Oven'tures of oomph

He’s a master when it comes to the theatricality of baking. Vinesh Johny, is the only Bengalurean who has made it to the inaugural ‘Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia’ list (previously the list was only for India). While pursuing a hotel management course, he realised that his heart was in the creation of decadent cakes he would bake every day. The power couple of Lavonne academy of baking science and pastry arts — Vinesh Johny and Joonie Tan wants to revolutionise pastry education and propel it to another level. “It was a dream for me to become an entrepreneur at the age of 24. It also came with its challenges, but I’m glad I took that step. Our team has a die-hard spirit, that’s constantly innovating, creating and teaching everything we have learnt,”  says Vinesh.

After graduating from Christ College with a degree in Hotel Management, Vinesh went on to work with The Oberoi Group of Hotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts and then pursued a diploma in Sugar Art and Wedding cake decoration at Feves de Choco Creation of Pastry Fine Arts, Malaysia, before he found his calling to be an educator. “I was fortunate to co-found Lavonne with Chef Avin Thaliath and Lijo Eapen, who had the same vision for pastry education. We set up India’s first international specialised baking academy (affiliated to City & Guilds, London), with the aim of making pastry arts a mainstream career choice.

Most of the students that have graduated from our baking institute are doing exceptionally well all over the world; working at star restaurants in the US to 5 star luxury hotels in the Middle East. We work as dream-weavers. Our students go out with the right skill and attitude as we teach traditional and modern techniques in the art, ensuring we have the right facility and the most skilled and experienced faculty to deliver the best education the country is offering,” says Vinesh.

At 27, Vinesh is changing the game in this industry; while international culinary chefs have frequented the country, he has been instrumental in bringing down reputed international pastry chefs including the famous French dessert queen, Nina Tarasova who will be in the city soon to conduct masterclasses this June. “We bring chefs who are skilled and passionate to teach. We have had Kelvin Chua, Sheryl Bitto, and Calvin Mark conduct masterclasses. I connected with Nina when I saw her work and invited her to come take a class and she has agreed to come for a class once year and have many masterchefs lined up.”
Vinesh’s better half, Joonie Tan who specialises in cake art, shares how she met him after a few cake decoration courses in Malaysia, at the time when she was working on acing her cake art and growing professionally. “I was invited by Vinesh to join Lavonne to head the cake decoration department. I’ve learnt cake art from Margaret Carter from Australia, Kelvin Chua from Malaysia, but my mentor was late Chef Hong.” In awe of his partner and wife, the baker confesses, “Joonie’s a people’s person and everyone takes to her in a trice! We share quite an enviable work relationship for a couple! I go for long bike rides on my superbike (a Triumph Bonneville) over the weekends and when I explore more, a lot more dessert ideas occur to me. I’m also a CrossFit athlete, and that helps me knock off those extra calories at the academy.”