At a time when cost-cutting is the mantra of every company, e-book seems to be the perfect solution for anyone aspiring to be an author. Food and beverage expert Santosh Koripella (32) has done just that. Cashing in on the technology rich urban India, he has recently launched Food And Beverage Bible, an e-book meant to serve as a guide to professionals and newbies in the hospitality industry. With a career spanning 12 years and across 11 countries, Koripella in his book brings together a repository of experience from the hotel industry. He spoke to BW Online on the potential of an e-book and what inspired him to write this 'Bible'.
What is Food And Beverage Bible all about? What does the book contain? Food and Beverage Bible is about the operational and management aspects of running restaurants and bars — from the five-star luxury hotels to a small restaurant — in a professional and systematic manner, so as to maintain quality and standards and at the same time reduce costs and increase revenue. The main focus of the book is on the practicality: as to how one can apply and use the ideas right away in food and beverage department. Unfortunately, this area has been ignored in many industry related books.
For instance, the 300-page book covers global food and beverage standards, knowledge of food and wine, furniture and equipment used, promotions and marketing aspects to increase revenue, popular menu lists used across the world and many other things.
When did you start writing the 'book' and why?
I had this idea of writing such a book for the last two years. I started writing this book from June 2008 and finished it in December 2008.
There are several reasons for bringing out this book. There are no books available in the market which covers all aspects of food and beverage industry. Most of them cover theoretical aspects ignoring the practical aspects. Second, there is always some confusion regarding concepts and theories related to the industry — issues related to costing, budgets, etc. And I have seen this while working in various countries all over the world. Third, while pursuing a course in this field, I read several books but none of them really helped me when I first entered the industry. Most students of Hotel Management are confused about the practical aspects of the food and beverage department. Moreover, though the basics of food and beverage are the same, some important aspects are different from one country to other. Most hospitality institutes in some countries, including India, are busy training students only to become waiters/supervisors, (which is important) and ignore the management aspect of Hotel Management studies.
The conventional form of publishing book is still a popular one in India. And most people despite access to a computer/phone prefer reading books in the paper format...
I do understand the joy of reading paper book. I have even received many enquiries from people working in hotels in many countries on how can they buy a physical book. However, I have always believed in change and my perception is we should adapt new technology in various spheres of our life, not just limit it to mobile phones.
E-book is easily accessible to someone with computer and internet connection, they do not have to wait to go to a shop and buy, nor to pay and wait for it to be couriered to them. It's cost effective as well as there is no material cost involved and is also environment friendly.
Do you have plans of bringing out a paper version of the book?
As of now it would be in an e-book format. As this is a new concept, we want to give it a chance and some time for people to adapt to this concept. But if there is a requirement and demand from readers we will do a physical book.
You have travelled extensively. Can you tell us some of your interesting culinary related experiences?
There have been countless interesting and adventurous experiences in different countries. For instance, I had a chance to meet and serve Sir Paul McCartney of Beatles for one week in a luxury Island in Seychelles. Learning about the culinary delicacies in countries such as Vietnam was interesting. Well, it would take another book to explain about all my experiences and adventures.
Personalities 
At a time when cost-cutting is the mantra of every company, e-book seems to be the perfect solution for anyone aspiring to be an author. Food and beverage expert Santosh Koripella (32) has done just that. Cashing in on the technology rich urban India, he has recently launched Food And Beverage Bible, an e-book meant to serve as a guide to professionals and newbies in the hospitality industry. With a career spanning 12 years and across 11 countries, Koripella in his book brings together a repository of experience from the hotel industry. He spoke to BW Online on the potential of an e-book and what inspired him to write this 'Bible'. 
When did you start writing the 'book' and why?
