Atul Kochhar
| Atul Kochhar | |
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31 August 1969 Jamshedpur, India |
| Website | http://www.atulkochhar.com/ |
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Atul Kochhar (born 31 August 1969) is an Indian born, British based chef, restaurateur and television personality. Kochhar is one of the most critically acclaimed chefs in Britain for his take on modern Indian cuisine, and was the second Indian chef to receive a Michelin star, awarded to Benares restaurant in London in 2007. Kochhar appears on television shows including Masterchef Goes Large and Great British Menu. He is also a regular guest on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and in 2010 launched his own series: Atul’s Spice Kitchen: Malaysia.
Kochhar was born in Jamshedpur in India and began his cooking career at The Oberoi group of hotels in India (1989-1994). He gained his diploma in Hotel Management from The Indian Institute of Mangement chennai . In June 1993 Kochhar graduated to the five star deluxe Oberoi hotel in New Delhi. Here he worked as a Sous Chef in one of the five restaurants in the hotel supervising a staff of 18 and immediately raising the standards in the kitchen. In January 1994 Kochhar moved to the fine dining restaurant of renowned chef Bernard Kunig. Kochhar continued his cooking career and in January 2001 at the age of 31, Kochhar was the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star. The following year Kochhar extended his profile and experience, joining Marks and Spencer’s as a consultant chef advising on their Indian food range.
Benares Restaurant and Bar opened in May 2003 and has since come to be regarded as one of the world’s best Indian restaurants. Benares is known for modern Indian cuisine with a delicate use of spices to create outstanding dishes. The name Benares originates from the Indian city Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Benares Restaurant and Bar, opened in May 2003 to great critical acclaim and has emerged as one of London’s best restaurants. In 2009 the restaurant endured a kitchen fire that resulted in extensive smoke damage, causing the restaurant to close for three months to undergo a complete interior refurbishment. Benares reopened its doors in January 2010 reinventing the look and features of the space. The restaurant now seats 80 people and claims to have the largest private dining room in Mayfair.
In 2008 Kochhar opened his first restaurant in Ireland, called Ananda – meaning eternal joy –in the Dundrum Town Centre on the outskirts of Dublin. That year he also opened Vatika Restaurant located in Southampton situated on Wickham Vineyard. Vatika focuses on serving cutting edge cuisine using locally sourced and freshly prepared ingredients which gives rise to modern British food with a unique Indian twist. In September 2011 Vatika closed and Kochhar is currently looking at locations to reopen Vatika in London.
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Wikipedia