Calling all foodies! The Bombay Canteen is offering a dream job for the culinarily inclined. They are looking to hire someone to explore India’s diverse regional cuisines and the bounty of ingredients spread across the nation. It’s safe to say whomever gets this job will be one lucky son of a gun. As a restaurant that proudly celebrates India’s eclectic palate, Executive Chef Thomas Zacharias explains, “given the challenges of running a busy restaurant that innovates its food and drink menus constantly, it is imperative for us to explore not just new recipes but also ingredients we didn’t have access to before.”

 Thus, The Bombay Canteen has decided to invest in a full-time hire whose responsibility will be to lead the restaurant in their quest for squeezing out all the tasty goodness India has to offer. Chef Zacharias comments, “this is not meant to be a short-term project but an endeavour which we hope to cultivate and give us dividends over a period of a few years”. So the million dollar question is--are you qualified?Although no specific educational qualifications are required for the position, applicants should have some sort of culinary background, however, it does’t have to be limited to experience in professional kitchens. The Bombay Canteen is also interested in folks who have spent time working with farmers, producers, and fishermen. It seems the only thing Chef Zacharias is explicitly looking for is, in his words, “a good knowledge of local and regional Indian ingredients.”

Of course, candidates should have a passion for travel, basically, someone willing to roam the country searching for the hidden gems of India’s culinary world. “The majority of (the candidate’s) time will be spent on the road travelling within Maharashtra and outside as well, to small towns and villages often by bus or train, roughing it out in local accommodation, (and) interacting with locals”. Although some avid travellers might be jumping for joy at the job description, it is important to stress that this isn’t a free ride to ‘explore yourself’. In addition, to travelling around India, The Bombay Canteen is searching for someone who, “also possess(es) the drive and determination to produce results and meet targets,” says Chef Zacharias. He further adds, “there will be blindfolded and put through a taste test to identify 15 local Indian ingredients that we use at The Bombay Canteen. Just kidding!” so perhaps bringing a sense of humour to the interview will give applicants a helping hand.

Good luck to all applicants! And whoever gets the job prepare yourself to be widely despised by others who have less cool jobs--which basically means everyone.

For more information, check out The Bombay Canteen’s Facebook Page