Dr.Kebab

 

A day with Dr.Kebab 

      I did my interview last September 12, 2008 in Mr.Hossein restaurant branch in greenbelt

 three. The interview turned to be informal because Mr.Hossein is very hospitable that he let 

me taste his specialties. The interview took around 20-30 minutes. I tour around the 

restaurant and got a chance to meet every people in the restaurant.

 

Kim Quizon: first of all thank you for giving the time and the opportunity to do this interview; I know you are a very busy bee person. Again thank you sir.

Mr.Hossein: No problem. You’re my daughters friend therefore I love you also.

KQ: Sir, how did you start as restaurant owner? What was your job back in Persia? What brought you to the Philippines?

MH: I came here around 1978, to study here. I enrolled in MAPUA school in electrical engineering, then during the Spanish revolution I returned to my country to join military. Why because it is required for us men to join military. so I went military for two years after finishing high school. For me to survived back in persia I went to cooking side because cooking is in the blood of my family. My uncle was a chef of the Shah; my mother is a nice cook. You know what I learned everything from my parents. I don’t even have any formal study in cooking. 1985 I started my restaurant business here in the Philippines, serving diplomat people. I don’t have place wherein I only have 5 tables, then after that we  started again after five years that is 1990 were serving with seven tables then 1993 with 13 tables, then after 2000 we served with 32 tables. As of now, you can see I have 5 major branches here in the Manila. One in Serendra, one in Trinoma, one in The fort, one in Makati Avenue and one in Greenbelt. We run this restaurant with 121 workers.

KQ: what is the specialty of your mom?

MH: as my mom thought me to cook, I think the specialty is that it should come from your heart. My mom is cooking different kind of food. And as early as five year old i know how to cool already. And I just want to become a Shah, a chef of a king.

KQ: is there a secret to running a successful restaurant? 

MH: of course yes, you should love what you are doing that’s it.

KQ: what made you decide to introduce halal restaurant here in Manila.

MH: simply because I’am a muslim. I want to eat my food. The way I want it to eat, I want all Muslims taste it the way I do.

KQ: what are the differences of your restaurant in any other halal restaurants here in manila?

MH:  for me, I don’t see much halal restaurant here in the Philippines, because all of my meat is halal certified. It comes directly from Australia. All are meat are imported. And we have a certification from Australia. And one more thing is that we have 385 dishes in the menu.

KQ: did you invent all of the dish?

MH: yes!, about 80% of my menu is originally from me. and I am happy for it. I have this kind of dish that the ingredient is five thousand dollars per kilo. And we have it here in th restaurant.

KQ: Are you bothered after knowing that they’re some restaurants trying to compete and claiming that they are the original halal restaurants here in Manila?

MH: I don’t thing so. There are a lot of people copying each other restaurants, but is not very hard to maintained what you have right now. For me I just give my heart. That all.

KQ: as we know halal restaurant is very complicated type of restaurant, in order to maintain the quality of the food, what are the procedures that the management is doing?

MH:  Yes we have. Of course you have to be very careful of the meat coming in the restaurant. You do not bring any other meat. You know the religion that we have, we are very careful about meat. I just my meats it comes from Australia.

KQ: is there any specialties that the restaurant id known for?

MH: Of course yes!, kebab.

KQ: sir can you explain further to me what is  kebab?

MH: kebab is anything cook with the use of charcoal. It can be tomato kebab, beef kebab, chicken kebab, lamb kebab, fish kebab, any other meat cook with the use of charcoal. You should try our kebab. I will ask my chef to cook all types of kebab for you.

KQ: no thank sir, thank you. I’m here to interview you sir.

MH: no!, I will teach you the reality. I will teach you how to be overall of yourself. I will teach the system way, Chef See way! I will give you some kebab, so you know how will it taste, don’t tell me how is it. After you taste it tell me how was the food. You want to become chef right?

KQ: yes sir. I really want to become a chef. Go sir bring on the kebab.

KQ: so sir, how did you met Tita Gloria?

MH: mhhh.. many people is asking that question. I was a student then. 1979 I meet my wife in UP Diliman. She is studying 2 courses then that time. Political science and at the same time Medicine. Yes its tough my wife is a lawyer and doctor at the same time. I love my wife so much.