Rachel Goenka

Rachel Goenka
Born (1988-04-06) April 6, 1988
Nationality Indian
Occupation Chef & Owner, The Sassy Spoon
Known for The Sassy Spoon & Sassy Teaspoon

Rachel Goenka (born April 6, 1988) is the founder and owner of award winning restaurant The Sassy Spoon in Mumbai. She is the daughter of media mogul, Viveck Goenka, Chairman of Indian Express Limited and Zita Goenka. A young and seasoned entrepreneur, Goenka is best known for her innovative delicacies and trademark desserts. Her motto is ‘Food is the one love you will never fall out of’.

Education

Goenka graduated with a double degree in Journalism and English from The Pennsylvania State University. She then attended The Ballymaloe Cookery School[1][2] in Ireland, where she trained under celebrity chef Rachel Allen, and then moved to Le Cordon Bleu in London to specialize in patisserie

Career

Goenka began her restaurant career by establishing her flagship restaurant, The Sassy Spoon, Nariman Point, in 2012. The multi-awarded winning restaurant is regarded as one of Mumbai's premier gourmet eateries and is renowned for its eclectic menu, indulgent desserts and vintage-chic decor. It is also one of the few independent restaurants in India that is regularly hand picked to participate in Gout De France,[3] a global culinary extravaganza that celebrates French cuisine, launched by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Laurent Fabius, under the aegis of Chef Alain Ducasse.


Her second restaurant, The Sassy Spoon, Bandra,[4][5] a casual all-day dining concept was set-up in Bandra, has been re-launched in a sassier avatar this October. This year also marked the launch of Sassy Teaspoon,[6] [7] a quaint bakery & patisserie in Juhu which has also found its presence in Nariman Point along with an outlet in The Sassy Spoon, Bandra. As part of her expansion plans, Goenka intends to open The Sassy Spoon in Koregaon Park, Pune as well as a new concept in Pune, Maharashtra in the coming months.

Other Achievements

Being the daughter of the Chairman of the Indian Express Newspaper, Viveck Goenka, Goenka had initially pursued a career in journalism. She is a published journalist from Reuters, and writes features regularly for magazines like Hi Blitz, Upper Crust and BBC Good Food. She is currently adding a new feather to her cap with a book on Goan cuisine that celebrates her heritage. Rachel has been recently featured by Cosmopolitan India amongst the top 20 women achievers of the country who are in their 20's.[8]

She has been involved in a range of charitable projects around the country, including hosting celebrity Chef Rachel Allen and the Irish NGO-Goal,[9] for their work in India and ensuring that the proceeds from the restaurant would extend towards support the girl child movement. She has also been associated with Pall Can Care in New Delhi and Akansha in Mumbai. Goenka was recently invited to speak at LBS Family Business Conference 2016 in London on the topic of ‘Innovation in the next generation’.

Personal life

Goenka married her high-school sweetheart Karan Khetarpal, a Dubai based banker in 2014.[10][11] The wedding took place at Jodhpur, the Umaid Bhavan Palace. The celebrations included a vibrant Sangeet at Luni Fort, a church wedding, a Hindu wedding and a grand reception at Umaid Bhawan. She currently splits her time between Dubai and Mumbai. An ardent canine lover, she loves giant breeds and has eight dogs. She also shares a love for shoes with all womankind with an enviable footwear collection. Besides having a background in food, Rachel is an avid shopper and loves fashion. Being a Dior junkie, that is her go- to brand for bags. Rachel's fashion sense always depends on her mood - she can go from sexy and glamorous to feminine and sophisticated depending on how she feels and experimenting on different looks and styles. A few of her favourite Indian designers include Pankaj and Nidhi, TarunTahiliani and Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Her wardrobe is a fun mix of high street fashion and luxury brands![12]

Awards and Notable Work

Within a year of launch, The Sassy Spoon was awarded "Best independent Restaurant - Critics Choice" by TimeOut India in 2014.[13] The following year (2015), the restaurant was awarded "Best European & Mediterranean Restaurant" and "Most Romantic Restaurant" in Mumbai and won a culinary award from the food listing giant Zomato.[14]

References

  1. "Rachel Goenka". Darina Allen's Ballymaloe Cookery School. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  2. "Alumni Stories - Rachel Goenka". Darina Allen's Ballymaloe Cookery School. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  3. "Goût de France with The Sassy Spoon – Food Bloggers Association, India". thefbai.com. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  4. "Verve Bites: The Sassy Spoon". Verve Magazine. 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  5. "Preview: The Sassy Spoon, Bandra - Know Your City - Burrp". burrp.com/. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  6. "Sassy Teaspoon – VOGUE India". VOGUE India. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  7. "Forbes India Magazine - How pastry chefs are cooking up a dessert storm". forbesindia.com. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  8. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10111883164390194&set=pb.9388355.-2207520000.1480419490.&type=3&theater
  9. Bangera, Anisha. "WH Exclusive: Rachel Allen On Food And India". Whats Hot. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  10. "WeddingSutra Editor's Blog". weddingsutra.com. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  11. "Women of steel - Mumbai Mirror -". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  12. http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/health-lifestyle/High-heel-confidential/articleshow/55217900.cms
  13. "And Then There Was Food". The Indian Express. Indianexpress.com. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  14. Pereira, Beulah (16 October 2015). "Dna exclusive: Why Sassy Spoon rocks the culinary boat". DNA. Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 2 May 2016.

14. http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/health-lifestyle/High-heel-confidential/articleshow/55217900.cms [1]

External links

  1. http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/health-lifestyle/High-heel-confidential/articleshow/55217900.cms
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