You Inspire Others by Learning, not by Teaching
Santosh Shah, a Nepali chef, has been shortlisted in the semifinals for the title of Masterchef: The Professionals 2020 on BBC One. Nepali Times recently caught up with Shah to talk about his journey. Born in Siraha, Shah had a humble upbringing and started working at a hotel in Ahmedabad at the age of 10. There he began washing dishes and was eventually given a shot at cooking by the executive chef. After several years of hard work and learning, he became an executive chef himself. His journey eventually led him to the UK, where he now works as a chef. Shah believes that two things describe his journey: he always asks what is next and he is a risk-taker. He is very happy with where he is but never stops learning and keeps trying to do better. He takes satisfaction in knowing that he has come a long way because he took risks. Participating in MasterChef has given him a platform to introduce Nepali food to the world, and he is excited about this opportunity.
A. Complete the crossword puzzle with the help of the meanings given below.
ACROSS
3. a method of cooking meat or other food in a cylindrical clay oven- tandoori
7. a person having administrative or supervisory power in an organization- executive
DOWN
1. a long pin for holding meat or other food while it is being roasted- skewer
2. the whole of something- entirety
4. a feeling of pleasure and sometimes slight sadness at the same time as you think about things in the past- nostalgia
5. raise to a more important or impressive level- elevate
6. remove water from (food) in order to preserve and store it- dehydrate
B. Write True for true and False for false statements. If the information is not given in the text, write NG.
a. The interview was taken in Nepal. - False
b. The judges were quite impressed by Santosh Shah's performance in the quarter-finals. - NG
c. Santosh Shah was from a well-to-do family. - False
d. With the support of the chef in the tandoor section, Santosh started helping the Executive Chef. - False
e. The journey of Santosh to MasterChef was full of struggles. - NG
f. Santosh is hopeful about the Nepali food market as the food trends are dynamic. - True
g. Santosh has made more experiments on food as the tastes of people differ geographically. - False
h. Santosh feels sorry for serving octopus in Nepali style. - False
C. Answer these questions.
a. What do you think is the reason that heightened the popularity of Chef Shah?
Chef Santosh Shah's creative fusion of Nepali cuisine with global flavors and techniques and his impressive performance in MasterChef UK heightened his popularity.
b. Did Shah spend a normal childhood? Why?
No, Chef Shah did not have a normal childhood. He had to face financial struggles and work from a young age to support his family.
c. How does Shah feel about his performance in Cinnamon Kitchen?
Chef Shah feels satisfied and proud of his performance in Cinnamon Kitchen.
d. What does Shah want to show the world about Nepali food?
Chef Shah wants to show the diversity and richness of Nepali cuisine to the world and promote it as a cuisine of its own rather than just an extension of Tibetan and Indian cuisine.
e. Write two things that Chef Shah was careful about while carrying an experiment on sukuti.
Two things that Chef Shah was careful about while carrying an experiment on sukuti (dried meat) were dehydrating it to soften its texture, and preservation of the original test.
f. According to Shah, what two things make a person successful?
According to Shah, two things make a person successful are continuous learning and being a positive influence on others.
g. Why does Shah want the Michelin Star for Ayla?
Shah wants the Michelin Star for Ayla because it is the Oscar equivalent for Chefs which would further help to elevate the profile of Nepali cuisine globally.
h. What have you learnt from the life story of Santosh Shah?
From the life story of Santosh Shah, I have learned several lessons. Firstly, hard work, determination, and passion can help a person overcome difficult circumstances and achieve success in life. Secondly, it is essential to continue learning and experimenting to grow and improve in one's craft. Thirdly, staying true to one's roots and culture can be a source of inspiration and creativity. Lastly, giving back to society and being a positive force to others can be rewarding as personal success.
D. Chef Shah cooked many dishes in the competition. If you were one of the judges in the competition, which food would you ask him to cook? Why?
