00:00. . . . . . .
00:30. . . .
01:00. . .
01:11. . .
01:12to have met Ahmad Shafiq around about 2015.
01:18I always knew that we would cross paths again.
01:21And I just want to say I feel so blessed
01:24to have met Ahmad Shafiq.
01:28He really is the heart of hospitality in Lahore.
01:31And I've really enjoyed coming to Kotum every day
01:36and meeting the students, the teachers,
01:38the operational people who make it all happen.
01:41It really is the center of culinary excellence.
01:44And I really appreciate everything everyone has done.
01:47Okay, thank you very much, Mel.
01:49So how did you like the hospitality of Pakistani people?
01:54I find this city is a hidden gem.
01:57I think it's a new city to discover.
02:01And I think it's going to be great
02:04when the Tourism Bureau launch their new ad campaign
02:07because I think everyone should come to Lahore
02:10but there are so many other places.
02:12I only went to Islamabad and that was great.
02:15It was clean and green and beautiful city.
02:18But I think Lahore is the way to go.
02:22I think everyone's got to come to Lahore.
02:24The nightlife, the people, the sites,
02:29the hotel accommodation.
02:30I think it's going to be the new hub of hospitality.
02:35Okay, thank you very much.
02:37So you also visited Kotum.
02:39You met Kotum students.
02:41You experienced their dishes they've made
02:45in different activities.
02:47So how did you find Kotum as an institution in Pakistan?
02:51The hospitality vibe here is awesome.
02:55I think any student wanting to get into the hospitality industry,
03:03come here.
03:04I'm sure they have open day.
03:06Their arms are welcome.
03:07I think there's so much to see and do here.
03:12I think hospitality is a great career
03:14because it is one of the country's biggest commodities.
03:18I think it's a way of making an income or a new income.
03:22There's opportunities for entrepreneurship,
03:25for chefs who want to open their own businesses.
03:29There's opportunities with courses here
03:31where do a course and become a professional blogger.
03:34Do a course here and become a cooking school owner.
03:39Come here and do a course and just be a chef,
03:42be a leader, be a follower.
03:43It doesn't matter.
03:45Hospitality, it's all the same.
03:47Chefs who work in the back of house
03:50work really well with the front of house.
03:53So I think this school really pays attention
03:58to front and back of house,
04:00and that's what makes a business successful.
04:03So I think as far as revenue goes,
04:07I think businesses in Pakistan will really be going well
04:12in the next five years
04:13because I think with people who decide to do training
04:16through Kottam, there are so many opportunities.
04:20I went to a wonderful new hotel in Islamabad called Mervinpik,
04:25and there's like dozens of Kottam students there.
04:29The best hotel in town here or one of the best,
04:33Pearl Continental, there's at least 15 graduates
04:36who are working there.
04:38So I was so pleased to meet Kottam graduates
04:42out in the hospitality industry.
04:44One thing I wanted to say was I think young Pakistani hospitality
04:51students, if I may, I would like to encourage them
04:56all to get more involved with networking,
05:01networking with their peers in the industry,
05:04because it's something you won't learn while you're doing
05:07a course here.
05:07So I think while you're doing the course,
05:11this college will provide so many networking opportunities
05:14where you can get out, meet other people,
05:18have industry nights.
05:21They're already working on an executive chef forum
05:24where it's a meeting place for executive chefs,
05:27where they can talk amongst their peers
05:29and also have a great time.
05:33Because in this industry, in hospitality,
05:36you have to have fun.
05:38And I think to be in this industry,
05:40you need to go out, you need to dine,
05:42you need to find out where the new restaurants are
05:45and go and try them out,
05:46because there's so many opportunities.
05:50The vibe in this college is just excellent.
05:54Heartfelt thanks for all the activities
05:56that you've planned.
05:58I really enjoyed Next Generation of Hospitality.
06:02When I first saw it in Australia, I thought,
06:05wow, this competition is going to be a real goer.
06:08And it was.
06:10I'm looking forward to coming back next year
06:12for the next generation of hospitality,
06:15because I think it's a market where perhaps those people,
06:22they get a little bit overlooked.
