With a successful culinary career worldwide and being the opening chef of one of the world’s 50 best restaurants in Delhi, Chef Gurpreet S. Gehdu brings his creativity, knowledge and passion to Rang Punjab & The Lost Pind at Rajasansi Farm.
Among the various people who somehow scrape into Chef Gurpreet Gehdu’s eventful kitchen, are a crew of excited farmers. You might wonder why Gehdu permits this. You may wonder how Gehdu can spare the time to chat with farmers. Shouldn’t a chef emphasise his or her own expertise, leaving farmers to do their own jobs? It’s simple: Gehdu is a part of the universal slow food movement. He comprehends that kitchen techniques and know-how are all very useful, but the most significant part of any meal is the superiority of its ingredients – ingredients that are grown locally, without harming the environment. So, since you can’t have good cooking without good farming, farmers are as important as chefs in any kitchen.
Born in New Delhi in 1981 Gurpreet was raised by a single parent, leading him to the kitchen with his sister. His grandmother taught him cooking basics and a passion for food soon derailed his initial plans to join the Indian Army; instead Gurpreet attended college for Hotel Management and joined Fire at The Park Hotel, India’s first Regional Modern Indian restaurant and trained under seasoned Chef Bakshish Dean. Upon graduating with high honours from The Park Kitchen Management training programme, he opened and helmed the kitchen as Chef De Cuisine at the celebrated Indian Accent in New Delhi for three years along with Chef Mehrotra post his stint as sous chef at Asha’s Restaurants in Dubai.
His commitment to his skill saw him representing the Government of India as the Star Chef for Food Festivals in Durban and Johannesburg in 2007. He underwent his classic Indian food training under the Qureshi clan and the Czar of Indian cuisine aka Jiggs Kalra. Gurpreet has also cooked and showcased the legendary singer Asha Bhonsle’s recipes to the world….for Gurpreet there is no better home Chef than her.