Bengaluru man used to make tiffin for his daughters. Years later, he became a MasterChef India finalist. How a father’s love for cooking set off a remarkable journey

We have all grown up with our mothers cooking our favourite meals in the kitchen. But what if the roles were reversed? Harish Closepet from Bengaluru not only broke the stereotype but went on to become a MasterChef India finalist too. As a young kid, Harish grew up in a gender neutral home and safe to say it all started from there. He and his 4 siblings partook in all household chores equally, even watching his father cook food during festivals - a sight that left a deep impact on the young boy.

From mother’s sous chef to MasterChef finalist

Harish’s journey began with being his mother’s sous chef, followed by preparing meals at his college friend’s apartment, as per Outlook Eats. But it was only after his daughters, Vibha and Isha, were born that landed Harish in the list of top 5 contestants in MasterChef India 2023.

Harish, a BMS College of Engineering pass-out and now a chef and entrepreneur, used to cook for his wife. Later, he continued the trend with his daughters, preparing tiffin for them to take to school. But like most kids, they didn’t finish the traditional, home-cooked dishes like rice-sambar or roti-sabzi packed in the lunchboxes.

How Bengaluru man made lunchboxes exciting for daughters

Harish noticed this, and instead of chiding his daughters, he and his wife started making the same food interesting. They would add paneer and cheese to the sabzis and make pasta. Naturally, the girls would finish their meals and the dabbas would return empty. For 15 years till their college days were over, Harish would pack tiffins for his daughters.

One day, Isha wanted to share her wonderful father’s cooking with everyone. So, she took a video of him making a lunchbox and posted the clip on Instagram, as per The Better India. Surprisingly, the reel became viral, with Harish starting her Instagram channel ‘Harry’s lunchbox’. In turn, this move became the stepping stone for his MasterChef India audition.

Daughter’s Instagram reel sparked father's new journey

The reel titled ‘Pack A Lunchbox With Me’ showed Harish packing a tiffin with tomato zucchini rice, baked crispy potatoes with a tomato sauce marinade, and a fresh orange and cucumber salad. Although the food is fancy, Harish ensures that every meal has balanced portions of carbohydrates, good fats, and protein.

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A post shared by Harish Closepet (@harrys_lunchbox)

Some of Harish’s popular dabbas include paneer paddu with a beetroot chutney and carrot salad, rajma pepper rice with tomato masala and chia fruit salad, peas fritters with a sweet potato yoghurt dip, masala paneer roll with tomato broccoli salad, a high-protein upma with dry coconut chutney and a carrot vinegar salad, among others.