Since we consume it every day, I don’t think we realize how fascinating food really is. Just think about it. Food can be an icebreaker, a way to make someone happy, or a way to feel better during tough times. Moreover, it can be used to torment someone. Well, that makes it sound like a powerful weapon, doesn’t it?
After all, people have fought battles over it, and it has also sparked revolutions. I mean, “let them eat cake” was such a loaded sentence. All I am trying to say is that while food can be many things, we can’t ignore the dark side that’s associated with it.
To get some culinary expertise, Bored Panda interviewed Sakshi Kulkarni, who’s a chef at the hotel Soho House in Mumbai. The hotel has a famous restaurant and welcomes guests from around the world, so it offers popular cuisines from different countries. The ability to cook such diverse food items is the one thing that Sakshi really loves about her job.
“For me, food is art, and I get to create something different every day. Previously, when I was new to the job and had to cook foreign delicacies, it was extremely challenging. But as I learned and perfected some recipes, I also started understanding so many things about myself,” she added.
Sakshi told us that exploring every new recipe is like going on a different adventure. Although one wrong move can ruin that particular recipe, it can lead to a different taste and a new recipe. She feels that it’s a win either way. So, in her spare time, she loves mixing various recipes to create something totally different. But she said that she feels too shy to share her quirky combinations with the rest of the world.
Beyond her little experiments at home, Sakshi said they get a lot of customers at teh restaurant looking for different cuisine fusions. She explained, “People love to be surprised when unexpected flavors meet. Some foodies are pretty brave, and I have seen them make some custom requests that have surprised me as well.”
“I think it’s because of social media that people now have so much knowledge about different cuisines that they generally wouldn’t. We have hosted a few travel influencers, and they were not afraid to try out different combinations,” she added.
Having said that, Sakshi also stressed that these cuisine combinations are not for everyone. She said some people might order them, but they don’t hesitate to criticize them harshly if they don’t like them. Generally, their staff gives a warning to people who order these meals.
However, we all know that some folks think the world of themselves, and they are extremely capable of throwing tantrums over nothing. She also mentioned that there are a few bad apples who literally don’t like anything. It can be really tough to meet their expectations if they customize any food items.
Lately, people seem obsessed with mindful eating habits. In fact, studies show that it’s one of the top 10 culinary trends shaping innovation in 2026. We spoke to Sakshi about it. She said that as people pay closer attention to what they eat, restaurants need to offer these options on their menus and be transparent about ingredients and food sources.
“As a chef, the responsibility to make something healthy and delicious is not without its challenges. However, I really enjoy cooking such meals. As a fitness freak myself, I put in a lot of effort to make sure I eat healthy. And I think everyone should give it a try. Of course, you can have cheat days. But when you have an option to eat something nutritious and tasty, then why not?” she commented.
