mid-day catches up with restaurateur AD Singh and Indian-American chef Floyd Cardoz over lunch

AD Singh and Floyd Cardoz discussed their common love for seafood at Gajalee Lower Parel PicsBipin KokateWhen staffers at Lower Parels Malvani seafood haven Gajalee flock to our table with a display of fish and live crabs restaurateur AD Singh quickly looks away I dont want to see what I am going to eat But Floyd isnt squeamish AD laughs as he turns to chef Floyd Cardoz of The Bombay Canteen whos eyeing the catchOh you have Kane Lady Fish This is the season for it but you dont get it everywhere says Floyd However when the manager says they have a tandoori preparation he suggests Make it coastal styleThen AD enquires about a Gajalee signature mdash fresh crab stuffed with crabmeat baked in a spicy Malvani curry Since its unavailable he settles for Butter Garlic Pepper Crab I need my seafood fix because its difficult to find it there shares New Yorkbased Cardoz on a trip to the citySingh who recently launched Lady Baga a Goan shackstyle restaurant at Delhis Connaught Place and is gearing for a host of openings in Mumbai this year including a Guppy and Toast And Tonic in BKC tells us he rescheduled his trip to Delhi to catch up with Floyd over this meal The duo whove kept track of each others careers but met for the first time only two years ago bond over a hearty meal and freewheeling conversationFloyd I love the name Lady BagaAD Thank you Were you brought up in GoaFloyd No I was brought up in Bandra but I have family in Goa Recently we Yash Bhanage Sameer Seth and I exploredits local fare because you need to go beyond fish curryrice or pork vindalooAD I agree laughs But having said that it is actually the mainstay on our menu because were still in the opening stagesBombil Fry Lady Fish Fry and Bangda Ambat Tikhat arriveAD Biting into the Bombil Fry Its stunning Its probably cooked in hot oil Thats why its so crisp rightFloyd Yes its one of my favouritesAD We serve bangda mackerel in Delhi but few like it because its slightly smelly They feel smelly fish means it isnt freshFloyd In fact the mackerel you get in India is extremely fresh but sadly people dont order it It is time they started tasting everything because ultimately its seafood that is going to sustain usKrutika Your restaurants have distinct personalities Has the standalone gone beyond food or tableandchair experienceAD I am jealous of Floyd because today it is really about the chefsvision focusing on a single restaurant making the experience better every day The restaurant business has become more competitive When I joined the standalone was unborn and it was just three of us Rahul Akerkar Ritu Dalmia and I with the benefit of an open canvas We built the standalone industry and pushed the hotels to amp up their gameFloyd You actually set the groundwork for the present scenarioAD Now I think that hotels should look at outsourcing FampB to restaurants That would be a credit for the standalone industry and a winwin for everybody The standalone scene in Mumbai has expanded Im impressed at how restaurateurs are roping in professionals for highly specialised rolesFloyd Yes weve just hired someone to travel across the country and source ingredients for us We are also willing to share the information with other restaurants because thats the only way all of us can survive and growAD Wow We could also formally associate with you on that if you like Our mission is to open 100 restaurants in five years Were also looking at overseas marketsFloyd Also today restaurants are not only about serving great food but also making the entire experience fun and accessible The reason many Americans dont go to Indian restaurants is because they dont want to look stupid asking for terms they dont understand They need a connection and you have to find thatAD Singh and Floyd CardozWe order Butter Garlic Pepper Crab and Clams KoshimbirFloyd Picks a crab leg I believe that this part of the crab is tastier than the body I am going to use my hands if thats okayhellipAD For the next 10 minutes therell be total silence till we finish thisFloyd I am so full At home I usually just eat breakfast and dinner My wife would be happy to know Ive had lunchAD Youre marriedFloyd Yes We went to IHMtogether Shes a SindhiAD Like mine laughs From restaurateurs and dreamers our Sindhi wives have taught us how to be businessmen