If I were one of the judges in the competition, I would ask Chef Shah to cook Momo, a Nepali dumpling that is very popular in Nepal and other countries. They are typically served with a spicy tomato-based chutney or a sesame-based sauce.
Momo is a perfect dish to showcase Chef Shah's skills and creativity as a chef. The dish has a perfect balance of flavours and textures, and it requires precise skills to create the thin outer layer and the juicy filling. Additionally, momo is a dish that is loved by many people around the world, and it has the potential to introduce Nepali cuisine to new audiences.
Grammar II
A. Choose the correct time expressions in the sentences below.
a. The boys are playing cricket (already/now).
The boys are playing cricket now.
b. The doctors are preparing a report for their most important patient (last/this) week.
The doctors are preparing a report for their most important patient this week.
c. The students are preparing for a test (at the moment/usually).
The students are preparing for a test at the moment.
d. (Currently / Sometimes) the economists are working on the country's financial crisis.
Currently the economists are working on the country's financial crisis.
e. Susan is playing tennis with Tim (now/then).
Susan is playing tennis with Tim now.
f. What are you doing (this/next) afternoon? What are you doing this afternoon?
g. My teacher is helping us with Maths problem (that/this) morning.
My teacher is helping us with Maths problem this morning.
h. The guard is ringing the bell (now / soon). It's time to go!
The guard is ringing the bell now. It's time to go!
i. She is (still/yet) mowing the lawn. She is still mowing the lawn.
B. Write NOW if the sentence uses present continuous for action at the moment. AROUND, if action is around the current moment. or FUTURE. if the action is scheduled for future.
a. The local governments are announcing their policies this month. (AROUND)
b. I think Mr. Rai is taking class at the moment. (NOW)
c. We're meeting with Nabina later today. (FUTURE)
d. I'm looking for a new job currently. (NOW)
e. We're organizing a programme on Wednesday. (FUTURE)
f. They are coming home right now. (NOW)
g. Mom is making dinner for us tonight. (FUTURE)
h. I'm sorry I don't have time. I'm attending a meeting. (NOW)
i. She's looking for a new home as she's sold the old one. (NOW)
C. Complete the text below with the correct form of the verb given in the brackets.
Why is Neelam smiling? It sounds like an easy question: she (is having) a good time with friends and she (feels )good after a good shot. But psychologists often argue about this question. Some believe that smiling is an individual act: we smile because we feel happy unless we (try ) to hide our emotions. Others claim that we smile to build social relationships. Some animals use a grin to show that they (will not) fight, for example. Perhaps our smile serves the same function. So, who's right? In one study, researchers filmed people bowling. If you watch people doing a very social activity like this, it looks as if they always (smile). They stop smiling only when they (concentrate) on their next shot. But when do they start smiling again? After each good shot, the researchers took photographs to identify when the smile starts — while the player( is still looking) down the alley or a few seconds later when they turn round to share their happiness with the group.
Writing II
Nowadays, many Nepali prefer fast foods like noodles, pizza, burgers, etc. to typical Nepali foods. This has an adverse effect on their health. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this claim? Write a couple of paragraphs giving reasons to support your view.
Adverse Effects of Fast Food Consumption on Nepalese People
It is true that fast food has become increasingly popular in Nepal, especially among the younger generation. While it may be convenient and tasty, the consumption of fast food on a regular basis can have adverse effects on one's health. Fast foods are typically high in calories, saturated fats, sodium, and sugar, which can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health problems.
On the other hand, traditional Nepali foods such as rice, curry, lentil soup, bread, and beaten rice can provide a balanced and nutritious diet. These foods are usually made from fresh ingredients and contain a variety of nutrients that are essential for a healthy lifestyle. For instance, lentils, rice, and vegetables are good sources of proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fibre.
In conclusion, while fast food may be a convenient and enjoyable option, it is important to balance its consumption with traditional Nepali foods that provide essential nutrients. A healthy diet and lifestyle can prevent various health problems and improve overall well-being.
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