Harpal Singh Sokhi
{{Short description|Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Harpal Singh Sokhi
| image = Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sokhi in 2020
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1966}}
| birth_place = Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| occupation = {{hlist|Chef|restaurateur}}
| years_active =
| known_for = "Namak Shamak"
| notable_works =
| module =
{{Infobox chef | child=yes
| death_cause =
| education = Diploma in Hotel Management from IHM, Bhubaneswar
| spouse = {{marriage|Aparna Sokhi|1996}}
| style = Indian Cuisine
| ratings =
| restaurants= {{bulleted list|
|Karigari Noida sector 51
|Karigari Advant Noida Secto 137
|Karigari WorldMarkII Gurugram
|The Treasury Boston
}}
| prevrests =
| television = {{bulleted list|
| Khana Khazana on Zee TV
| Harpal ki Rasoi on Siti Cable TV
| Turban Tadka on Food Food
| Kitchen Khiladi on Food Food
| Sirf Tees Minute on Food Food
| Desh da Swaad on Zee TV
}}
| awards =
| website = {{URL|harpalssokhi.com}}
}}
}}
Harpal Singh Sokhi (born 1966) is an Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur. He began his career in 1987 at The Oberoi in Bhubaneswar, becoming an executive chef six years later. Over the following years, he worked at several luxury hotel chains in India. He is best known for using the catchphrase "Namak Shamak".
Early life
Harpal Singh Sokhi grew up in Kharagpur, West Bengal, India where his father worked with the Indian Railways. He has two older sisters and one brother. He studied at the South Eastern Railway Mixed Higher Secondary School. He was inspired to become a chef by his mother's cooking. His father travelled a lot for work, and encouraged his kids to try a lot of different cuisines. His brother also cooked food at a langar.{{cite news|url=http://lucknow.amarujala.com/news/city-news-lkw/chef-harpal-singh-sokhi/ |title=नमक-शमक फेम हरपाल सिंह ऐसे बने शेफ |newspaper=Amar Ujala |date=2013-11-09 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Inspired by the academic atmosphere in Kharagpur (which is home to IIT Kharagpur), Sokhi initially wanted to pursue engineering, but was not good at studies. He also expressed interest in joining the Indian Air Force (IAF), but by the time he decided to apply, he had crossed the maximum age limit. He came to know about the hotel management career from a friend who studied in Siliguri, West Bengal. Sokhi's brother encouraged him to appear for the hotel management entrance exam, and Sokhi enrolled at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bhubaneswar in 1984.{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-dash-of-cheer-1998394 |title=Dash of cheer |author=Amrita Madhukalya |date=2014-06-29 |newspaper=DNA }}{{cite news |url=http://www.nagpurtoday.in/in-saojithe-balance-of-ingredients-is-very-good-that-is-the-real-art-of-cooking-harpal-sokhi/10071436 |title=In Saoji,the balance of ingredients is very good.That is the real art of Cooking – Harpal Sokhi |date=2012-10-07 |author=Suhani |publisher=Nagpur Today }}
Culinary career
In 1987, Sokhi completed his diploma in catering from IHM Bhubaneswar. He started his career as a trainee cook at The Oberoi in Bhubaneswar. At 27, he became an executive chef. Sokhi spent several years in learning different international cuisines. He learnt Hyderabadi cooking from Ustad Habib Pasha and Begum Mumtaz Khan.{{cite news |url=http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/royal-aromas-at-home/389358/0 |title=Royal aromas, at home |date=2008-11-23 |newspaper=Financial Express |author=Sulekha Nair |access-date=2015-08-04 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070417/http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/royal-aromas-at-home/389358/0 |url-status=dead }} He also did research on Ayurveda-based food to see how cooking can improve nutritive value of the food.
Sokhi went on to work as a chef with several restaurants, including:{{cite web |url=http://www.foodfood.com/chefs/chef-harpal-singh-sokhi/ |title=Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi |publisher=Food Food |accessdate=2015-08-04 |archive-date=2015-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816053144/http://www.foodfood.com/chefs/chef-harpal-singh-sokhi/ |url-status=dead }} Vintage, a Hyderabadi speciality restaurant, Centaur Hotel, Juhu, Mumbai, Hotel Tuli International, Nagpur (1994–98), The Regent, Mumbai (1998–2001)z The Regent, Jakarta, Taj Lands End, Bandra, Mumbai{{cite news |url=http://mumbaimessenger.com/chef-profile-harpal-singh-sokhi/ |title=Chef Profile – Harpal Singh Sokhi |author=Mewati Sitaram |newspaper=Mumbai Messenger |date=2015-04-16 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}, and Blue Cilantro in Andheri, Mumbai{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rutBoeZOzl4C&pg=PA62 |title=Mumbai by Night |author=Rashmi Uday Singh |author-link=Rashmi Uday Singh |page=62 |publisher=Popular |year=2005 |isbn=9788179910009 }} Sokhi has conducted cooking schools at Regent Jakarta and The Peninsula Manila. He has also organised Indian food festivals internationally. In 2001, he and others founded Khana Khazana India Pvt Ltd. He led food trials, developed ready-to-eat products for the Khazana brand, and conceptualised a range of chocolate mithais (Indian sweets). He has also been involved with the Ching's Secret brand.{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-uppercrust-food-and-wine-show-s-12th-edition-from-friday-2040462 |title=UpperCrust Food and Wine Show's 12th edition from Friday |newspaper=DNA |date=2014-12-03 }}
Sokhi executed the business class menus on Singapore Airlines for seven years, and also conducted the "Ancient Indian Food" promotion on Indian Airlines. He has also developed menus for SOTC travels.{{cite web |url=http://www.harpalssokhi.com/about-chef/ |title=About Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi |accessdate=2015-08-04 |publisher=Official website |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812071011/http://www.harpalssokhi.com/about-chef/ |archivedate=2015-08-12 }} Besides, he has developed menus for Wockhardt Hospitals. Hetaught as a guest faculty member at the N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research.{{cite web |url=http://nldalmia.in/faculty/guest.php |title=Guest faculty |publisher=NL Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research |accessdate=2015-08-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731042336/http://nldalmia.in/faculty/guest.php |archivedate=2015-07-31 }} He has also designed menus for many events, including weddings and birthday parties.
