Revelations: Sameer Taneja, executive chef, Benares, Mayfair, London

What was your best subject at school?

 

Sanskrit

 

What was your first job in catering?

 

It was at Rajvilas in Jaipur, part of the Oberoi hotel group

 

What do you normally have for breakfast?

 

Beans on toast

 

 

Which is your favourite restaurant?

 

Pujol in Mexico City, Sabor in Heddon Street in London and Bombay Canteen in Mumbai

 

What’s your favourite hotel?

 

Chewton Glen in Hampshire

 

What is your favourite drink?

 

Nimbu pani (fresh lime water)

 

Which ingredient do you hate the most?

 

Shrimp paste

 

 

What flavour combinations do you detest?

 

Fish and cheese

 

What do you always carry with you?

 

Energy and a smile!

 

Which person in catering have you most admired?

 

Pierre Koffmann

 

If not yourself, who would you rather have been?

 

A comedian

 

What irritates you most about the industry?

 

Envy

 

Cast away on a desert island, what luxury would you take?

 

A bottle of water

 

When did you last eat a hamburger?

 

Yesterday

 

What’s your favourite film?

 

Gandhi

 

Who would play “you” in a film about your life?

 

Dev Patel

 

 

What’s your favourite book?

 

The Whole Fish by Josh Niland

 

What is your favourite prepared product?

 

Ramen noodles

 

Who would be in your “fantasy” brigade?

 

I would like to work with Thomas Keller, Fergus Henderson, Michel Bras, Imitiaz Qureshi and Nathan Outlaw

 

If you had more time, what would you do?

 

Spend more time with family

 

Photo credit: Shutterstock