A Talk with Sadaf Hussain

 

 

 

 How you started your journey?

 

 I never learnt cooking professionally. I remember the first time when I cooked noodles or Paneer chili, I learnt everything by observing one cook in a small dhaba which used to be very close to my house. I observed him for 3-4 days continuously and then one day I tried to replicate and the dish actually came out very good. I learnt how to chop onions from a Pani Puri wala. I actually don’t remember learning anything at home apart from baking cake from my mom. I wanted to take up hotel management as my course but because of family issues I couldn’t do it. But this didn’t kill my passion, my junoon of cooking. I started learning on my own, when I moved to hostel for my graduation, I started cooking on my own. I used to come back from college by 4 pm and then at around 8 pm I used to cook with my group, this used to be the most fun part of my college life. I have faced enough problems and roadblocks in my life but I just worked on my hobby and made it my passion. I cook when I am sad, I cook when I am happy. Cooking for me is like Yoga. It relaxes my body and mind. 

 

 At what age you got to know that you have a passion to become a chef?

 

 I was 10 when I first cooked dinner for my family. I remember cooking some green vegetables and roti. And I guess then I realised that I can cook too. 

 

 What Inspired You?

 

 I wanted to be the fattest kid on earth :P so I used to eat a lot. Since I have always been a curious person, I wanted to know the process and system of the food I eat. So I started exploring and looking at people when they cook. That is how my journey in to the kitchen started. 

 

Before masterchef  have you took part in any other competition?

 

I have not taken part in any cooking competition before. In fact I wasn't even sure whether what I cook is so great. My friends always used to tell me that I cook great food, I should give MC a shot. So this year finally I pulled myself together and gathered all the courage to give an audition.

 

As we have seen that many people after getting name and fame, the attitude behaivour, everything changes in them,but this is not with you, you are still friendly with everyone, you don't think anytime to have a attitude, pride like stuff?

 

I know how to cook, I walked in to Master Chef kitchen not to become a celebrity, I walked in to the kitchen to learn and to make people see what I can do with food. I always one line which Chef Vikas told us, “always keep your crown outside”. He always tells us that we probably will become big stars but never let the ego come in between anything. Be happy and proud of what you are doing but never let this proud become an ego. I am a humble person, tomorrow when there won’t be Master Chef I still want to be remembered as a humble guy. You are the people who always support me and my cooking style. Why should I run away from you all, I in fact learn from you all, I get cooking tips and techniques.

 

Did your passion anytime affected your acadamics or vice-versa?

 

 No. I was a bright student in my school and college. Food has been my best friend, so how can your best friend let you down. 

  

Which dish you enjoy making and eating it? 

 

I love making chicken Kebabs. I keep experimenting with the flavour and chutney of it. 

 

Your favorite chef? 

 

 Both the judges from Master Chef are my favorite. I would have asked for better mentors. Though outside Master Chef I really follow Chef Ajay Chopra, Chef Ranvir Brar, Chef Saransh Goila, Chef Manish Mehrotra, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef Ritu Dalmia, Chef Anjum Anand, and the list goes on if we talk about international chefs.  

 

Your favorite judge? 

 

As I said, all three are my favorite, I couldn’t have asked for better mentors. All of them have a very distinct nature and personality. Chef Kunal is like my elder brother, he is always there to support me and have encouraged me. Chef Vikas is one of the most amazing individual I have ever met. He is so humble and down to earth. His cooking inspires me. His cooking has a life and a soul. Zorawar sir always pushes us to think more and think better when it comes to food. He tells us to reimagine your own food. Plate the food as if you are going to sell to a funder. 

 

 Who you think is a competition in Masterchef? 

 

All the contestants and very strong, everyone comes with a different story, different background and varied experience. I think it is just one bad that makes us go home. Outside Master Chef kitchen we are a family but inside kitchen we all are competitors. We all compete but we also help each other. Food is a thing which brings people together and it certainly has brought us together.

 

What Masterchef mean to you, how important it is? 

 

Master Chef means everything to me. Cooking has been my passion and I am living this life which I always used to see in TV. This is my dream come true. I have left a well-paid and settled job to be a part of this competition. I have left a life outside, if this means nothing then I don’t know what would.

 

 Which Task till now is your favorite and you enjoyed a lot?

 

I really enjoyed the Diwali week episode for a simple reason that I was cooking for such a great cause. Police is always there to help us, when we celebrate our festival, they are the one always in action and taking care of us. This was our way of thanking them. In this episode I also worked with everyone apart from working on my Chapatis. I remember that I was running around helping everybody, and being a part of all the different kinds of food we were cooking. And while I was working on Chapatis, I just relived my college life when I used to roll the chapatis for around 10-12 people. So it was really fun ride.

 

 What are your Future plans after Masterchef?

 

I would love to explore all the unheard recipes and ingredients and recreating the food in my own style with my own twist. I want people to move away from their stereotype of food, Indian food specially and try and experiment with food. I am also working on a food blog which will have history of food and spices which will give an overview to all the food lovers. I also want to have my own book café (if I am able to find a funder) because I want people to enjoy food while they learn about something new every time they walk in my café. 

 

 You Enjoy a team task or indiviual task?

Individual tests give you chance to shine and think on your own and you’ll be held responsible for your good or bad cooking. Whereas group task tests your leadership and team work strength which has its own benefits but if an individual or the team performs bad then that means the entire team can go for elimination. Hence I love individual tasks.

 What are your hobbies other then cooking?

Apart from cooking I love to read, and blog about economics and political issues. I also love to travel (I have traveled entire country apart from North East), and few countries outside India and I always explore food in all the places I visit. I am an amateur photographer. I love to run and go to gym.

 

 

What you like to do in your free time? 

 

 In my free time I am usually talking to people, or watching and learning something on YouTube with a cup of hot black coffee of green tea

Memorable Moment?

The day when I earned my Master Chef Apron. I still have all the memories of the day when I walked in the kitchen, cooked my heart out and earned that apron.

You are young , handsome and dynamic....as that your lots of female fan following will be there , how you feel getting attention of so many girls?

Hahaha this is an indeed a great feeling when people recoganise and like the way you look and your personality. It makes me feel very special and great about myself.

As seen in ur post,lots of girls comment saying you are cute, handsome, they like you , love you and all stuff., what is ur reaction when you see all this comments?

I don’t know how to react hahaha , I blush, I thank my makeup guys .

Your Parents, Friends Everyone would be Proud of you,what msg will you like to tell all others who wants to be like You?

 If you really passionate about anything in your life, please do it. Never ever stop yourself. You are passionate about something because that is what you know the best. Kuch to log kahenge, logo ka kaam hai kehna. Never give up, you’ll fall down but who cares. Your dream and only you can work on it.

 

 

How would you Describe yourself?

Sadaf Hussain is very humble and down to earth. He is also very curious; he is annoying because he wants to learn everything which is out there in the world. He is very easy to talk, never gets angry and drops his patience and calm. He cracks lame jokes and make fun of himself just make sure that people around him are always happy. He is also very filmy. “Babumoshai…..zindagi lambi nahi badi honi chahiye….” (Sir…..Life need not be long it should be big) from an old movie Anand.