Kolkata-born Rahul Mandal, whose signature dish is a mishti doi cheesecake will be seen on The Great British Bake Off  

With his research scientist instincts, the Kolkata-born undertakes every bake with a forensic attitude to research and uncompromising attention to detail
Rahul Mandal on GBBO
Rahul Mandal on GBBO

It’s a classic East meets West style of baking that 30-year-old Rahul Mandal has taken to. With his research scientist instincts, the Kolkata-born undertakes every bake with a forensic attitude to research and uncompromising attention to detail. After having moved to UK when he was 23, the Bengali boy says that he had no idea about The Great British Bake Off, until one of his friends pushed him to apply. His baking journey in the UK began about five years ago when he was alone in the city. To get over this, he started baking and soon enough he was making his first cake, when his parents visited for the first time. He will now be seen on Season Nine of one of UK’s top baking shows, The Great British Bake Off. 


Citrus twist 
“I enjoyed watching cookery shows, and I started experimenting when I was 15,” says Rahul. “I try to bake on alternate days and if it’s something big, I develop and design it over the week and then execute it. I am a messy baker! And my flat is quite small, so it’s even messier at home. It’s a big issue!” Ask him what his go-to desserts are to bake, and he says that he is a man of the classics. “Although, sometimes I love a little twist in it,” he says with a cheeky laugh. “I love an orange drizzle cake with an orange creme au beurre, an orange tea light on top and some orange flavoured white chocolate drip on the sides.” Rahul seems to like his citrus flavour very much as he further explains how his colleagues love the lemon drizzle cake he makes. “Lemon and cardamom drizzle cake and elderflower drizzle cake are my favourites too!” 


Kolkata calling
Rahul’s relationship with Kolkata didn’t end despite his move to UK. He loves to use panchforon (Bengali five-ingredient spice). “It reminds me of home,” says Rahul. “It’s such a versatile spice blend!” The baker also loves playing with flavours. “I like to blend classic British or French flavours with Indian spices in a way that they complement each other.” The quintessential mishti doi is also something that brings back memories of home for Rahul. “I experimented with mishti doi by incorporating the doi flavour in yoghurt mousse and in baked cheesecake,” he says adding that he is a feeder and loves to cook for people. “My culinary dream will be inviting all my friends and family to cook/bake for them.”

Watch The Great British Bake Off on Netflix. 
 

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