Sous Chef Lovedeep Singh, an Indian national, has seven years of culinary experience, two of which are in the UAE.
Can you give us a glimpse of your career journey so far?
I started my career with Radisson Group in India and, two and a half years ago, I arrived here to join the O’Pao team; I just love it.
O’Pao itself is a budget-friendly concept specialising in Indian sliders, served with a gourmet twist. The first-of-its-kind in the UAE, our homegrown eatery celebrates the humble pao (bun) with a creative menu which combines premium ingredients with familiar Indian fillings.
We were shortlisted at the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2020 as Best Budget Restaurant and as Best Street Food Restaurant at the Masala Food Awards 2019.
What’s your favourite dish to eat and why?
I grew up having Indian cuisine a lot and so I have a strong affection for it. The sheer variety of dishes is what impresses me the most. Out of it all, my all-time favorite would be biryani.
What are you cooking up today? Tell us more about the dish.
I will be preparing a butter chicken pao, which is an all-time favourite of our guests. It consists of a soft potato bun filled with creamy butter chicken. Trust me, it’s delicious.
As a chef, what are the top ingredients and products you’re using these days?
Quality ingredients are important for any food and beverage establishment. Out of the Maggi range, I would say my favourite product would be the Coconut Milk Powder; the Buitoni Tomato Coulis is of really good quality as well.
What are some of the most recent important food trends you can tell us about?
Recently, the demand for plant-based foods has increased. Having a vegan or a plant-based dish on the menu is a must.
What would you advise suppliers and foodservice professionals who are looking to offer their best to the market and meet demand?
Supply quality products for a reasonable price: that would be the first thing. We also look for on-time delivery, so that there are no items missing from the menu and availability of products is at 100% for both delivery and dine in.
