Khabir Moraes: Passionate about cooking, crazy for football, dreams of a green and clean Goa
Khabir Moraes: Passionate about cooking, crazy for football, dreams of a green and clean Goa
Cooked food for
famous rock band Metalica Onboard MV Ortelius
Cooked for famous
Michelin star chef Philippe Etchebest of france
Has been to all
the continents in the world and around the globe 3 times
Expert, intelligent, skilled and one who has much knowledge, are some of the superlatives which one associates with the name Khabir.
Closer home, Cuncolim’s Khabir Moraes brushes off questions related to his name as quickly as he can. What’s in a name? he says. Instead the trained chef prefers to call him an avid learner. His interests vary from alternative energy to music for a cause.
His songs
and videos have left a lasting impression on the audiences and kick started a
behavior change in many especially on the garbage front.
And that is
not all.
He has this
magic touch on his finger tips which is very much evident in the food he
prepares. People who have eaten from his hands vouch for it. They were left to
literally lick from their fingertips. His colleagues and guests at Star
Cruises, Vships, Quality Cruise Services and Oceanwide Expedition Cruises The Netherlands
all have words of appreciation for the
culinary skills of this master chef.
His culinary
dream took shape as a child when he watched his paternal uncle Derick Moraes churn
out some mouth licking dishes and displayed it on the table.
From there
on he decided that one day he will be one like him.
“I choose to
be a chef because I was influenced by my uncle, who was a diet Chef in the
Gulf, I was inspired by the way he cooked and displayed his culinary skills at
home,” said the 42- year-old.
To earn the
praise and accolades Khabir has worked hard for it the journey which started at
the Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Porvorim specializing
in Diploma in Food production & Patisserie.
The classroom situation turned into on field experience as he began his
training at Fort Aguada Beach Resort Sinquerim Goa.
Having so far
worked under different nationalities and thriving in the multinational
environments Khabir has taken out a leaf out from each of his sea voyages.
So once he
is back on shore he has keen to do a few fine dining sessions in some Goa restatuarnts
run by his friends.
“Onboard
restaurants are very basic and not fancy, as we have to pass through the Drake
Passage, to reach Antarctica, so the sea is pretty bad and we do not have the
luxury of fine dining, but whenever it is smooth, we never fail to surprise our
passengers, ” who had been all the continents and has been around the globe three times
by ship.
With fine
dining session restricted to limited audience, Khabir has made sure his
culinary finesse reach far and wide through his YouTube channel Kibz Broadcast
Chef Khabir Moraes and also through the facebook page Kibz Broadcast.
“My aim to
pass on the knowledge and I am happy to share what I have learnt, I am happy
when people come and write to me that my recipe/s which I shared on social
media helped them in their kitchen,” said Khabir, who cooked food for the famous rock
band Metalica on board MV Ortelius.
The former
footballer, who preferred to be in the culinary industry, prefers not to
restrict the practical lesson which he has in the kitchen confined to the four
walls but to take another level.
One area of
keen interest for him is the garbage management.
With all big
ocean going ships laying emphasis on garbage management and keeping ones
surroundings clean, Khabir is keen to implement the same on land once he is
back in Goa. He is quite vociferous on that front with his music and videos
doing the talking for him.
Pained as he
is by the garbage which is littered all round the place, Khabir has taken upon
himself the task of shooting videos to highlight the problems and reach out to
the people. He also composed and written
music for his songs which has focused on the garbage problems.
His social
media campaign has worked wonders in many places especially with the younger
generation.
“When kids
enjoy my songs and they correct their parents about cleanliness, it gives me
extra motivation,” said the Cuncolim-based social activist, who has till dates
13 songs to his credit and some of which carry a strong awareness message.
“Music in
the form of videos or songs, which carry a message have the ability to bring
about the change, especially with the children and youth. Music can change
lives and behavior. I believe that it can play a huge influence in people’s
lives,” said Khabir, who also has cooked for famous Michelin star chef Philippe
Etchebest of France,
“I love when
my songs are played at events and at awareness programs,” said Khabir, who
during his student days played football for his village team and was a long
distance cycle rider.
His
sustained social media campaign has bore fruits on many occasions and it is not
confined to just Cuncolim but has extended from Kesarval Spring in Cortalim to
Margao.
One who
believes in reducing carbon emissions and help in reduction of global warming
up he has taken the sustainability lessons by composting his kitchen waste
turning it to organic manure, which he and his family have been dong on a
regular basis for the last several years.
The ardent
environment loves to grow his own vegetables with organic manure and makes sure
to pass on the practical lessons of agriculture and sustainability to his
school going daughters.
“It's only
about individual involvement. If, everyone are serious about green and clean
environment we do not need massive garbage treatment plants at all. We can have
a clean and green environment if every individual gets involved in it. It's a
collective approach towards being clean and green,” he said as a parting shot.
