When professional expertise is pitted against age-old recipes passed down from one generation to the other, one can expect the cauldron to be a heady mix of flavours. So when India?s super chef Sanjeev Kapoor presents a brand new cooking reality show, Sanjeev Kapoor Ke Kitchen Khiladi, one can expect the stakes to be high. Compared to the other cookery based reality shows, this show which premiered on September 16 on Sony Entertainment Television, catches your attention for its simple and authentic approach sans the hype and hoopla associated with the other shows.
With absolutely no frills attached, the dishes stirred up on the showed are easy to make and understand. You really don?t have to scramble to the internet each time to search the Indian term of a particular herb or ingredient! And what is absolutely fascinating is to see simple, ordinary people competing with Cordon Bleu chefs like Harpal Singh Sokhi, Ajay Chopra, Mexican food specialist Vikas Seth, India?s Youngest TV Chef and Limca record holder Saransh Goila, and Continental food specialist Rahul Kulkarni. For example, a family of four takes on any of the chef in cooking up dishes that are considered family?s culinary pride. The challenge for the chefs will be that they will have no advance knowledge of the dishes and no one to help them. Both the chef and a member of the family cooks and presents the same dish to Sanjeev Kapoor, who will announce the best among them for the coveted title of Swaad ke Sartaaj.
One of the episode that I watched was that of a Maharashtrian housewife preparing Ganesh festival special modak and the simple Vaal khichdi?she beat chef Ajay Chopra thus winning the coveted badge of Swaad ke Sartaaj!
Another interesting element incorporated in the show, which not only entertains the viewers who can thoroughly enjoy the two parties battle it out in the kitchen, is that they also get an opportunity to learn recipes as part of the ?Dish of the Day? segment in each episode.
Another and most important brownie point that the show earns in its favour is the diversity of the culinary spread that each episode shall bring. The best families from all over the country taking part in the competition have been shortlisted by Kapoor after an audition. So, sitting in the comfort of your living room, enjoy the diverse culinary fare that our country has to offer and feel proud of it.
Sanjeev Kapoor Ke Kitchen Khiladi
Host: Sanjeev Kapoor
Monday- Friday, 8 pm, Sony Entertainment
Verdict: A veritable treat of simple home-cooked dishes with the promise to tickle the taste buds.
