Photo: Chef Lakshman Biswas - Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby
“Chef Lakshman is a bright, talented and self-motivated Chef with strong management skills and a successful track record of impressing guests in his short time with us. We are privileged to have him on our team,” says Rashmi Tulsiani, Hotel Manager - Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby and Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby.
Known as the Smiling Chef, we got the chance to chat with Chef Lakshman recently to see where he gets his inspiration and the secret sauce behind his smile.... and needless to say, we were intrigued!
Q: What did 5 year old Lakshman dream of being?
A: As a 5 year old in Calcutta, India I was more interested in playing and making good friends but at 13 years old I decided I wanted to work in the hospitality industry and travel the world.
Q: Why did you become a chef?
A: Cooking is my passion and I felt this was a career choice that held a bright future for me. It was an opportunity to see the world as I dreamed, and I have journeyed around the globe three times on a World Cruise as a result. Within the hospitality industry, I have worked in Qatar, Oman, India and now Papua New Guinea with the Holiday Inn & Suites, Port Moresby. I have also had the privilege to work with culinary greats such as the British celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White who trained the famed Gordon Ramsay himself.
Q: What does supporting the local food community mean to you?
A: At the Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby, I personally head to market for garden produce and cook with local ingredients as it’s more sustainable and allows me to bring freshness to my dishes. Some produce I like to use that are sourced locally from Koki seafood market are Mackerel, Red Emperor, Lobster and Crabs. For vegetables I prefer Gordons Market where I also source fresh fruits and leafy greens.
Q: Tell us about your experience working in Papua New Guinea.
A: I have been working in Papua New Guinea for the last nine years. I chose to stay as long as I have because I felt I could contribute to improving culinary standards in Papua New Guinea and improve the hospitality experiences provided. The landscape and my outlook has changed from when I started in 2013 and I have used my years to share my hospitality technique and knowledge. In my 21 years of being a Chef, my best growth and expansion in experience has been here in Papua New Guinea.
Q: What inspires your daily lunch Chef’s Combo Specials at the Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby?
A: I am inspired by my past global experiences, and put together star dishes I have come across in my culinary journey around the world. I like to feature Chinese, Indian, Italian, Greek, Local flavours and Western favourites. The special includes a complimentary soft-drink or fresh juice for only K39 and is great value for our guests. You can find out our daily specials by checking our Facebook page, we post the specials daily.
Q: Tell us about your new Themed Buffet Dinner menu, featuring international flavours and cuisine at the Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby.
A: It’s a great opportunity to taste flavours from around the world, we have Sunday Roast, Italian on Monday, Street Food on Tuesday, Chinese on Wednesday, and National Dishes on Thursday with my personal favourite, Indian Curry night on Friday. The buffet features live cooking stations and is K89 per person, children 12 years and under are half price.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a home chef, what would it be?
A: The perfect scrambled eggs needs to be moist and soft. To get this consistency, you should use a double boiler, a pot of boiling water on a stove with a stainless steel basin on top will help you get the perfect consistency for this everyday breakfast staple.
Q: What ingredient could you not live without?
A: I love Coriander, it elevates the flavour of any dish and brings a powerful fresh taste.
Q: What is the secret behind your smile?
A: I smile to make my colleagues and guests happy, that’s the secret.
You can experience Chef Lakshman’s menus at the Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby. The hotel has a host of events and accommodation packages for April and May where you will get the chance to meet Chef Lakshman and hopefully catch a beam from the Smiling Chef himself
