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"You have to find what sparks a light in you so that you in your own way can illuminate the world"
Michael Swamy is renowned chef, food stylist and photographer based in Mumbai, India. One of India’s leading food stylists and an authority on his subject, Michael is a two-time Gourmand Award winner. He specialises in French and Progressive Indian cuisines, and has helped set up many successful restaurants over the past two decades. He has also managed and appeared on a number of food shows on national and international channels. In his goal to establish food as a medium of expression, Michael has worked extensively to encourage the application of media skills to promote culinary excellence and innovation.
Born and brought up in Mumbai he studied at St. Xavier’s College followed by HAFT Mumbai & then at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School (London UK). During his scholarship at the Cordon Bleu he trained under great chefs who had worked in Michelin star restaurants. Chefs like Andrew Males, Mathew Hardy, Claire Clark and Julie. Pastry Chef 'Chef Fillip Tibos'.
As Chef have worked with. Taj Group of Hotels (Mumbai), Bombay Brasserie (London), Kuwait Airways (Kuwait), Consulted with the British High Commission Mumbai… Has cooked & served several personalities like Sir G.K. Noon, Sir Andrew Pagewood , Prince Charles, Indian Ambassador UK 1995. Has been a corporate chef with the Bowl House Brand and set up a unique French Bistro in Pune called the 6th Street café. Several restaurants later he helped set up the Hopping Chef Brand which specialises in Home style fine dining. His journey of setting up restaurants took him to Bangalore where he set up the Peppermill café which serves European and French cuisine.
Hi journey very early on in his career has been writing and as Food Critic & Feature Writer for magazines and periodicals such as Jetwings & Jetlite (Jet Airways In-flight Magazine), Liquid Magazine (Spenta), Asian Photography, Publishing Houses like Westland & Tranquebar, Wilco & Rupa, OM Books International. Contributed articles on cuisine, patisserie, desserts and sweets, for various newspapers, magazines and websites. Writer on food and lifestyles for iDiva and Yahoo! India Lifestyles.
Cookbooks:
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“The East Indian Kitchen” A unique book based on Indo Portuguese fusion cuisine.
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“Easy Guide to Pairing Indian Food and Wine” , published by OM Books International.
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“Comfort Food” Co-authored with food researcher Mugdha Savkar the book is a journey through Cafe food.
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"Masala Dabba" a book that looks beyond the usual dishes created by the spice blends of India.
TV:
Chef Michaels mother was a documentary film maker, so his fondness for film came at an
early age. His desire to create and direct food shows is what actually made him take up cooking. It had to be authentic and so he worked at Virleo Productions making educational documentary. Learning the art and craft of editing and scripting to eventually helping direct shows it was a huge learning curve. Have been featured on television for Australian Broadcast TV, Discovery Channel. TV product promotion for Prestige cookware.
Michael has been featured on Zee TV and handled chefs for Zee TV. Headed the food team for Masterchef India Season I and II for Star TV. Handled TLC show of Ravinder Bhogal, titled “Ravinder’s Kitchen”, for Sony TV’s “Sanjeev Kapoor Ke Kitchen Khiladi.” and Season 3 & 4 of Twist of Taste for Fox Life.
Seeing that the internet was booming and getting larger than life. The world revolves around everyones smart phones. So he decided to start his own channel on youtube.
Food Media:
Food Stylist done photo shoots for packaging, print advertisements, editorials and cookery books. Apart from styling also handles some aspects of Art Directing and Propping on a set both for still and video formats. Kellogg’s / Badshah Masala / Westin Electronics / Sula Wines / Marriott Hotels / Renaissance Hotel / The Lalit / The Hyatt /. Cookbo
oks for Penguin India, Westland, Om Books International, Dorling Kindersley India, Bloomsbury India. Also provides consultancy services and guidance in creation of cookery books. Have done food styling and photography for several authors. Conceptualised recipes and styled food for books for Morphy Richards, Daewoo electronics, Milton & Kellogg's India.
In the world of Food Media his work is well known and he has just joined as Honorary Director of the D.Y. Patil University in Navi Mumbai to set up a culinary program and induct Chefs to come and teach along with setting up the country;s first Food Media course. Along with this his association with Manipal University WGSHA where he teaches the only Food Styling Course in the country
Workshops:
Michael has done several culinary workshops across India and in Florida. Having done Food and Wine workshops, cooking with beer with the Four Points Sheraton, Pernod Ricard, Blue Bird. He promotes Le Creuset in India along with brands like Villeroy and Bosch, Avon Pans.
Michael has done food media and culinary workshops for corporate giants like Godrej, Bajaj Electricals.
Awards
Working scholarship at the Cordon Bleu 1995, awarded as one of the Top 50 Chefs in India in 2012 by the Indian Chefs Association, The Gourmand Award for his books “The East Indian Kitchen” and “Pairing Indian Food & Wine.
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