How to Overcome the Imposter Syndrome with Chef Priyavanda, Owner of Desi Galli Restaurants in NYC
In this live episode hosted by WeRule, we got to explore a tough subject that everyone is becoming familiar with these days in times of difficulties and personal strife; imposter syndrome. Here with Chef Priya Vanda, a leading chef in the world of Desi cuisine, she has made wonderful strides to be a successful entrepreneur of the trade, in the heart of New York CIty no less. She’s brimming with optimism and providing delicious delectable delights(try saying that sped up) that transport you to the very origins of her legacy. However, our master chef was not without personal conflict. Paving the marble, starlit path to her success was met with many doubts and self-criticisms. Priya takes the deep dive with us to tackle the subject and provide to us her take on the matter and the analyses she made on her external life as well as her internal one in order to overcome it.
Everyone, no matter what point of success you are, the personal goals you set, or the level of responsibility you undertake, we all have had to confront the big elephant in the room that is imposter syndrome. The term “imposter syndrome” simply means you don’t feel adequate or capable to do something that could very much be within the confines of your ability to do so. This anxiety or fear of being “caught in the act” or “found out” stems from a number of things from childhood trauma, workplace abuse, not to mention we all live in a world where everything seems so fast-paced and competitive. In this state, there could be a plethora of opportunities readily available that could potentially be out of reach when ignored and not handled.
When faced with imposter syndrome you feel everyone is watching and taking note of every action and every word you say and adding up the facts just to see if you are cut out for whatever it is you are pursuing. Now, who really is the one holding the timer or the pen to paper on your progress? What we fail to realize is really…it’s just us. When you are so accustomed to self-doubt and over-criticism of your own actions, you start to lose sight of the little things and the small, but very impactful steps you make to be better than you were. Sit down and take in this perspective with us as Priya enlightens us about her journey and you’ll be glad you did, especially when you’ve given one of her esteemed restaurants a visit. You’ll be met with a heartwarming welcome to match the incomparable delicacies she provides to her humble guests.
Written & Co-hosted By Nicolas Negron
About Chef PriaVanda Chouhan
Desi is a Hindustani term for the people, cultures, and product/services of the Indian subcontinent or South Asia derived from Sanskrit it Mean’s "one from our country". Galli symbolizes an ‘Alley’ or ‘Street.
Owner PriaVanda Chouhan and her husband created their restaurant to satisfy the Desi (Indian sub-continent diaspora) hankering for Indian soul food. Though her father warned her husband-to-be that she couldn’t cook, PriaVanda soon taught herself to make not only her mother’s recipes but also her husband’s family favorites. Inspired by Rachael Ray’s fast and easy methods for putting dinner on the table in under 30 minutes, she turned her home kitchen into a test kitchen, mastering a multitude of Indian recipes every day, and also developing her own personal style of lighter, healthier, vegan and gluten-fee cooking without sacrificing flavor.
We have been open since 2012 and have been featured in: ABC News(TV), TimeOut (Kelly Choi)(TV), Jus Punjabi(TV), NY Times, Time Out voted our Aloo & Paneer Tikki as a best sandwich, Village Voice voted our Bhel Puri as one of the best dishes in NY plus a number of recommendations by Serious Eats and pure food lover bloggers!