06:23And I think this competition is going to highlight
06:27and promote the skills of those students
06:30so they can go into jobs in, say, a five-star hotel
06:34or a restaurant where people will see them show and shine.
06:41So I think that's going to be the future,
06:44showing and shining Kottam students
06:47in the hospitality industry.
06:50Okay, Mel, we also need to ask about Pakistani food.
06:54You have been going to so many places in Pakistan.
06:57So how do you like Pakistani food?
07:00Well, 20 years ago, I lived in London
07:03with the Pakistani family.
07:05They're from Karachi.
07:06So I learned all about how to make biryani.
07:09So I'm like a man.
07:11I like my meat and I love grilled meats.
07:15I love biryani and I love barfi.
07:17So they were my three favourite foods that I discovered here
07:22in Lahore and Islamabad.
07:26Lahore is great for the grilled meats, the biryani and the sweets.
07:33But I found Islamabad was more of a fusion city.
07:38At Movenpick Hotel, there's a restaurant called Koya,
07:42which is fantastic, where you can actually eat Japanese food.
07:45And so with a touch of Pakistani.
07:49So, yeah, I think you should all go there, make a booking
07:53because it's very, very good.
07:55Okay.
07:56So when we talk about Lahore, only Lahore.
07:59So how did you find Lahore as a city?
08:02Lahore people, you know, the charm in their eyes.
08:07And how did you find Lahore city as a whole?
08:12Lahore is an action city.
08:14It's action-packed.
08:16It never sleeps.
08:17It's always going.
08:19People I noted, they just really enjoy their life.
08:23And everyone lives in harmony.
08:26You can go out and eat a steak at 10 o'clock at night
08:30and it's delicious.
08:32That's what we did last night.
08:33Nothing stops tourists from having a good time here.
08:37Okay, you have been visiting different offices here in Lahore.
08:41You went to an organization called Labard,
08:45where you met the kids with special abilities.
08:49Yeah.
08:49So how was that experience?
08:50Oh, that was so touching and heartfelt.
08:54I felt that meeting those children, and they're all under the age of 18,
09:00I think.
09:01They all had special needs.
09:04Some were blind.
09:05Some didn't have limbs.
09:11There was just such a diverse range of disabled people, and very young.
09:16And I think what the initiative of what they've gone and done with those children
09:23is very positive.
09:24I think that Lahore is definitely heading in the right direction.
09:30Okay, Mel, one last question.
09:33Your message for the Kautam students.
09:36As a proud Pakistani student supporter, I really recommend them all to start thinking
09:44about networking, entering competitions, and finding a mentor.
09:48Thank you very much, Mel.
09:50Bohut shukriya.
09:51Oh.
09:52And can you please say that to us?
09:56Bohut shukriya.
09:57Thank you very much.
09:58Can I say it in front of the camera?
10:00Yeah, why not?
10:01Please.
10:02Bohut shukriya.
10:04Bohut shukriya.
10:05Thank you very much.
10:06There was a very wonderful time, Mel, with you while interviewing you in this session.
10:13So, nāzereen, you'll feel good to meet our today's guest.
10:16I'll see you in a new celebrity, a new celebrity, a new celebrity, a new episode, I'll see you in the next episode.
10:21I'll see you in the next episode.
10:22I'll see you in the next episode.
10:23I'll see you in the next episode.
10:24I'll see you in the next episode.
10:25I'll see you in the next episode.
10:26I'll see you in the next episode.
10:27I'll see you in the next episode.
10:28I'll see you in the next episode.
10:29I'll see you in the next episode.
10:30I'll see you in the next episode.
10:31I'll see you in the next episode.
10:32I'll see you in the next episode.
10:33I'll see you in the next episode.
10:34I'll see you in the next episode.
10:35I'll see you in the next episode.
10:36I'll see you in the next episode.
10:37I'll see you in the next episode.
10:38I'll see you in the next episode.
10:39I'll see you in the next episode.
10:40I'll see you in the next episode.
10:41I'll see you in the next episode.
