‘I wanted to fulfil my dad’s wish’: Remo D’souza

If you come across a dish named ‘Hip Hop Chicken Wings’ in the menu of the soon-to-be-opened Ministry Of Dance, you will probably reckon that the person naming the dish had dance on his mind. And you will be right. Because one of the persons behind this all day kitchen and bar is none other than choreographer and filmmaker Remo D’souza. Along with his wife Lizelle D’souza and partners Krunal Shah and Kiran Khabad, Remo’s eatery in Andheri will be a place where food, drinks and music come together in a tripping confluence. 

Telling us more about the venture, Remo says that post his school hours as a kid, he would head straight to the Indian Air Force mess, where his father was a chef. Watching him feed so many people filled his little heart with pride and his interest in food was kindled because of it. “I would see him cooking for 500-600 people. He would often make me taste some dish and seek my opinion. He would talk about opening a restaurant when he retired. I couldn’t help him do that then, but I wanted to fulfil my dad’s wish. This is my way of giving back to him,” he elaborates. 

His dream of stepping into the hospitality business took shape when he met Krunal. “I would keep telling my wife that we have to think of a good concept for the place. When I met Krunal, he told me that he wanted to start a restaurant. I thought this was the right time,” he shares. The brainstorming sessions led to Ministry of Dance, which as Remo says, is where the three Ds — drink, dine and dance — come together. 

With wife Lizelle D’souza 

With his passion for choreography, it’s natural that Remo has tried to bring in the dance element here as well. “Out of the three floors, one will be a dedicated studio, where dance enthusiasts can come together to jam and showcase their talent,” he informs. While he admits that he will not be able to be involved in the day-to-day activities of the restaurant, his wife Lizelle will ensure he stays up-to-date. “This business requires a lot of focus and I won’t be able to do that with my professional commitments, but I will keep a check on everything and will drop by often,” says Remo.