October 11, 2017
Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani, a food enthusiast who is a
judge on new TV show "Grilled", says whether it is music or food, people must
have hunger and passion to make it big in life.
"Having been a judge on
various TV shows, I have a keen eye for identifying the right mix of passion and
talent in a contender. I truly believe, be it any industry, music or food you
need that hunger to succeed and a passion to excel in whatever you put on your
plate," Dadlani said in a statement.
Music and good food keep him going,
he said, adding that he grabbed the opportunity to be on the show when he was
offered it.
"Presentation skills, innovation along with balanced flavours
of the dish are some of the metrics that I would be judging the 12 contestants
on," he said.
Brought by lifestyle channel FOX Life, "Grilled" gives
aspiring food entrepreneurs an opportunity to realize their restaurant dreams.
It went live earlier this week.
It features 12 aspirants from across the
country competing to put forth unique business ideas and be taken through a
series of gruelling restaurant challenges.
From creating a five-star
experience for real diners in one of Mumbai's most sought after restaurants, to
whipping up an authentic restaurant menu without the availability of key
ingredients, the contestants will be ‘grilled' across various aspects of what it
takes to start their own restaurant. At the end of this 10-part series, only one
will clinch the ultimate dream investment of upto Rs 1.5 crore to start their
own culinary venture.
Apart from Dadlani, food and beverage tycoon
Riyaaz Amlani and globally acclaimed Chef Sarah Todd are judging the contestants
on their passion, creativity, knowledge, business acumen and potential to
succeed in the trade.
Amlani, CEO and Managing Director, Impresario
Handmade Restaurants and President of The National Restaurant Association of
India, said: "My role in the show is of an investor, and I am looking for the
next big idea."
He pointed out how "a restaurant is a whole lot more than
just cooking skills"
"The competitive scenario is much tougher now from
when I started. It takes a lot more for restaurants to get noticed now. This
show will not only help one contestant to achieve his/her dreams, but will also
provide inspiration for the thousands watching at home who hope to own their own
restaurant someday," he said.
For Todd, who is a product of a reality TV
show, being a judge is "like revisiting my own journey".