Vivek Singh (chef)

Vivek Singh
Executive Chef & CEO Vivek Singh
Born	6 May 1971 Asansol, West Bengal, India
Nationality	Indian
Education	Institute of Hotel Management, New Delhi, Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development, New Delhi
Occupation	Chef & author
Known for	Modern Indian food
Spouse(s)	Archana Singh

Vivek Singh (born 6 May 1971) is a London-based Indian chef, restaurateur, and media personality known for his innovative take on Indian cuisine. He is currently the Executive Chef at three London based Indian restaurants, The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho. Vivek is a regular face on BBC's Saturday Kitchen,^[1] and has been featured on television shows including Madhur Jaffrey's Curry Nation,^[2] At Home with Rachel Allen^[3] and NDTV Good Times – Will Travel for Food.

Early life

Singh grew up in a coal-mining community in Bengal where his father worked as an engineer. He attended a Christian Brothers school in Asansol called St Patrick’s Higher Secondary School. Like most traditional Indian families, it was expected that Singh would follow in his father's footsteps and go on to become an engineer. Instead he announced that he wanted to become a chef.^[4]

Career

Singh went to catering college at The Institute of Hotel Management in New Delhi from 1990–1993 and was selected to join the Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development that year. In 1995, having completed three years of training at The Oberoi, The Oberoi Maidens and the Delhi Oberoi flight services, Vivek was offered the job of running the kitchen at The Oberoi flight services in Mumbai.Following this, Vivek joined the five-star Oberoi Grand in Kolkata.^[5] In 1997, Singh took over the running of Gharana, an Indian restaurant specialising in the cuisine of India's Royal Courts. The following year, he became the Indian chef at RajVilas in Jaipur. Singh met PR guru Iqbal Wahhab, at a wedding reception at Rajvilas hotel and talked about Indian food using French cooking methods.^[6] They opened their first flagship restaurant, The Cinnamon Club, in London in March 2001. On 21st January 2015, Chef Vivek Singh received an honorary doctorate from the University of Warwick for his contribution to the development of Indian cuisine in the United Kingdom.^[7][8]

Cookbooks

The Cinnamon Club Cookbook ISBN 978-1904573012^[9]

The Cinnamon Club Seafood Cookbook ISBN 978-1904573418^[10]

Curry Classic Contemporary by Vivek-Singh ISBN 978-1904573883^[11]

Contribution in Capital Spice cookbook authored by Chrissie Walker ISBN 978-1906650728^[12]

Cinnamon Kitchen The Cook Book published in November 2012 ISBN 978-1906650803^[13]

The Cinnamon Club Indian Cuisine Reinvented ISBN 978-8184001143^[14]

Spice at home by Vivek Singh ISBN 9781472910905 Stunning new cookery book offering 100 new recipes for modern Indian cuisine launching October 2014. ^[15]

Modern Indian dish prepared at London based Indian restaurant- The Cinnamon Club

Restaurants

The Cinnamon Club – In 2001, Vivek opened his first Indian restaurant The Cinnamon Club in London. The Cinnamon Club is awarded one of the "Best Indian restaurants"^[16] by squaremeal food guide in London, UK.

Now converted into a Modern Indian restaurant on 30 Great Smith Street, London SW1P3BU

Cinnamon Kitchen & Anise – Food critic and writer Fay Maschler called Vivek Singh "a gifted cook creating striking and exciting dishes" when he opened his second restaurant Cinnamon Kitchen & Anise in 2008.^[17]

Cinnamon Soho – In 2012, Vivek opened his third restaurant, Cinnamon Soho, and published his fourth cookery book, Cinnamon Kitchen: The Cookbook. "Singh is a master of flavour" & "highly innovative", said Guy Dimond, food critic at Time Out.^[18]

Afternoon tea by Vivek Singh

Created by Indian Chef Vivek Singh at Cinnamon Soho, the third official restaurant under Cinnamon venture.

Public appearances

1. In 2006, Vivek was invited to Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria. Vivek is the only Indian Chef to be invited to Hangar 7, where he worked side by side with Chef Eckart Witzigmann & Roland Trettl.^[19]
2. In 2007, Vivek helped recreate an Indian-inspired sausage based on Daljit Singh's childhood memories.^[20]
3. In 2011, Vivek was invited to Gourmet Abu Dhabi to showcase modern Indian cuisine.^[21]
4. In 2011, Vivek was listed invited as a guest speaker on Maharaja Express "A passage through India" with Allan Jenkins.^[22]
5. In 2012 Vivek was invited to New York City for a week-long pop-up event at Desmond's NYC.^[23]

in 2013 Vivek was on the munchbox with Rachel Gabriells and Agni (the best team)

Charity work

In 2008, Singh became an ambassador for a rugby charity, Wooden Spoon that offers help disadvantaged children. Vivek raised funds with former rugby union stars Jason Leonard, Martin Offiah, Lee Mears and Nick Easter, through an event called Scrum Dine With Me.^[24]

Vivek has worked with Action Against Hunger since 2002, and for the past four years has been hosting an annual Diwali Charity Event in their aid.^[25] He is also supports Find Your Feet and helps out with yearly campaigns to raise awareness through Curry for Change campaign.^[26] Vivek works with The Prince's Trust charity, Mosaic Network,^[27] that aims to inspire young people from deprived communities to realise their talents and potential. Other charities include, the Asian Restaurants Skills Board that aims to attract new talent to the Indian restaurant sector through college courses, work experience placements and apprenticeships.^[28]

Controversy

In 2008, Vivek was approached by Virgin Media to create the world's hottest dish to commemorate the launch of their Bollywood movies channel. Vivek's entry caused quite a controversy as several curry house owners claimed that their curry was "the hottest". Vivek responded by saying that although his dish made it into the Guinness book of world records,^[29] there is no real way to measure whose curry is the hottest as it depends on the taste buds of the individual eating it. The dish became known as The Bollywood Burner,^[30] and is possibly the most famous dish 'never' to be on a menu. Jonathan Ross tried the fiery dish on his Friday night show in July 2008. Steve Carell and a host of British stars also attempted to taste the dish.

Personal life

In May 1997, Vivek married Archana in Bilaspur, India. They have two children together, Eshaan born in October 2001 and Maya born in July 2006. Vivek lives with his wife and two children in South London.

References