Television
In 1993, Sokhi hosted the first episode of Khana Khazana on Zee TV. He launched his first solo show Harpal ki Rasoi on Nagpur's local Siti Cable TV, but the show was not as successful as Sokhi expected it to be. Later, Sokhi started hosting Turban Tadka on Food Food channel, which gained him popular recognition in India. He is famous for his phrase "Namak Shamak" and song he sings while seasoning his food. It became one of the top cookery shows by TRPs.{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/would-love-to-highlight-kolkata-street-food-harpal-sokhi/1061777/ |title=Would love to highlight Kolkata street food: Harpal Sokhi |date=2013-01-19 |newspaper=Indian Express }} Sokhi came to be known for his phrase namak shamak.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Famous-faces-of-cookery-shows-on-television/articleshow/47173923.cms |title=Famous faces of cookery shows on television |author=Rashi Walia |newspaper=The Times of India |date=2015-08-04 }}
He has also hosted the TV shows Kitchen Khiladi{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131206/ttlife1.htm |title=Spice route |author=Mona |newspaper=The Tribune Life+Style |location=Chandigarh |date=2013-12-06 }} and Sirf Tees Minute on FoodFood channel. In 2014, he hosted Zee News' road food show Desh da Swaad, travelling across India.{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-zee-news-to-air-new-food-and-travel-show-desh-da-swaad-1997960 |title=Zee News to air new food and travel show, Desh da Swaad |author=Amrita Madhukalya |date=2016-06-26 |newspaper=DNA }} He is also one of India's top chefs on YouTube.{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-home-chefs-youtube-nisha-madhulika-gayatri-sharma-sanjeev-kapoor-sanjay-thumma-harpal-singh-sokhi/1/380025.html |title=Home chefs find YouTube way to success |publisher=India Today |date=2014-08-31 }} In 2016, he participated in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9.
He is currently the Celebrity Chef Coach on the TV show "Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment" on Colors, where he guides celebrities through comedic culinary challenges along with Bharti Singh where harpal is making food too to help the celebrity participants to cook well
Other ventures
In 1998, Sokhi conceptualised and executed the opening of the Indian specialty restaurant Khazana in Dubai. He also formulated business plans and opening plans for other restaurants. In 2012, he launched his own restaurant chain The Funjabi Tadka (TFT).{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Celeb-Namak-Shamak-chef-to-serve-Funjabi-Tadka/articleshow/17325964.cms |title=Celeb Namak Shamak chef to serve Funjabi Tadka |author=Subhro Niyogi |date=2012-11-22 |newspaper=The Times of India }} The flagship branch of the restaurant opened on 18 January 2013 in Kolkata.{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130117/jsp/entertainment/story_16448491.jsp#.VcDsoZRBTIU |title=New in town: The Funjabi Tadka |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=2013-01-17 }}
Sokhi has written food columns for newspapers and magazines. He is one of the oldest associates of Sanjeev Kapoor,{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/leisure/food/features/sanjeev-kapoor-signature-restaurant-in-abu-dhabi-is-a-no-brainer-1.1256896 |title=Sanjeev Kapoor: Signature restaurant in Abu Dhabi is a 'no brainer' |publisher=Gulf News |date=2013-11-19 |author=Manjari Saxena }} and has developed content for his books. The two have authored a book Royal Hyderabadi Cooking.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/master-hyderabadi-cuisine/article1362831.ece |title=Master Hyderabadi cuisine |date=2008-10-24 |newspaper=The Hindu }}
Personal life
Sokhi lives in Mumbai with his wife Aparna. The couple has two daughters: Anushka and Antra. He is fluent in six languages: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Odia and Telugu.{{cite web |url=http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Starchef/Chef-Harpal-Singh-Sokhi |title=Star Chef of the Month: Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi |author=Sanjeev Kapoor |accessdate=2015-08-04 |archive-date=15 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815071819/http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Starchef/Chef-Harpal-Singh-Sokhi |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|u=chefharpalsingh|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sokhi, Harpal Singh}}
Category:Indian cookbook writers
Category:Indian television chefs
Category:Chefs of Indian cuisine