Chef Deepali is a chocolatier and pastry chef. Chef Deepali completed her graduation in food and beverages and her diploma as a French pastry chef from Malaysia. She has her studio named ‘Wow Cook Studio’ where she has been taking classes since 2015. Currently, she has taught more than 9000 students who further run their businesses as women entrepreneurs.
She has been awarded many awards in the food industry namely, ‘India’s Best Female Chef in Chocolates and Bakery 22′ and ‘Home Bakers Pune’s Top 25’. She also owns a YouTube channel, Wow Cook Studio with more than 25k subscribers, where she uploads various interesting recipes.
Icy Tales is in conversation with chef Deepali on her journey, how and why she chose to become a chef, her passions, and much more.
Q) What is the one thing that makes you stand out?
Chef Deepali– When I entered this industry, I wanted to make different kinds of products because India is much behind in the context of the desserts and other products are there in Europe and German markets. My focus is that I can make those products available in the country as soon as possible. And this is a huge reason also why people love us because those products are very popular so they are loved here also.
Q) What is your signature dish? What do people love about it?
Chef Deepali– My signature dish is Bon Bon. Right now, Bon Bon is trending in chocolate and it is very popular. It is a center-filled cocoa butter-colored chocolate. Chocolates are normally brown and dark in color but our product Bon Bon is extraordinarily colorful and shiny. It is a work of art and that’s what our customers love about Bon Bon of course the taste and sweetness of the chocolate are also loved by all.
Q) Name the three kitchen tools you can’t do without?
Chef Deepali– My pallet knife, chocolate molds, and workstation, without a doubt, are the three things that I can’t do without.
Q) As a chef where do you find the profession’s standing today in our society?
Chef Deepali– I am a chocolatier and pastry chef right now. And I have online classes going on with students from all over the world and also offline classes at Pune and Mumbai, this is done by very few people currently. My profession is something unique and different. Working with chocolates includes art and creativity and most importantly everyone including me loves chocolate. My uniqueness is my strength and I constantly try to do different things. Right now we are launching new vegan recipes and French fusion Indian chocolates also.
Q) Was this always your dream to become a chef? Tell us something about your journey.
Chef Deepali– It’s a long story. When I was in 7th standard, I was very interested in cooking so as soon as I was in 10th grade I was clear that I wanted to do something in Food and Beverages only. Though my family didn’t support me a lot then also I did my 11th and 12th in something related to food only. Then I did some short courses in food and beverages and completed my graduation. Consequently, I started participating in various live shows but never really got a chance.
Soon after my marriage in 2011, I got a Maharashtrian reality TV show which was like Masterchef. In that show, I bagged the first prize and got Rs. 1 Lakh scholarship, and got a chance of getting training from one of the best chefs in Maharashtra. Then I went to Malaysia for further training. After that training for 1 year, I bagged a daily show on another Maharashtrian channel, where I showed my recipes, and the show telecasted daily for more than 2 years. Then in 2015, I started my very own Wow Cook Studio in Mumbai and Pune.
Q. What advice do you have for someone willing to take up the culinary domain as a career option?
Chef Deepali– The food industry is a great industry to work in. It doesn’t matter if you are taking up pastry, chocolates, French cuisine, Italian, Indian, or anything else, but give it perfectly. Make sure your product’s taste and presentation are perfect. And most importantly if you will do it differently from other people in the same profession then believe me you will get an amazing response.
For example, if you are presenting your pasta with best the taste and presentation then yes it will have an amazing response but having a USP in your pasta that makes it stands out then I can promise you it will do wonders. Last but not the least, marketing also is a great factor that influences your success in this industry so keep that in your mind as well. Overall it is a great industry to work in. If you are capable to work hard then your talent will take you forward.
Q) What is your favorite dish to prepare?
Chef Deepali– My personal bias is, of course, desserts. But I love to make desserts with liquor. Additionally, I also like to make a fusion of traditional Indian Mithais with other cuisines. If I have to name one right now then try Pumpkin Ice cream. Pumpkin is not liked by Indian kids but if you use it in your desserts then trust it tastes amazing and is loved by all. So I regularly try to make these types of fusions, this Pumpkin Ice cream was a hit in our studio, it was our best seller.
Q) If not a chef, what do you think you would be and why?
Chef Deepali – If not a chef then an Interior designer without a doubt. I believe that I can be a very good designer because of my creativity.
Q) Tell us about your biggest achievement so far!
Chef Deepali – Recently I got awarded India’s Best Female Chocolatier. I got facilitated by a very popularly known Chef Ranveer Brar in Delhi. It was a pinch-me moment, I worked so hard for all this and it feels great that your work is being recognized and appreciated by a lot of people.
Chef Deepali, popularly known by the name of Wow Cook Studio is a chef influencer. She has her government-certified cooking studio where she creates magical and tasty dishes and teaches and guides her students to create delicacies like hers. Chef Deepali has various courses baking for interested students and she also takes live interactive sessions through her Instagram and YouTube.
