Cook by chance

For someone who was forced into the business of cooking, Chef Oriana Tirabassi has achieved a lot in her culinary career.

For someone who was forced into the business of cooking, Chef Oriana Tirabassi has achieved a lot in her culinary career.

She was the first woman to be ranked as the 'Pizza World Champion' in 2004 and is known for her dessert pizzas.

Currently the Chef de cuisine at Mezzo Mezzo, JW Marriott's Italian restaurant, chef Oriana tells CS how she acquired a taste for cooking:

Beginner's luck

It's been 17 years and six months since I opened my first restaurant in Italy. I was an artist then and would create designs on paper.

I've supported a Gucci stylist back in 1980 and have also modelled for a few projects. But back then it was a closed society and my parents married me off.



Once my in-laws sampled my cooking, they decided that I should open my own restaurant. Slowly my cooking started becoming more and more popular and my restaurant was appreciated for its artistic ambience.

I was also an athlete in my younger days and decided to bring in a bit of myself to the business that I was forced into. And so, I decided to rebel by putting up an impressive acrobatic pizza making performance.

Sweet signature

I know that my pizza desserts are considered to be among my specialities, but the truth is that the idea originated from an old Italian tradition.

In Italy we use bread for every meal. Mothers especially feed young kids bread dipped in chocolate.

So I said why not add some sweet ingredient to a tomato and mozzarella base? My Tiramisu pizza is a big hit with everyone.
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Some of my other specialities are pizza topped with fruits, chocolate and vanilla cream, Italian salads and the Imperial lobster pasta.

Khana for thought

I like Indian food, and samosas are my weakness. I can eat six of them at one go!

The black lentil dal, Dal Makhni, is my favourite and I can't resist tandoor items like lamb kebabs; home-made biryani will always find a place on my plate.

I've gained so much weight since I came to India that now I've taken an appointment at the hotel gym to get back in shape.

We will be starting the acrobatic promotions in January and well, I want to be able to perform them without a hitch!

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