A duty to diners
Whether they like it or not, celebrity chefs have a great influence on consumers — as I. Made Darmagunawn, head chef at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates outlet Sezzam, notes.
“They are well known public figures; people love them and their food,” he says. “People will listen to them and take their advice, because they believe in them and what they do.”
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As a result, many of today’s high-profile chefs feel they have a responsibility to not only educate people about different foods, but also what constitutes good food, or a balanced diet.
Rhodes is insistent that he is not a celebrity chef, but rather a professional chef who has ended up as a public figure. However he admits that this position does confer a certain sense of duty.
“I think as far as being a ‘celebrity chef’ — for want of a better expression— is concerned, we can hopefully share with the public the understanding of the delicate flavours of food, about how to create that great marriage of flavours and textures.”
“For me the key is really to share your own culinary secrets and knowledge with people, so they can have a greater understanding and appreciation of food in their daily lives.”
Verre’s Price, who joined the Dubai outlet after six years at Claridge’s in London and trained under Gordon Ramsay, adds that influential culinary figures have a great opportunity to educate consumers about a healthy, balanced diet as well.
“Nowadays there’s a lot of emphasis on how you eat and what you eat,” he explains.
“At a restaurant, a lot of things are going to be rich, or cooked in butter, and that’s fine — as long as you’re not eating that every day.
“But it’s important that people learn from high-profile chefs like Gordon, who people really listen to, about how to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
“When you’re in the business of finding the best fresh ingredients every day, you realise how important this food really is — and passing on that information is invaluable,” he comments.
Bhatia agrees: “Personally, I love to teach. I think you can influence people in what you do, particularly with regards to a health-
ier diet.
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