Interview with Dr. Priyanka Biswas, a dentist by profession and finalist of MasterChef India

Welcome to "The Fiver Stories" where we interview our AllFive Fam who have unique stories to tell!?

It is YOUR PLATFORM. YOUR STORIES. Kicking off our series, we have Dr. Priyanka Biswas who is a MasterChef finalist of season 6 with us!?

Congratulations on being the Finalist of season Six of MasterChef India! You seem to have a love for food and a passion for cooking. How did you discover your love for cooking?

As a kid, we’ve seen our mother running a student mess all by herself, from Grocery shopping to cooking to feeding, like 80+ students from our little home to support my father financially since we weren’t that economically stable before. She used to get tired and sometimes cranky too but she never compromised with our studies neither with the quality & quantity of food. One day I asked her, Why is she doing it if it’s making her so tired? She smiled and said, “ Definitely this mess is helping us with our economical balance but cooking for everyone, making them smile with good food gives me satisfaction and happiness too”. My mom loved the praises from all the Didis & Bhaiyas as they used to call her Bula Mami & my father Mama with immense respect & love. I grew up seeing how food unites strangers as a family because we’re still in touch with almost all of them even after like 20+ yrs. Plus our family holds a deep heritage in culinary traditions since our family is still called Blue blood & is treated as royals back in our village. It goes without saying that childhood stories of my grandfather and the delicious food my grandparents & my parents cooked were cravingly delicious. My father went out of the box and introduced me to every spice possible even when the budget didn’t allow it. He & my mom actually taught me a lot of things. Hence, the family I belong to plays a huge role in motivating me & inspiring me to be a Chef.

Can you tell us about your MasterChef journey & experience and one best memory you have shared in MasterChef?

Honestly, my Masterchef journey was too good to be true. Yes, there were a few bumps that affected me a bit but then I made some friends who certainly became a family and the bumps were ignored happily. I can never thank enough the entire crew of Masterchef from all 3 judges to our producer to director to talent management to floor management to dress to makeup, hair to the real team to the food team even the editors, sound, spot & driver dadas each & everyone accepted us as their own responsibility and people. Speaking about the best memory there are countless memories but two of them are the utmost favorite that I’ll cherish all my life 1) Meeting the 3 MasterChef's & giving the rose to my most favorite chef Michelin star Vikas Khanna & when he awarded me with the Masterchef apron sitting on his knees with so much love & kindness. 2) When I came running back to my parents wearing the Masterchef apron & saw them tearing up with immense pride & joy. It felt like I met God that day.?

We'd love to hear about your journey to where you have reached now and who was your support.

My biggest support system is my Family, I’m nothing without them. My mom, father, younger brother, a few close friends & my pets. My world revolves around them & I’m zero without them since they’re my backbone. My mother was my biggest supporter and critique, losing her in 2020 collapsed our world rapidly but we’re trying our best to get back on track. Speaking about the journey Today I’m working with the ministry of rural development strengthening the skills of rural communities to run their own self-help groups or educating them about government policies that could help them to become entrepreneurs. Plus I’m working for big brands & pretty active on social media. I was also invited to the global platform of TED TALK & TEDx Pandri & I can never thank the team of AllFive & TEDx Pandri for supporting me there. Also, we’ve been running our cloud kitchen from home completing party orders, takeaways & deliveries via BONG NATION RESTAURANT.?

If you had to cook one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?

One dish that I’d cook my entire life would be Soya Veg biryani A. Because it's super nutritious & a complete meal in itself. B. No one can cook that better than me.?

If you could collaborate with one chef who would that be? What would you like to collaborate on?

It’d be an honor if I could ever get a chance to work with all the 3 judges of Masterchef season 6 all together. As I look up to them as great visionary. I’d love to learn or collaborate over their creative ideas and how they can make any edible thing look beautiful, precious, and fancy.?

Do you have any future plans for MasterChef Priyanka?

Most definitely Yes, Life is meant to be moving on just like flowing water. Currently, the team is working on my mother’s dream project of opening up a culinary arts school which is in its last stage & is going to be launched soon Plus few surprises & start-ups are lined up too which will be declared as soon as it is reaches the premiering stage.