Monett Chauhan

karma: Making Your Ancestors Proud Maneet Chauhan Celebrity Chef

Compiled By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

Celebrity Chef Maneet Chauhan and her husband and business partner, Vivek Deora, who own and manage Morph Hospitality Group have taken Nashville by storm at a break-neck pace with a unique blend of traditional Indian cuisine with a southern touch. Their four local restaurants and two breweries may have very well been located elsewhere, were it not for Karma. Not Karma so much in the metaphysical sense, but Karma, their son, who selected Nashville as his birthplace arriving three months prematurely while his parents were opening their first Nashville restaurant Chauhan Ale & Masala House on November 18, 2014.

In a recent Good Grit Magazine article by Nicole Letts, the former Food Network Chopped judge said her family’s original plan was to open the Nashville restaurant and split their time between New York and Nashville. When her son, Karma, made his early appearance, the plans changed. Maneet is quoted as saying, “If he’s so adamant on being a Nashvillian, who are we to drag him from here?” The family packed up their New York apartment and moved to the Music City, describing this decision as their “best move ever.”

The Morph Hospitality Group owns Chauhan Ale & Masala House, Chaatable, Tansuo and the Mockingbird. Further, they are partners in Franklin’s Mantra Artisan Ales and Steel Barrel Brewery. Local developer Moni Advani is credited for showcasing Nashville to Maneet and Vivek, who both fell in love with the city.

The Chauhan Ale & Masala House website notes the restaurant has garnered numerous kudos including Best New Restaurant, Best Lunch Spot, and Best Cocktails along with recognition by Zagat, Open Table and USA Today, among others.

On November 8, 2018, Eater Nashville article penned by Della Jo Ramsay, Maneet described the warmth with which she and her husband Vivek were greeted by Nashville. She said, “Nashville embraced us from the start. We were blown away by the love and support we received and wanted to give back by providing diverse restaurants that fills gaps in the city’s culinary landscape.” The Food Network’s Iron Chef lists one of Maneet’s quotes as, “I could easily pen an entire novel on why I love this city, and believe me, I am a lifelong advocate of the Big Apple, yet somehow Nashville weaved its magic around me.”

Maneet’s biography on the Food Network’s website notes that her road to Nashville began more than 20 years ago when she graduated at the top of her class from India’s top culinary and hotel management school, Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration. Thereafter, she excelled as an intern at some of India’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants before leaving her native land to attend the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York City, New York. She credits the CIA as foundational to her incredible ascent in the culinary field. Sweeping all class awards and graduating with high honors, Maneet made the most of her east coast experiences and moved to Chicago besting 40 male competitors for the Executive Chef position at