A chef journey shaped by service, hospitality, and devotion

This page gathers the wider biography behind Pure Prasad Kitchen: hotel kitchens, international experience, vegetarian service, retreat cooking, and the quieter devotional spirit that holds it together.

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At a glance

Over 30 years in professional kitchens
Work across India, Yemen, and the United Kingdom
Experience in hotels, banqueting, schools, and retreat food service
Strong vegetarian and prasad-cooking direction
Current Head Chef at The Vedanta retreat centre
Focused on calm, respectful, nourishing food

Career timeline

Early career

Training and kitchen foundations in India

Shyam's chef journey began in India, building discipline in preparation, service, and the calm focus needed for busy professional kitchens.

International hospitality

Hotels, banqueting, and large-scale service

Experience grew through hotels and hospitality work in Goa, Yemen, and the United Kingdom, including high-pressure banqueting and guest dining.

Vegetarian path

From restaurant kitchens to devotional food

Vegetarian cooking deepened through community, school, and retreat kitchens, shaping a style that balances nourishment, flavour, care, and simplicity.

Today

Head Chef at The Vedanta retreat centre

Shyam now cooks for retreat guests and groups in Lincolnshire, creating prasad-inspired food with attention to dietary needs, calm service, and seasonal wellbeing.

Hospitality experience

Shyam has worked through respected hospitality environments including The Ritz London, The Langham Hilton, Durrants Hotel, The Brewery, The Wentworth Club, Sheraton Sana'a Hotel, The Leela Beach Hotel, and Hotel Diamond International.

Awards and recognition

Super Chef Winner 1997
Super Chef Runner Up 1996
Employee of the Year
Employee of the Month awards

Kitchen strengths

Menu planning and purchasing
Large-scale buffet and retreat catering
School and community food service
HACCP and practical kitchen systems
Nutritics, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Devotional food philosophy

Food can be practical, professional, and beautiful while still feeling gentle. Pure Prasad Kitchen is grounded in the idea that food prepared with clean intention and gratitude carries a different atmosphere to the table.

Cook with care, respect, and steadiness.

Keep ingredients fresh and the flavour honest.

Respect allergies, dietary needs, and the people being served.

Offer food with humility, warmth, and blessing.

Contact Shyam

For retreat menus, prasad cooking, collaboration, or recipe work, please get in touch.

Email: Shyam_1@hotmail.co.uk