636: Kaiser Lashkari on The Best Ingredients

Originating from Pakistan, Chef Kaiser Lashkari had early aspirations of becoming a doctor until he had a run-in with some goat meat and a spice rack. This experience sparked a new dream of moving to America to open a restaurant. Chef Kaiser made the move to the states and received his master's degree from Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management in 1989 before opening Himalaya Restaurant & Catering. Chef Kaiser was a James Beard Semi-Finalist in 2019, and Himalaya was rated No. 9 in the Houston Chronicle's "Top 100 Houston Restaurants" list and has placed in the top 15 in previous years.

Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra:

• There are no shortcuts!

In this episode with Kaiser Lashkari we will discuss:

• Indian and Pakistani restaurant scene
• The immense importance of high-quality ingredients
• The importance of smell and look of the food
• Taste every meal before it goes out to the guest
• Positive reinforcement
• Defying your parents to follow your passion
• Mentors
• The intricacies and false stereotypes of curry
• Training and development
• Get partnerships
• Get things done by working through people, not at their expense
• Being pressured and bullied by neighbor businesses and how to deal with it
• The ego and madness of restauranteurs
• Treat your employees properly and with kindness
• The importance of sincerity

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Never quit; tenacity
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Impatience with mediocrity
3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
   • Energy level and body language
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • To have longevity in the staff
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Coming to work on time
   • While working be the best you can
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Knowledge about the food
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • The Human Side of Enterprise by Douglas McGregor GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
8. What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
   • Training and development, hiring properly
9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations?
   • VCM by Hobart
10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    1. Never quit
    2. Never take shortcuts
    3. Always be sincere

Contact info:

Facebook: @kaiser.lashkari

Himalaya Restaurant & Catering website

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Kaiser Lashkari for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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