Assistant Pastrychef,Hotel Fidalgo,Panjim, Goa.

I work as an assistant pastry chef at Hotel Fidalgo in Panjim, Goa, but my home address is actually Suhana Manzile in Karkala. It is located in the Kariyakale area of the Udupi district in Karnataka. My life is split between the busy kitchen environment in Goa and the quieter life back home. Being a pastry chef is a lot more about sweat and timing than people realize. I spend my shifts measuring out flour, checking oven temperatures, and making sure the dough rises correctly. It is a tiring job, and your hands are almost always covered in something. I don't use fancy titles or pretend that it's all art; it's mostly just hard, repetitive work that you have to get right every single time. When I have time off, I head back to Karkala. The air is different there, and it’s a nice break from the heat of a commercial kitchen. Suhana Manzile is where I can finally relax. My family has been in the Udupi area for a long time. I’ve learned that there are no shortcuts to making good food. You just have to put in the hours and pay attention. I don't have a big mission or a vision; I just want the bread to be fresh and the cakes to taste good. It’s a simple goal but it keeps me busy enough. People in Panjim seem to like what we make, so that’s good enough for me.