Exclusive Interview With Chef Ana Ros: A Champion Of Slovenian Cuisine And Sustainability

Have all celebrated cooks grown up dreaming of turning into culinary stars? Definitely not all. We could have come throughout tales of individuals switching careers and taking pictures to (gastronomic) fame somewhat unexpectedly. However the journey of Chef Ana Ros is especially fascinating. As a baby, she was educated in modern dance and alpine snowboarding. She made it to the Yugoslavian youth nationwide group. She determined in opposition to pursuing this sporting profession and enrolled to review worldwide relations at college. However there was yet one more, completely different path in retailer for her.

Ana Ros took cost of Hisa Franko, a small household restaurant run by the dad and mom of her associate on the time, Valter Kramar. The choice was a tough one. However it might change the trajectory of her life perpetually. Collectively, the couple labored to maintain the institution afloat. However Ana Ros did rather more than guarantee its survival. Via years of self-education, willpower and experimentation, she breathed new life into Hisa Franko. There was no turning again. In 2017, she was named the most effective feminine chef on the earth by The World’s 50 Finest Academy. In 2023, the restaurant was awarded the coveted third Michelin star. The identical 12 months, it was ranked thirty second among the many World’s 50 Finest Eating places.

Chef Ana Ros has grown to grow to be a champion for Slovenian delicacies and sustainability on the world stage. Her creations have fun the setting, in its shortage in addition to grandeur. Chef Ana is in India to host masterclasses and grand multi-course meals. Whereas the Delhi occasion befell at The Taj Mahal Lodge on February 17 and 18, 2024, the Mumbai version is being held at The Taj Mahal Palace Lodge on February 23 and 24. We had a possibility to talk together with her about her journey and hopes for the long run. Edited excerpts from the interview are beneath:

Excerpts From NDTV Meals’s Interview With Chef Ana Ros:

1. Did you develop up in a foodie household?

It is tough to outline what constituted a “foodie” at the moment. However sure, my mom and my grandmother had been nice cooks and we at all times had extremely well-prepared meals at dwelling. That was not the time when eating places had been considerable in Slovenia or close by. We had been largely cooking at dwelling.

I did not have a variety of time to cook dinner along with my household as a result of I used to be very busy with college and sports activities. I might often come dwelling and the meals could be prepared. Nevertheless, across the holidays, we’d go to our small stone home on the seaside and we’d accumulate a few of our seafood ourselves. We might dive for mussels, clams, and so on. Later, we’d cook dinner the seafood on the open fireplace collectively. That is undoubtedly among the many most memorable ‘foodie’ moments I can recall.

2. How do you keep inventive and proceed to push boundaries in your cooking?

Creativity is the bottom for pushing your boundaries. I consider it is about at all times staying energetic and by no means falling asleep. It is best to at all times search for higher options. I feel all of us have loads of house to enhance our work and improve our creativity in addition to the standard of what we do.

_{Chef Ana Ros’s creations: Seed taco, black sunchoke puree, pears and silene vulgaris}

3. At current, which ingredient are you having fun with experimenting with?

I am a tomato lover. Each time the harvest season of tomatoes begins, I am the happiest individual on the planet! I exploit them in every single place, from starters and mains to desserts. Simply yesterday – at midnight truly – I considered a dessert with tomato and watermelon!

4. On the subject of hyperlocal sourcing of components, what is the greatest problem you face?

It could be the sudden adjustments within the setting – whether or not it’s no rain or an excessive amount of rain, excessive warmth or excessive chilly. All of them affect the circle of life in nature. That impacts the restaurant as a result of we have now to be tremendous inventive about discovering substitutes. Adjustments can occur in a single day and even faster than that. You could be two hours away from service and also you may want to change the dish and its preparation on account of these components.

5. Sustainability and zero-waste cooking are big buzzwords within the business in the present day. Your restaurant has been given a Michelin Inexperienced star. Is environmental consciousness one thing you’ve gotten at all times felt strongly about?

Hisa Franko is so far-off from the entrance suppliers that we wanted to supply domestically. We can not simply order a rack of lamb or solely the again leg from a farmer. We have now at all times needed to take the total animal. Thus, we at all times had the method of utilizing each a part of the animal/ fish/ plant. Dwelling in a mountainous area, individuals are at all times stingy concerning that facet of meals. We do not waste meals. I feel when you’re clever about it, there is a method of taking meals waste and making it shine.

_{Chef Ana Ros has put Slovenian meals on the world map}

6. You studied worldwide relations and had been on the trail to turning into a diplomat earlier than you had been a chef at Hisa Franko. Now, you’ve gotten grow to be a culinary ambassador, of kinds, for Slovenia on the world stage. What do you consider this function?

