Mumbai-based chef and restaurateur Rahul Akerkar revealed last week that restaurant owners, managers and chefs are trying to ensure that their kitchens are free of discrimination and biases.
Discrimination can be against anyone on the basis of any reason – from caste and religion to sex and sexual orientation, he said in an Instagram Live interview with food critic Antoine Lewis.
It falls upon the chef and the restaurateur to ensure a proper work environment. “You are the culture, you are the lead. You have to explain that there is no difference between anyone,” said Akerkar. The culture permeates top down, he said, and that’s why it is important to lead by example.
“We work hand in hand with our people, we celebrate birthdays, we praise achievements. When you joke with people, play games, you break barriers and start seeing that there is no difference between us… Most restaurateurs today are very conscious about this. The old days of hierarchical systems are breaking down and giving way to a more inclusive and considerate work environment.”
The Vegetarians' Kitchen 