The life of a chef can be full of challenges and pressure in the kitchen or the industry, yet it comes with incredible learning experiences, deep passion, and the purest joy of feeding people. Every year, on October 20th, the world celebrates International Chefs Day, a tribute to the maestros of the kitchen who transform humble ingredients into delicious dishes that are nothing short of a work of art. But what inspired these culinary geniuses to dedicate their lives to food? On International Chefs Day 2024, here is a throwback to some brilliant candid conversations NDTV Food had with top chefs from around the globe, where they reveal how family, culture, and personal journeys led them to make it big in the kitchen .
P.S. Don't miss out on learning what these talented chefs would have done if they had chosen a different career! Chef Gary Mehigan: A Legacy of Hospitality Australian chef and restaurateur Gary Mehigan, who became a household name after MasterChef Australia, traces his culinary roots back to his family, especially his grandfather.
"I think I got my creative genetics from my mum, but my inspiration was always my grandfather, who was a chef," he reflects. "My dad was an engineer and a very measured, clever, and patient person, but I was none of those things. I was impatient and annoying.
I connected with my grandfather because he loved people, hospitality was his life, and he loved growing things in his garden. It just seemed to be a very natural, fascinating path t.