Ask a chef the one thing they can’t live without, and you may expect the answer to be some sort of spice, ingredient or cooking tool. But what about when they’re out of their chef whites? In this new Q&A series to kick off the new year, we decided to get up close and personal with our chefs to find out what they love most in life; from their go-to party drink to their most cherished childhood memory and their biggest guilty pleasure, read on to find out the one essential ingredient our chefs can’t live without—both in and out of the kitchen. Up this week is Chef Palash Mitra, of MICHELIN-starred New Punjab Club.

From providing oversight and guidance as our Culinary Director of South Asian Cuisines to whipping up the award-winning flavours at New Punjab Club, Chef Palash Mitra has a lot on his plate. But when he is not working the tandoors or conceptualising new dishes, you’d be surprised to know what gets this Michelin-starred chef excited, passionate and sentimental (hint: it’s not just butter chicken). We caught up with Chef Palash between service for a series of rapid-fire questions on his favourite food to his favourite TV show—here is what he had to say.

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1. The one drink that gets me energised for a night out is…
Iced lemon tea. But I do love a glass or two of Cristal or Tokaji.

2. The one ingredient I can’t live without is…
Positivity.

3. The one thing I miss the most about home is…
The way it recharges my faculties like no other force of nature or man-made technology can. I haven’t been home in years, so hopefully we can travel again soon.

4. The most important life goal I have is…
To be a kind person and never give up on my dreams.

5. The one childhood memory I cherish the most is…
My grandmother making pickles on her roof terrace in our ancestral home in Kolkata under the winter afternoon sun. As my parents were travelling a lot for work, I spent my childhood years with my maternal grandparents and they had a deep impact on the person I am today.

6. The one dish I would have as my last supper is…
Something I haven’t decided on yet. Life is too short and there are so many cuisines and foods that I have yet to try. But food is joy… I’ll be happy with whatever is on my plate when that time comes.

7. The place I love the most in Hong Kong is…
My home where my dogs are always waiting for me like they have nothing better to do.

8. The one thing I get most excited about as a chef is…
The chance to touch the lives of so many people at a personal level when they come to try my food. It’s a privilege and a great responsibility that I don’t take lightly.

9. My go-to catch phrase is…
Feel responsible, not entitled.

10. If I had a one-way ticket, the one place I would fly to is…
At the moment I would rather stay where I am.

11. The biggest guilty pleasure I have is…
A day off.

12. The one TV show I always binge is…
Loose Talk by Anwar Maqsood and Moin Akhtar. But I also love Prime Time With Ravish Kumar.

13. The most important person in my life is…
Impossible to choose. There are so many aspects to my existence, so many voids which can only be filled up by the people around me. But I am very grateful to my wife for shaping my future with her sacrifice and contribution.

14. The one lesson I take with me everywhere I go is…
That you are never too important to not feel humbled, grateful and optimistic.

15. The one person I would like to have dinner with most in the world is…
Not important as the most important thing about any dinner is the dinner itself.

16. The one scent I love most in the world is…
Jasmine.

17. If I had a magic lamp, the one thing I would wish for is…
Free quality education for all children as they are the future. Education can erase racism and inequality.

18. The one thing I love most about my team is…
That they have what I lack. This makes my team a well-balanced unit that’s tight-knit and always has each other’s backs.

19. The one thing that helps me relax is…
The sound of rain and thunder on a tin roof.

20. The one thing I would be doing if I wasn’t a chef is…
Caring for animals in need.

21. The one superpower I would choose to have is…
The power to heal.

22. The one song that gets me dancing is…
“Boom Boom” by Nazia Hassan.

23. The one thing I always do before bed is…
Hug my dogs.

24. The one piece of advice I give younger chefs is…
To eat out as much as possible, explore other cuisines, read books, and watch travel and cooking shows. Most importantly, be ready to put in the hours. Be ready to cook your heart out for strangers and not expect a thanks in return! So it is very important that you absolutely love what you do.

25. The most important life motto I have is…
Don’t die unsung.

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