It is an enormous duty. You might be by no means merely attending in your identify or the identify of your restaurant. You might be there representing a complete nation. My function whereas travelling is to place Slovenia on the world gastronomic map. Many individuals affiliate me with my nation. Years in the past, once I was cooking in Russia, a ballot confirmed an fascinating end result. My identify, together with that of a music band, had been among the many most recognisable symbols of Slovenian tradition. It is an amazing factor, however then again, I am only a chef. I am simply doing what I like doing. We are able to and we’re utilizing it as a platform to make our nation shine. She deserves it.

7. In recent times, on account of social media, how we devour meals has undergone large adjustments. Do you assume individuals now have a higher appreciation for what’s on their plate?

I feel it varies generationally. I feel the preferences of youthful generations are altering very quickly. They’re very within the sources and high quality of the merchandise or components they’re consuming. As an example, my youngsters would by no means eat one thing that’s over-industrial. Nevertheless, for sure generations, it is rather onerous to alter what they’re used to. If you happen to go to an Italian nonna and attempt to train her about present-day weight loss program tendencies, she would simply giggle at you. She might be 90 and is aware of what’s greatest for her.

I additionally assume it varies based on area. In the end, if we attempt to perceive extra about what and the way a lot we have now been consuming historically, we will likely be on the suitable path. That is higher than generalising one philosophy for the entire world. We have now completely different wants and completely different legacies.

_{Corn beignet, fermented cottage cheese, smoked trout roe, wild chives}

8. What excites you about cooking and the culinary world in 2024?

At Hisa Franko, we took a problem to dedicate the menu of 2024 to modern artwork. It is a work in progress. I consider cooking is among the greatest arts, and we typically neglect that. If you go to a fine-dining restaurant, it is best to realise it is like going to an artwork gallery. That is what extra cooks and company ought to concentrate on.

9. What’s a change you wish to see in kitchens by 2025?

I might say extra sustainable timetables, nevertheless it’s very tough to use them. As an example, Hisa Franko has very excessive labour prices and I am unable to scale back it as a result of I am paying my individuals pretty. However they put in a variety of hours. On the identical time, I can not afford to have two groups on the ground.

This can be a crucial debate that has been happening for a while – Is the tremendous eating world going to outlive? It is unfair to not compensate your individuals correctly after they work so onerous. However, you may like to cut back their hours, however you can’t elevate the costs of the restaurant a lot anymore. In any other case, individuals will assume you are loopy! Hisa Franko raised its costs lots this 12 months. I would really like my individuals to work much less. On the finish of the season, we’re so drained. However discovering that steadiness is a wrestle and occurs slowly. It is what comes with the package deal of the sort of cooking.

_{Summer season feast: A salad of broad beans, roasted yeast cream, nasturtium}

10. What recommendation would you give particularly to self-taught cooks?

Do not attempt to be like everybody else, since you merely are usually not. In case you are self-taught, you’ve gotten the liberty to precise your self. Don’t blindly imitate cooks who’re doing issues that they’ve discovered find out how to do. Being your self and being distinctive is the best artwork that anybody can categorical.

11. Contemplating that is your third journey to India, what are you trying ahead to essentially the most?

The organisers of the occasion ensured that we had been capable of go to the moist market right here in addition to the spice market in Previous Delhi. They gave us a glimpse of actual Indian life so we might soak up the actual flavour of India. In response to me, you will discover the actual flavour of India extra usually on the streets than in luxurious eating places. Life at all times comes from the fundamentals.

12. What’s your favorite Indian dish?

All of the flatbreads! Every single day I am attempting to grasp how every flatbread right here has a unique consistency, and why. At dwelling, I will begin experimenting and feeding my husband completely different flatbreads. Let’s examine if I can handle to nail the assorted sorts.

Speedy-Hearth Questions:

1. Responsible pleasure meals? – Pizza

2. Favorite midnight snack? – I do not snack at evening

3. A dish you struggled to make? – Potica. It is a conventional Slovenian festivity dessert that each housewife is aware of find out how to make excellently – however not me. I feel I attempt to make it too wealthy after which all of it falls aside.

4. Prime meals vacation spot in your bucket listing? – Malaysia. I’ve by no means been there and I really feel like I must discover the great meals there.

5. Your favorite cuisines whereas eating out? – I like attempting ethnic and native cuisines whereas travelling. If I had to decide on one, I might vote for Italian delicacies.

6. A kitchen gadget you can’t reside with out? –  A hand blender. It could substitute almost all others.