Spotlight
on...
This edition we sit down with Atul Kochhar, twice Michelin-starred restaurateur and founder of Masalchi in Wembley Park
Can you introduce yourself?
Top 3 dishes to try at Masalchi as picked by Atul –
My name is Atul Kochhar. I’m a chef and restaurateur with restaurants across the UK, including Masalchi in Wembley Park.
1
Subz Narial Korma
2
Lahori Chaapein
3
Chicken 65
1
2
Can you give us a bit about your background?
My interest in cooking started from a very early age, growing up in India. My family are from Northern India, but I travelled all around the country picking up many different culinary techniques and cultures. I moved to the UK in 1994 and started at a restaurant called Tamarind. In 2001 I became the first Indian chef to get a Michelin star whilst I was at Tamarind. It was an amazing achievement. I think I didn’t sleep for days afterwards. In 2003 I set up my own restaurant called Benares which earned me my second star in 2007. I continued my journey opening several award-winning restaurants and today my focus is to continue the success of Atul Kochhar Hospitality Group. At Masalchi we celebrate not just one Indian cuisine, but all the regional cuisines across the country. That’s a big difference, because you cannot put the whole country on one plate. You’ve got to explore it and understand how the food is constructed and markets and street vendors are the first place to get inspiration.
06 — Retail
What do you want people to know about Masalchi?
3
Masalchi offers pocket-friendly Indian Street food and my aim is to be able to reach out to more people, so I want this to be an everyday place for any occasion, whenever they’re hungry. Masalchi celebrates the exotic abundance of India’s spices with homely food in a relaxed and sociable setting.
