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Surest Pilliai was born to a family of coir labourers. (Photo Credits: X)
In a new post, celebrity chef Suresh Pillai wrote about the person who helped him when he struggled.
Chef and restaurateur Suresh Pillai’s life is nothing short of a rags-to-riches story. The celebrated chef was born in Thekkumbhagam in Kerala to a family of coir labourers. He did not let the circumstances of his birth stop him as he went on to excel in life. Today, he is the co-owner of RCP Hospitality which runs a number of high-end restaurants in India and around the world. On Tuesday, the famous chef shared a wholesome story of how he got his first real job that sparked his curiosity towards cooking and hospitality.
Suresh Pillai spoke about Mr Mani who hired him at his restaurant Chef King in Kollam’s Jerome Nagar. At the time, Suresh Pillai was just 17 years old and in desperate need of a stable job. He had previously worked as a security guard and at a small tea shop. He recalled his first meeting with Mr Mani and wrote, “Wearing my worn-out slippers and a weak smile plastered to my face, I walked up to the reception to ask for a job, ANY job for that matter.” Mr Mani hired him at the spot with a monthly salary of ₹450! Suresh Pillai would later realise that “there was actually was never a vacancy” and Mr Mani hired him “out of the concern and care he had for a young boy.” It was at Chef King that Suresh Pillai learned how a restaurant kitchen operates.
This man gave the 17-year-old me a chance, and that changed everything:I had a pretty rough start to my late teens, working as a security guard day in and day out. I wanted to do something else, but nothing really panned out even after walking up to almost all the stores at… pic.twitter.com/HwMLC8XtgE
— suresh pillai (@chef_pillai) July 9, 2024
Earlier this month Suresh Pillai opened his restaurant Sanchari in Palakkad. He invited Mr Mani to the opening ceremony. This time, he asked Mr Mani if he would join them as he had retired from his restaurant. Mr Mani said yes and joined as Sanchari’s Public Relations Manager.
This heartening post got over 59,000 views since it was shared on June 9. An X user commented, “Very heartwarming. Wishing you enormous success. With these values, you’ll never lose your way in life. Sri Rama Jayam.”
Very heartwarming. Wishing you enormous success. With these values, you’ll never lose your way in life. Sri Rama Jayam 🙏— 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚔𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚗𝚊 (@dharmadispatch) July 10, 2024
Another person wrote, “Wow. You remember the person who held his hand for you to climb up to the sky. That is why you are successful. Be humble and kind and please lend your hand too to someone who is really in need. Best of luck.”
Wow.. u remember the person who held his hand fr u to climb up to the sky.. That is why ur successful.. be humble n kind n pl lend ur hand too to someone who is really in need.. best of luck
— sheila nair (@rsheila_nair) July 10, 2024
Someone else commented, “Love how Chef Suresh Pillai remembers the people who were instrumental in his journey as a chef and holds them close. And how he has kept being the ‘Mani sir’ in other people’s lives when he is in a position of power. Everybody needs just one chance to prove themselves.”
Love how Chef Suresh Pillai remembers the people who were instrumental in his journey as a chef and holds them close. And how he has kept being the ‘Mani sir’ in other people’s lives when he is in a position of power. Everybody needs just one chance to prove themselves https://t.co/3jNbKyJeyb— Susan Resh (@thebooksatchel) July 9, 2024
Over the years, chef Suresh Pillai has worked at places like The Leela Palace, Kumarakom Lake Resort, and UK’s Veeraswamy. In 2021, he founded RCP Hospitality and worked there full-time.