Sodexo chefs take celebrity master class

Celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE gave Sodexo chefs from across the UK a master class in Indian cuisine and cooking with sustainable fish.

The four-hour course held at Cyrus’ landmark east London restaurant Café Spice Namasté was a whistle-stop tour of Indian history and culture as the BBC One Saturday Kitchen regular created delicious dishes using squid, mussels, oysters and cod.

The 16 Sodexo staff came from a wide range of kitchens serving schoolchildren, soldiers and employees at schools, barracks and businesses across the UK.

Sodexo, a leading provider of on site service solutions, arranged the master class for staff who had been nominated by their managers. Three staff got a place on the course after winning a competition to make Cyrus Todiwala inspired menus in their workplace.

Sodexo is a leading foodservice supplier of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable fish in the UK. In 2010, it had its fish-serving UK restaurants and cafés certified to serve MSC fish and seafood.

Cyrus, who runs Café Spice Namasté with his wife Pervin, said: “These master classes are an opportunity for me to share my knowledge, experience and passion with fellow chefs. No matter what stage you are in your career you can always learn something new. This is what Pervin and I thought when we decided to offer these Adventure Gourmet classes to the industry. We love to share what we know, and learn as well from the questions and interest of those who attend.”

Sodexo’s craft and food development director David Mulcahy said: “Culinary master classes form a vital part of Sodexo’s chef development programme. We want to encourage our chefs to serve the best, most innovative food they can to our customers and what better way than learning from the expertise of Cyrus Todiwala. His knowledge of Indian cuisine and sustainable fish, alongside his passion for food, are inspirational.”