Karl Krautler

He has been delighting the palettes of the people with his mouthwatering recipes from all over the world. Innovation and fusion of food is his forte. Though Austrian, Karl Krautler has dal and rice daily and finds the Indian tandoor the best medium of cooking.

On a rendezvous with The Grand Hyatt's executive chef Karl Krautler we discover his passions:

What inspired you to be a chef?

The aspiration to be chef goes back to the time when I was seven or eight years old. My father liked to cook. During holidays he would cook and I would help him. It was then that, I decided that I wanted to be a cook on a ship because I wanted to travel and also I was passionate about cooking. I always do what I love. Unfortunately I could not be on a ship, but I got to be a chef. Being a chef in the hospitality industry also gives me plenty of chance to travel.

What is your responsibility as an executive chef of Grand Hyatt?

It's a very big responsibility. I have to look after the hiring of the people in food department, draw a training program, setting up the systems, finalizing the menu, looking after the purchases and also the quality of the food product. I taste the food what is cooked by the other chefs.

How do you fuse the Indian way of cooking with the western?

I try to experiment all the time. The tandoor is a very good cooking medium. It has a very high temperature which allows the meat to cook faster. Also the meat cooked is tender and very juicy. My job allows me to experiment with different food and evolve them into something new.

What is your opinion about the Indian food?

Indian food is very good and vast. It is very regional, in the sense that every state has its own food items and different way of cooking. I have tried to incorporate some of the ways into western cuisine. I have my dal and rice daily. Indian cuisine is very flexible unlike the French cuisine where there is only way of preparing the dish and you cannot deviate from it. But the French classical cuisine is the basis of all western cooking.

Your job means creation and innovation all the time. How do you innovate food according to the requirement?

Once we had the Discovery Channel team over in our hotel. So the theme of the menu was 'Discovery Animals'. For the appetizer there was a dish called, 'Red Planet'- cooked with tomato and sea food and around it was a ring of thin bread dough signifying planet. For the main course there was the 'Discovery of Senses' and for the desert which was called 'Unknown and Unusual' made of spinach and mushroom.

How important is 'presentation' in the food industry?

Presentation is a very important aspect. People tend to eat with their eyes. If you have a nice presentation, your taste buds and your digestive systems are already waiting for it. The presentation need not be a difficult one. Good quality cherries and broccoli will work as wonderful decorations on the dish.

How do you find the Hospitality Industry?

I have been in this industry for a very long time. In fact, I have been attached to Hyatt for past fifteen years. I like to travel, see new places, interact with people and learn about the different cultures and different foods being prepared. Being in this industry I have been to Hong Kong, Korea, Europe, former Yugoslavia, and now I am in India.

You have been in India for two years now. What impression do you hold about this country?

India is a country with surprises. The customs, the people, the history are all very amazing. People have strong family values here due to which families tend to be closer. It is a very nice thing. The families are not that close in Europe. Also you cannot judge the entire country on a city. I have been to Taj Mahal which is marvelous. I found the craftsmanship of the Taj very interesting. Going around that place gives a very eerie feeling. I also went to Jim Corbett park, but I am still looking for a tiger. I would like to visit the jungles of Assam in the near future.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Since my family stays in Australia so I am usually alone during my holidays. I like to play golf at the Delhi golf club and sometimes tennis. And when I miss my family I go and pay them a visit.

- Avni Sood