also put forward her love for her mother’s handmade food.

On being asked what your ideal lifestyle is, she was prompt to say – “Living life to the fullest is my ideal lifestyle. When you want to achieve your dreams, you have to sacrifice a lot, but in the end, it’s all worth it.”

What her customers have to say about her –

We had dinner which Chef Virendra Kaur prepared . The taste was excellent and the food was fresh. Not to forget the presentation which was a treat to the eyes. We did not feel very heavy like we usually feel after a heavy dinner. Had a lovely time. — Parul Sharma

I tried Mutton Biryani and Chicken Korma made by Chef VIRENDRA KAUR at Roti Boti Tarka . Mutton in the Biryani was soft as well as juicy. I had chicken korma for the first time and I have to say that it was one of the best non-veg dish I ever had. For me it was a 4/5 experience.  — Harjeet Singh

At the birthday party of my daughter held at DESI LOUNGE we ordered Paneer Lababdar and Kheer. Both the dishes were prepared by Chef VIRENDRA KAUR. Paneer lababdar had the correct amount of cream, sweetness. The best part of the dish was the mild tanginess. Kheer was also up to the mark.She is a fantastic cook and one should try her hand recipes, absolutely  delicious. — Anand Kumar

Few weeks back, I went to Munick Bistro and Bar with my family and ordered Paan Kheer and Kadhai Paneer. It was for the first time that I was having Paan kheer and it was amazing. Kadhai paneer was also upto the mark. — Muskan Mittal