A special bond: Of mentorship and Chef Yaduvansh Mathur

"One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination." – John C. Maxwell

What a beautiful quote! It reminds me of my association with the legend – Chef Yaduvansh Mathur , someone who has been instrumental in the growth of my career as a chef-entrepreneur.

I first met Chef Mathur back in the day when I was pursuing a Bachelor's in Hotel Administration at Welcomgroup GraduateSchool of Hotel Administration Manipal , where he taught us the intricacies of the kitchen and food and beverage production.

While our entire faculty was outstanding, I struck a different chord with Chef Mathur, whose relentless commitment and dedication to his craft moved me. That's not all – he's always been selfless about imparting knowledge to the younger lot.

His approach wasn't limited to giving the students handouts or making classes about jargons – Chef Mathur was always analytical and every lesson that he taught us has helped me become a better chef and an entrepreneur.

A man of principles, Chef Mathur has always gone above and beyond to mentor the Gen Next and guide them in the right direction. He has been my role model ever since I can remember. In fact, he was at the pinnacle of his career with ITC Hotels, earning fame and acclaim for his achievements and if I may say so, his journey has been truly illustrious. His undivided efforts towards mentorship is what I admire – it's my deepest desire to be somewhere close to what he is doing.

Chef Mathur's documentation of techniques and other nuances is of the highest level – his work is like poetry. Once you get hold of his literature, you can't stop reading it. Not everyone possesses this trait.

His kindness and generosity is what fills me with gratitude even today. I recall working at The Leela Palace in Bengaluru, when Chef Mathur was assigned to lead south India for ITC Hotels. On an off day, I met him and he instantly offered me to be a part of his team.

He went out of his way to create opportunities for me. I was more acquainted with the hot kitchen, but on Chef Mathur’s insistence dabbled in bakery and confectionery and later worked in the cold kitchen. I was then offered the position of the Department Learning Coordinator. I believe that my stint with ITC Hotels in 2003 is what further strengthened my bond with Chef Mathur.

There are some people one forms instant connections with. I believe he has seen me through thick and thin – he's someone that has inspired my journey in a big way. But it doesn't end with being a great chef is what I learnt from him – one also needs to be a skilled entrepreneur. Tasting success in the industry is directly instrumental to good financial planning, and of course, being a great human. It's equally important to have a purpose in life – this is something I truly believe in and it keeps me going. One has to evolve with time to succeed!

The kitchen operations and anything that revolves around food and beverage is scientific – unfortunately, the generation today doesn't lay much emphasis on this. I strongly believe Chef Mathur's works will serve as a great starting point for the youth, if they seek to learn everything from menu engineering, hygiene, kitchen management and related subjects.

I am eternally grateful to him for his support and his mentorship. In fact, the fact that he thought of me in his new book that is launched for U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) ,features 2 of my recipes – one on Turkey and the other on Duck! The Book is called - “Celebrating The U.S. Ducks and Turkeys”.

I am confident these will work out well!

As they say, onwards and upwards always!

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