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Lessons of management through ‘Biriyani’

Adding that he sees biryani as a wholesome dish, Sokhi remembers approaching publishers with the idea of writing a book on food and management, but always being requested to work on a cookbook…writes Sukant Deepak

Smiling that he has a soul connection with food and lives for it, ‘energy chef’ Harpal Singh Sokhi who is often seen on television, not just giving recipes but entertaining his viewers with a peculiar brand of humour and one-liners, asserts, “Precisely why my audience base is between those aged two and 90. See, I am already preparing the next generation in order to stay relevant for decades to come,” he tells.

The chef, whose latest book ‘The Biryani Leader’ was launched recently, says it is a result of his thought process over the past decade.

Someone who has worked with major five-stars in the country besides launching multiple restaurants, including Karigari, BB Jaan, Dhadoom, Chika Chika, and Twist of Tadka in his three-decade career, he says that while chefs are taught that food is all about art and science, there is another element at play too.

“Why do we forget management — both at the macro and micro level? You keep a vessel on fire and you add spices and all, not realising the oil is so hot that everything will burn. Minute things warrant attention and should become standard practice. I maintain the Japanese principle of 5S pillars of Japanese management — Sort (Seiri), Set in Order (Seiton), Shine (Seiso), Standardise (Seiketsu), and Sustain (Shitsuke) are at play even in the kitchen,” says this IHM Bhubaneswar pass-out.

Adding that he sees biryani as a wholesome dish, Sokhi remembers approaching publishers with the idea of writing a book on food and management, but always being requested to work on a cookbook.

“But why would I do that? There are enough floating around. Moreover, the effort was to bring forth something path-breaking and not walk the road mostly taken.”

Priding himself on wearing “unique chef coats and twin-coloured turbans,” he feels the book is bound to do well.

“Also, biryani is the dish that sells the most in the country. There are more than 50 ingredients but each one has its own taste.”

While he feels that social media has made things interesting for food aficionados, the chef says it wise not to follow everything floating blindly.

“There may be 10 different recipes for a dish. Just see what is common in all of them and evaluate. Also, I strongly believe that it is important to search for knowledge that is being given by locals,” says Sokhi, who would be opening more restaurants and lounge bars across the country this year.

Believing that it is his state of mind that ultimately decides if the dish will come out well, Sokhi says whenever he is disturbed, he makes it a point not to go near the fire.

“I would tell my assistants to take over and go for a walk. Unless I am at peace with myself, the product will not come out well,” concludes the chef whose comfort food is a bowl of biryani cooked by his wife.

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Lifestyle Lite Blogs

Tips to spend and save smart

Disciplined saving habits do take time and effort to cultivate but once they become ingrained, the benefits are multiple and long-term…writes Siddhi Jain.

The pandemic and its subsequent impact on the economy has emphasized the importance of spending wisely. Having a dependable contingency fund in case of emergencies has been never been viewed with as much significance ever before. While spending money is a continuous process, clubbing expenses and choosing smarter modes of payment can help save enormous funds in the long-run.

Thanks to the intervention of technology and innovative modes of payments available today, smart spending is only a matter of knowledge. Here are some tips from InterMiles on how one can spend smart, save smart and make each rupee go that extra mile.

START SAVING FROM DAY ONE

Heard the saying “Every drop makes the mighty ocean”? Very often, people wait until their earnings reach a certain amount to start saving. It can be very tempting to indulge and splurge lavishly with your first income. However, putting aside money month-on-month no matter how small the amount is ideal to help prepare for a rainy day. Disciplined saving habits do take time and effort to cultivate but once they become ingrained, the benefits are multiple and long-term.

PLAN AHEAD

Whether an aspirational outfit, a high end car, or a luxurious holiday, major non-essential expenses must always be planned. Planning grants gives one the opportunity to save adequately and choose a more value-beneficial deal. This will also eliminate the need to undertake a personal loan which can be excruciating to pay back on account of high-interest rates.

ENROLL IN A GOOD LOYALTY AND REWARD PROGRAMME

While there are numerous loyalty and reward programmes available to choose from, it is important to conduct in-depth research before to understand which one offers the maximum benefits aligned to one’s needs and lifestyle. A programme that grants its members the opportunity to earn points regularly across simple day-to-day activities like paying rent, enjoying OTT subscriptions, ordering food, or online shopping in addition to occasional spends like flight tickets or hotel bookings is an ideal option. Engaging frequently with the programme will help accelerate their point earnings and subsequent tier movement as well as avail of discounts and offers being run by the programme or programme partners thus, ensuring that every spend earns for them.

INVEST IN CO-BRAND CREDIT CARDS

Apart from convenience and time-saving benefits on account of being accepted across diverse purchases worldwide, co-brand credit cards offer customers several additional opportunities to earn rewards. Right from personalized offers such as welcome bonuses, discount coupons and vouchers to milestone benefits like complimentary movies, flight travel and hotel stay and rewards like insurance, lounge access and golf access. Therefore, as time passes, the more the customer swipes, the closer they come to earning rewards and freebies as well.

IDENTIFY COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO MAKE UTILITY PAYMENTS

Programmes which offer points earning benefits when paying off routine utility bills for gas, mobile, or electricity etc. not only prove to be a one-stop solution for members but, also rewards them for making basic, calendarized payments which they would have anyway conducted as part of their lifestyle. This provides the convenience of time and effort saving along with an additional earning opportunity for loyalty points which when accrued could help fund a future expense such as air tickets, hotel bookings, dining bills and more.

INCREASE INVESTMENT AND SPEND SMARTLY

One of the proven methods of building wealth is investing smartly. Whenever undertaking a major expense always evaluate the value of that product in a few years. If after a few years, the value of the product diminishes, think twice before incurring that expense. Instead, identify and invest in assets that multiply in value over a period of time. For instance, instead of purchasing an extremely high-end new car, one can consider buying a second-hand car and investing the remaining amount in stocks or real estate that is expected to appraise in a few years.

INVEST IN HEALTH INSURANCE

It has been rightly said, “Health is wealth”. Health is undoubtedly one of the most important things that one can never oversee. Taking good medical insurance will ensure you are prepared for unforeseen situations that can take away major portions of your hard-earned savings within a few days.

Pro-tip: An ideal way to save on the cost of health insurance is to use the plan that is provided through your employer.

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