New Orleans on your plate

Q&A: Enzo Renda

Spice, starch and variety - New Orleans cuisine definitely resembles Indian food, Enzo Renda, CEO of Eggspectation resto cafe chain, tells Neha Bhatt

What is New Orleans cuisine all about?
New Orleans is the melting pot of good food. It’s a great mix of French and Italian cuisine, but it is different. It’s not as authentic as it used to be, but the chefs have incorporated their native style into it. It can’t be judged because it is art. There is Cajun jambalaya, blackened fish, Pecan-crusted goat cheese and many more exciting flavours. There is a lot of seafood on the menu, cooked with a lot of chillies too. Chillies are used more for the aftertaste than to hit the palate.

What does it have for the Indian foodie?
It’s been difficult to put too many vegetarian dishes on the menu because in New Orleans, vegetarian food includes fish. Seafood is a huge part of the diet and so is starch, thanks to the island influence. But what is similar between Indian and New Orleans cuisine is the variety in the menu. That’s why we think it will work here.

Concept restaurants do very well everywhere. Do they work better than cuisine-specific restaurants?
They work equally well. Authenticity is our goal. I think one needs to have international cuisine on the menu as well as identify with certain cuisines. What we also stress on is interaction with clients, making a meal an event. We train our staff not to be treated as only waiters, but as people who know what they can offer the customer. We are also going to have chef’s tables, which are very popular in North America. People actually pay extra to be served better.

What other concepts are you promoting at Eggspectation?
Our food is also inspired by New York City. And being in Delhi, I feel Delhi is to India what New York is to the US. We also have a theme around Sicily, because of cultural similarities, as well as a New York Special.

Is Indian food represented well outside the country?
Not really. The way I have eaten Indian food here is not like the way it is out there. In the US at least, they believe curry is the main ingredient in Indian food.