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{{Short description|Indian pastry chef and businesswoman (born 1986)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox chef
| honorific_prefix =
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| image = Pooja image 1.jpg
| image_size =
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| caption = Chef Pooja Dhingra at the Le15 Central Kitchen
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1986}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], India
| death_date =
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| education = [[Bombay Scottish School, Mahim]] [[César Ritz Colleges|César Ritz College]]<br/>[[Le Cordon Bleu]]
| spouse =
| style = [[French cuisine|French]]
| ratings = 
| restaurants = Le15 Patisserie
| prevrests = 
| television = 
| awards = 
| website = {{URL|le15.com}}
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}}
'''Pooja Dhingra''' (born 1986) is an Indian [[pastry chef]] and [[businesswoman]]. She opened India's first [[macaron]] store and is the owner of bakery chain Le15 Patisserie that specialises in macarons and a host of French desserts.<ref name=bbc/>

==Biography==
Dhingra was born into a family interested in gastronomy. Both her father and her brother Vaarun Dhingra are restaurant owners. She attended the famous-[[Bombay Scottish School, Mahim|Bombay Scottish School]] in Mumbai. When still young, Dhingra learnt the art of baking from her aunt.<ref name=sp/> She initially enrolled at a law school in Mumbai before quitting in 2004, switching careers to attend a hospitality and management course at the [[Cesar Ritz Colleges|César Ritz school]] in [[Le Bouveret]], Switzerland.<ref name=sp/> Three years later, she began training at [[Le Cordon Bleu]] in Paris.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|last1=Pandya|first1=Kinjal|title=India's 'macaron queen'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31292963|accessdate=16 February 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=15 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sharma|first1=Milan|title=Macaroons make Pooja Dhingra's cash register ring|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-11/news/29761050_1_french-cuisine-tarts-flavours|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726084247/https://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-11/news/29761050_1_french-cuisine-tarts-flavours|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-07-26|accessdate=16 February 2015|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=11 July 2011}}</ref> There she came across her first macaron at one of [[Pierre Hermé]]'s patisseries.<ref>{{cite news|last1=K.|first1=Bhumika|title=Miss Macaron|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/miss-macaron/article6130145.ece|accessdate=16 February 2015|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=19 June 2014}}</ref> After completing her course, Dhingra returned to Mumbai and opened her first store in March 2010 with the single goal of creating Parisian styled culinary experiences in India.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Chanda|first1=Kathakali|title=Pooja Dhingra: Bringing Macarons to Mumbai|url=http://forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30/pooja-dhingra-bringing-macarons-to-mumbai/37179/1|accessdate=16 February 2015|magazine=[[Forbes India]]|date=19 February 2014}}</ref> In 2016, Dhingra expanded her enterprise, opening a new location called Le15 Café in South Mumbai. While signature desserts named after French women will be featured, the cafe's menu includes simple, savoury food main course dishes.<ref name="Vij (2016)">{{cite news|last1=Vij|first1=Gauri|title=Where sweet and savoury meet|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-mumbai/where-sweet-and-savoury-meet/article8221502.ece|accessdate=17 July 2016|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=11 February 2016|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

When she opened her Mumbai business in 2010, she had a staff of only two. By October 2014, she had as many as 42. Her ambition is to open establishments throughout India.<ref name=sp>{{cite web|url=http://www.cesarritzcolleges.edu/media/swiss_education_group/document/0/cesar-ritz-alumni-international-recruitment-forum.pdf|title=La femme qui régale tout Bollywood|author=Pirolt, Sabine|publisher=L'Hebdo: Cesar Ritz Colleges|date=30 October 2014|accessdate=18 July 2016|page=61|language=French|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816165752/http://www.cesarritzcolleges.edu/media/swiss_education_group/document/0/cesar-ritz-alumni-international-recruitment-forum.pdf|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

She has been featured in national dailies and is a regular in fashion and lifestyle glossies not just for her abilities in the kitchen, but also as a dynamic businesswoman. Some consider her an inspiration to women. she was selected by Forbes India for inclusion in their ‘30 Under 30’ achievers list for 2014 and the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list.

She has published two books, a best seller (in India) on baking.<ref name=bbc/> and The Wholesome Kitchen

She joined Chef [[Vikas Khanna]] and Chef [[Ranveer Brar]] as a judge of [[MasterChef India – Hindi (season 8)|''MasterChef India – Hindi 8'']] airing on [[Sony Entertainment Television]].
<ref name= "India Today">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/television/reality-tv/story/masterchef-india-pooja-dhingra-joins-chef-vikas-ranveer-as-co-judge-in-new-season-2426521-2023-08-25|title='MasterChef India': Pooja Dhingra joins Vikas, Ranveer as judge in new season|website=India Today|date=25 August 2023 }}</ref>

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book| title=The Big Book of Treats| first1=Pooja |last1=Dhingra |author-mask=0 |publisher=Penguin Books India| year=2014 |isbn=978-0143422686 }}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Twitter}}
* [http://www.le15.co.in Le 15]
* [https://penguin.co.in/book_author/pooja-dhingra/ Pooja Dhingra] at [[Penguin India]]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dhingra, Pooja}}
[[Category:Date of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian chefs]]
[[Category:Pastry chefs]]
[[Category:Indian cookbook writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Alumni of Le Cordon Bleu]]

Pooja Dhingra - Revision history

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