The second edition of the chef-ranking awards by Culinary Culture, presented by Campo Viejo, unfolded at W Goa on September 21
By
Karo Christine Kumar |
Published 27.09.23, 06:27 PM
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#1 REGI MATHEW: Top chef Regi Mathew (second from right) is credited with bringing Kerala’s cuisine under the national spotlight. He runs Kappa Chakka Kandhari, one of the best restaurants in Chennai and Bangalore, and has opened hundreds of others in his three-decade-long career. ‘I dedicate this award to my mother and not only my mother but all mothers,’ Mathew proudly said. For a former Taj chef to make a transition from hotel recipes to homestyle cooking must have been challenging but he has aced it. Chef has been brought up on the belief that happiness is homemade and every bite should bring back memories of your mother’s cooking. Chef Manish Mehrotra, the winner of Food Superstars 2022, presented Mathew with the award
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#2 HIMANSHU SAINI: Himanshu has emerged as one of the world’s best regarded Indian chefs, proudly representing India as the only native-born chef at the helm of a two Michelin star restaurant — Tresind Studio in Dubai. Yet, Himanshu remains deeply connected to his roots, and at Tresind Mumbai, the food stands as a testament to his global stature. He started his culinary career in Delhi under the tutelage of chef Manish Mehrotra of Indian Accent
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#3 HUSSAIN SHAHZAD: After graduation, Hussain started his career with the Oberoi Group of Hotels as a senior kitchen executive at Frangipani in Mumbai. In 2014, he ventured to New York, where he worked at the renowned Eleven Madison Park restaurant. Even after his years abroad, Hussain always felt a strong pull to return to India. So in 2015, he joined The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai as sous chef. Two years later, he became the executive chef at O Pedro, and his latest triumph is Veronica’s, also in Mumbai
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#4 JOHNSON EBENEZER: At number 4, Johnson Ebenezer was the highest new entry in the second edition of Food Superstars. He has worked all over the world and runs Farmlore, a farm-to-table concept in Bengaluru, which is set on 37 acres and has only 18 seats, turning it into one of the city’s most talked about restaurants. ‘Processing the knowledge in a kitchen is a ginormous task. Put your head down, work hard with focus, understand the nuances of a kitchen, use common sense, and make pressure your ally to bring out the best in you. Have fun because you will do it for the rest of your life.’
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#5 NIYATI RAO: With experience at renowned restaurants like Wasabi in Mumbai and Noma in Copenhagen, Rao is a true Mumbaikar at heart. Her ingredient-focused restaurant, Ekaa, is nestled within the 150-year-old Kitab Mahal in Mumbai's historic Fort district. Ekaa presents a tasting menu, where each dish celebrates a single ingredient, reflecting the learnings she gained during her experiences around the world
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#6 JAI PRAKASH SINGH: JP Singh has been the low-profile executive chef of ITC Hotel’s Bukhara, and also oversees the Peshawri chain across India. He is widely recognised as India’s master of the tandoor. The list of people he has cooked for includes the who’s who of the world like Barack Obama, David Cameron, Tony Blair, Paolo Gentiloni, Vladimir Putin and heads of states
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#7 VARUN TOTLANI: ‘These awards go beyond mere numbers; they signify the strength of our community,’ felt Varun, who ranked #7. Varun, currently holding the position of head chef at Mumbai’s Masque, has been with the restaurant since its inception, bringing about a transformation in its culinary direction. He told My Kolkata: ‘What truly sets our restaurant apart is the incredible team and the people behind it. Our mission is to celebrate India’s rich culture, ingredients, traditions, and cuisine. With everyone united in this vision, that’s the magic of Masque’
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#8 ALEX SANCHEZ: Chef Alex Sanchez is a culinary maverick with a story that spans continents and cultures. Born in the US, he found his calling in the heart of India, where he has not only embraced but also contributed to the food scene. He gained recognition during his tenure at The Table in Mumbai, with his innovative approach to global cuisine. However, it was his deep-seated love for Italian fare that led him to embark on a culinary adventure of his own. In 2017, Alex opened Americano. What sets it apart is its commitment to serving ‘real’ Italian food – dishes that hark back to the kitchens of Italian grandmothers
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#9 NOORESHA KABLY: At the age of 45, Nooresha Kably made a radical career shift. After the delivery kitchen Sushi Koi took off, she trained in Japan and in 2018, created one of India’s best modern Japanese restaurants in Mumbai called Izumi, with a successful branch in Goa. Nooresha has achieved what many consider a feat – doing this without the backing of a hotel chain and with limited history and experience in the food industry
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#10 ZHANG HONGSHENG: Wok specialist Zhang is probably the one chef on this list who is not well known outside of a small circle of Chinese food purists. For 11 years now, he has headed a team of chefs from the Chinese mainland who make authentic dishes at The China Kitchen in Hyatt Regency Delhi
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A group picture of the Top 30 Chefs and winners of special awards
