Farrokh Khambata
Farrokh Khambata (born June 30) is an Indian entrepreneur, restaurateur, chef and caterer. He is the founder and CEO of "Catering & Allied", the company which owns and operates four fine dine restaurants in Mumbai: Joss, Umame, Amadeus and Café at the NCPA. He also runs a very successful, elite, high end catering business which specializes in celebrity catering and in April 2015, catered to the Prime Minister of India, Hon. Shri Narendra Modi.[1][2]
Early life
Farrokh Khambata was born and raised in a Parsi family in Mumbai. His parents were accountants in the financial sector. He was educated at St. Mary’s School, ICSE, Mumbai.
Khambata finished school at the age of 16 and pursued a career in science at K.C. College. After graduating from junior college he took up architecture, but soon dropped out and joined the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai to formalize his love for cooking.[3]
Career
After graduating from Catering College, Khambata travelled to Asia and Europe to learn about different cuisines and spent his formative time training at renowned French restaurant Au Normandie and Pierre Gagniere Paris. He then sought culinary knowledge in the Far East, in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam amongst other places.
Upon his return to India, he started his own catering company called ‘Catering and Allied’ operating out of a makeshift kitchen in his parent’s home. As business grew Farrokh bought a 300-square foot central kitchen in 2002 to cater to the growing demands of his business.
In 2004, Khambata opened Joss, in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai, specializing in Japanese, Malaysian, Balinese and Indonesian dishes, he found a niche in providing guests a variety of modern Far East cuisine. In a very short span of time, Joss became a landmark in the city for fine Far Eastern Cuisine.
After the tremendous success of “Joss” and “Catering & Allied”, Farrokh then presented “Amadeus” at NCPA, the city’s cultural hub in July 2011. “Amadeus” with its new age Mediterranean, Levantine & Spanish cuisine was another first in the city.
Then came the classy yet casual “Café at the NCPA” in January 2012. This is an alfresco space visualized by Khambata to offer theatre goers an opportunity to enjoy a fine culinary experience across diverse cuisines in an informal, culturally infused ambience.
September 2012, saw Farrokh go back to his original love - Far Eastern cuisine. After several trips to the region and research, experimentation and interaction with chefs from Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore, Khambata presented yet another labour of love “Umame” at the heritage structure of Eros Cinema, Mumbai. “Umame” is a true showpiece of fine food, refined tastes and stylish ambience.
In August 2014, after the tremendous success of Joss, Kala Ghoda, Khambata, finally forayed into the suburbs of Mumbai and launched Joss, Santacruz, thereby reaching out to an untapped market with his much sought after Far East cuisine.[4]
Awards & Accolades
Personal awards
All India chef competition 1990 - Winner[5]
Inter catering competition 1991 - Winner
Restaurant awards
Times Food Award 2008 Best Caterers- Continental - Italian & Sushi - Catering and Allied
Times Food Award 2010 Best Oriental & Japanese - Joss
Times Food Award 2012 Best Sushi - Catering and Allied
Times Food award 2013 best oriental & Japanese - Umame
Burrp (certified) PROMPT SERVICE, SUPERB VARIETY AND IRRESISTIBLE FOOD SOUTH EAST ASIAN FEAST (2010) - JOSS
Times Now (The Foodie Awards) Best Debut Restaurant (2013) - Umame
Times Food Award 2012 for Best Spanish cuisine - Amadeus
Times Food Award 2012 for Best Lebanese cuisine – Amadeus
Times Food Award 2012 for Best international cuisine restaurant - Amadeus
Zomato User’s Recommendation for Nightlife and Clubbing 2014 - Amadeus
Times Food Award 2013 Best Spanish – Amadeus
Zomato User’s Choice for *Catching Up* The Connoisseur’s Guide to Eating Out 2013 - Cafe at the NCPA
The Miele Guide Top 500 *Amadeus*as one of Asia’s Top 500 finest restaurant’s the Miele Guide 2013
Times Food Award 2014 for Best Spanish cuisine - Amadeus
Times Food Award 2015 for Best Lebanese cuisine - Amadeus
Times Food Award 2015 for Best Noteworthy Newcomer - Japanese and Oriental cusine - Joss
References
- ↑ Sangghvi, Malavika (02/04/2015). "What PM Modi will have for lunch today". Mid Day. Mid Day. Retrieved 2 April 2015. Check date values in:
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(help) - ↑ Dalal, Phorum (24 August 2014). "A candid chat with restaurateur Farrokh Khambata". Mid Day. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ↑ Dalal, Phorum (24 August 2014). "A candid chat with restaurateur Farrokh Khambata". Mid Day. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ↑ Dalal, Phorum (24 August 2014). "A candid chat with restaurateur Farrokh Khambata". Mid Day. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ↑ Dalal, Phorum (24 August 2014). "A candid chat with restaurateur Farrokh Khambata". Mid Day. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- "Farrokh Khambata's latest – 'Umame'". The Times of India. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- Mishra, Manish (3 August 2014). "Farrokh Khambata speaks about food, cooking, his new restaurant and life". Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
Further reading
- Bruyn, Pippa de; Bain, Dr. Keith; Allardice, David; Joshi, Shonar (2010). Frommer’s India. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Publishing, Inc. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-470-55610-8. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
External links
- Catering & Allied
- Profile at jossrestaurant.com