Newcomer finds new paradise in Cape Breton

SYDNEY, N.S. — Mahesh Prabhu remembers Sydney’s large waterfront fiddle from his first go to to the Cape Breton port in 2013 when he labored as a pastry chef aboard the Seven Seas Navigator cruise ship.

However by no means in his wildest goals did he envision ever dwelling in Sydney. Nor, at the moment, may he have foreseen the day when he would see the Large Fiddle each time he appeared out the window at work.

Now 33, Prabhu is considered one of Cape Breton’s latest residents. He’s additionally the brand new supervisor on the fashionable Taste on the Water restaurant on the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion. The restaurant is simply steps away from the landmark he remembered from his travels with Regent Seven Seas cruise line.

Sarcastically, the identical ship that Prabhu labored on 9 years in the past was the primary cruise vessel to go to Sydney this yr. The Regent Seven Seas ship, which has a passenger capability of 490, was in port on Sunday.

“Sure, it’s unbelievable that I might discover my means again right here – you can say I’ve come full circle,” mentioned Prabhu, who spent the previous seven years in Mauritius, an island nation situated within the Indian Ocean some 2,000 km southeast of Africa.

“I’ve left one paradise to search out one other.”

Prabhu was born and raised in Mumbai, though he nonetheless prefers to name town of greater than 20-million individuals by its former title of Bombay. He went on to earn a bachelor’s diploma in hospitality within the Indian vacationer state of Goa. He would later cap off his formal training with an MBA in resort and hospitality administration from the Nationwide Institute of Enterprise Administration.

He then started gaining expertise in his chosen career by working his means throughout India in a variety of jobs with resort eating places and airline flight providers. He moved to Mauritius in 2014. He spent the final 4 years with Lux Resorts and Accommodations the place he labored his means up from govt sous chef to go chef to govt chef.

Then life took an surprising flip.

Mahesh Prabhu

•  Age: 33
•  Nationality: Indian
•  Household: Spouse Pearl and three-year-old son Neev
•  Hometown: Mumbai, India
•  Residence: Sydney, N.S.
•  Job: Supervisor, Taste on the Water restaurant
•  Earlier place: Government chef, Lux Resort, Mauritius

Change of course

Prabhu’s spouse, Pearl Passanha, accepted a place as a analysis program supervisor on the Verschuren Centre of Sustainability in Vitality and the Setting which is situated on the campus of Cape Breton College. The well-educated Passanha holds a bachelor’s diploma from Mumbai College, a grasp’s diploma from Ulster College in Northern Eire and a doctorate from the College of South Wales.

“She is the first one that received a job – I adopted her,” mentioned Prabhu.

“I had an excellent profession in Mauritius the place I used to be an govt chef. I may have stayed there and been pleased, however that is one other problem for us and we’re embracing it. We imagine this an excellent place to boost a toddler.”

Their three-year-old son Neev is already attending a neighborhood daycare and by all accounts is adjusting very properly after arriving in Sydney throughout a late-February snowstorm. Prabhu’s smile broadened as he recalled the primary phrases his spouse uttered after getting off the airplane on the J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport.

“She requested me if this was the North Pole,” he laughed.

“We adore it right here. It’s a stunning place and it’s not a giant metropolis which is an added benefit. I discover that it’s really a lot hotter in a spot like this. Not climate heat, however individuals heat. It’s an actual group the place all people appears to know all people. For instance, our neighbour is fantastic and has helped us quite a bit.”

Prabhu additionally has excessive reward for the Cape Breton Partnership, a neighborhood non-public sector-led financial improvement company. He mentioned the Partnership helped him and his spouse reduce by way of a lot of the bureaucratic crimson tape that always ties up immigration issues.

“The Partnership has been unbelievable, so very useful,” he mentioned.

Taste on the Water

Taste on the Water proprietor Scott Morrison recalled receiving a resume from Prabhu final autumn. Morrison, who additionally operated Taste Downtown and Taste 19 (Lingan Golf Course) was impressed sufficient that he requested Prabhu to look him up when received to city.

“I received his resume and I used to be impressed, however generally resumes don’t at all times match the individual’s persona,” mentioned the Sydney River native who established the Taste model in 2008 when he opened in downtown Sydney.

“At first, I used to be contemplating him for a kitchen cooking place, however as soon as I met him I immediately thought that he would make an ideal supervisor. He is excellent. He is stuffed with integrity and character. He’s variety and conscientious. He is a good asset to our crew.”

Morrison famous that the Taste restaurant household has been an lively participant within the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program.

A brand new dwelling

Work apart, Prabhu is wanting ahead to life in Cape Breton. To this point, they’ve relied on public transportation. He mentioned the whole lot is accessible within the Ashby neighbourhood the place they reside. Nevertheless, he is aware of the acquisition of a automobile will allow his household to raised discover their new dwelling.

“We’re very a lot wanting ahead to seeing Cape Breton within the autumn — we need to see the autumn colors,” he mentioned.

As for social actions, Prabhu admits he wouldn’t thoughts making an attempt his hand as an actor.

“I don’t learn about making Bollywood however I want to attempt to do one thing with the HAT (Highland Arts Theatre). I might take pleasure in that. I at all times needed to be an actor.”