Those in Las Vegas, Nevada, will soon have the option of gorging on scrumptious delicacies from Kerala like Karimeen Pollichathu (steamed fish) and Parotta-Beef Fry.
Chef Hemant Kishore, who hails from Thiruvananthapuram and is currently based in Vegas, is all set to launch his new project “Toddy Shop” in the American city.
The menu at Toddy Shop will be inspired from “local bars back home that serve Toddy (palm alcohol) and some dynamite food”.
"I was initially looking for a commercial kitchen to operate my lunch delivery service. The hunt was harder than I thought. But finally I found this bar that had a deserted kitchen that needed some love,” Hemant said in an email interview to The News Minute.
For someone who cooks with his heart and soul, Hemant says, patrons can expect his culture and love for food to reflect on what he serves at Toddy Shop.
Though Toddy Shop will not serve any toddy, Hemant says he "will be highlighting some toddy shop delicacies like Karimeen Pollichathu, Parotta/Beef Fry etc.” Not to forget, biryani too will be on the menu.
This along with some elevated American bar food and street food from around the world.
"One my cooks is from Kingston, Jamaica. So we can expect some Beef Pattie, Plantain, Jerk Wings, Oxtail and so on. The menu will be small with around eight to 12 items that will keep changing frequently," he adds.
Growing up, Hemant was never encouraged to pursue a career in cooking. He, however, was determined to achieve his dreams. So he went to the US in 2007, and got a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts at Culinary Institute of America in New York.
He returned to India for a short while in 2010 due to visa requirements, but later moved to Las Vegas after he landed a job.
Hemant now runs a food based lifestyle company called TheHKlife LLC in Vegas and is also building his brand The6packchef™, which currently operates a healthy lunch delivery service among other ventures.
Incidentally, Hemant is also known as the “6 pack chef”.
As a pastry chef with a catering company in Vegas a few years ago, Hemant did a graveyard shift for a year, which adversely affected his health.
The doctor advised him to shed the extra weight he had put on during this time.
With the help of exercise and self-cooked meals, Hemant- now a fitness enthusiast- went on to lose 60 pounds and gained the moniker "6 pack chef".
Hemant hopes to launch Toddy Shop by mid-September along with resuming his lunch box delivery service.
Check out Hemant's website here. He is available on Instagram/Twitter/Snapchat @the6packchef