Originally reported and written in June 2022, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

“Haath mein hai,” chef Manu Chandra’s grandmother would often tell him while he was growing up, referring to how he had been born with the ability to cook well.

At the time, the young Delhi boy — who would grow up to be one of India’s most renowned chefs in the years to come — would dismiss his grandmother’s words as an old wive’s tale. However, the more time he spent in kitchens, the more he realised there was indeed some truth to it.

“I came to believe in how some people could just put two and two together and create magic,” Manu tells The Better India over a call.

So from a young boy who would whip up great dishes, he went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America, New York in 2001, and returned to India in 2004 with one thought in mind — “I wanted to bring back something new and create a difference in the culinary scene.”

So when he received an invitation to curate the Inaugural Dinner at the 75th edition of Festival de Cannes 2022, he was elated.

In this exclusive, he talks about what cooking really means to him, the fun and chaos of putting together a menu for the who’s who of the world, and why his grandmother’s words have been a source of motivation.

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“When I received the invitation to head the catering for the dinner on 17 May 2022, it was both an honour as well as intimidating,” he says, adding that he was never one to be daunted by adversity and decided to take this challenge head-on.

But, while he was prepared for the hard work that lay ahead, he hadn’t expected to be doing it alone.

“My team’s visas were delayed,” he recalls.

So on landing in France three days ahead of the dinner, he started thinking on his feet, even going back to the basics when required. To curate a dinner for some of the most famous people in the world is no easy task. But time wasn’t on his side and Manu decided he had to begin........

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