Atul Kochhar: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox chef <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox chef/doc]] -->

'''Atul Kochhar''' (born 31 August 1969) is an Indian-born, British based chef, restaurateur, and television personality. His unique talent has changed the way people perceive and experience [[Indian cuisine]]. Atul was one of the first two Indian chefs to receive a [[Michelin star]], awarded in [[London]] in 2001 whilst at Tamarind. His contemporary style and love for traditional cooking led him to open his own restaurant Benares, which won him a second Michelin star in 2007. Since then he has opened numerous successful, award-winning restaurants; Sindhu and Hawkyns in [[Buckinghamshire]] and Indian Essence in [[Kent]]. In 2018, Atul left Benares to pursue other independent ventures, most recently Kanishka in [[Mayfair]], London which opened March 2019 and another new London site has been announced. Kochhar makes regular appearances on television shows including ''[[Saturday Kitchen]]'', ''[[MasterChef (British TV series)|Masterchef Goes Large]],'' ''[[Great British Menu]], [[BBC Two|BBC2]]'s [[Million Pound Menu]] and [[Saturday Morning with James Martin]].'' Additionally, Atul has written a number of successful [[cookbook]]s; Simple Indian; Fish, Indian Style; Curries of the World and 30 Minute Curries.

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 Institute of Hotel Management [[Chennai]].<ref name="atulkochhar.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.atulkochhar.com|title=Atul Kochhar – The home of 2 Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar|website=www.atulkochhar.com}}</ref> In June 1993 Kochhar graduated to the five star deluxe Oberoi Hotel in [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oberoihotels.com/about_us/group_profile.asp|title=Profile – Oberoi Hotels & Resorts|website=www.oberoihotels.com}}</ref> Here he worked as a [[Sous-chef|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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/food-and-drink/atul-kochar/|title=Interview: Atul Kochhar, Michelin-starred Indian chef|date=24 February 2015}}</ref>

Kochhar was let go from London's Benares Restaurant in 2018 after sending a series of [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] tweets to actress [[Priyanka Chopra]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/atul-kochhar-no-longer-employed-by-mayfairs-benares|title=Atul Kochhar 'no longer employed' by Mayfair's Benares|date=8 August 2018|website=The Caterer}}</ref> Atul Kochhar's contract with [[JW Marriott Marquis Dubai|JW Marriott Marquis Hotel]] in Dubai was also terminated following these posts on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/celebrity-chef-atul-kochhar-soup-anti-islam-remarks-180613140141381.html|title=Celebrity chef Atul Kochhar in a soup for anti-Islam remarks|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Safi |first1=Michael |title=Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar sacked over anti-Islam tweet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jun/13/dubai-hotel-sacks-chef-atul-kochhar-anti-islam-tweet |website=The Guardian |accessdate=29 May 2020 |date=13 June 2018}}</ref>

Kochhar opened restaurant Kanishka in March 2019 on [[London]]'s [[Maddox Street]]. The Restaurant showcases [[Indian cuisine]] from the easternmost region of India, the [[Northeast India|Seven Sister States]]. It spans two floors with room for over 120 diners, along with an outside terrace and private garden room.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kanishkarestaurant.co.uk/|title=Indian Fine Dining Restaurant {{!}} Kanishka {{!}} Mayfair|website=Kanishka Restaurant, Mayfair|language=en-US|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref>

Kochhar also has three other restaurants. Sindhu at The Compleat Angler in [[Marlow, Buckinghamshire|Marlow]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sindhurestaurant.co.uk/|title=Sindhu Restaurant|language=en-US|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref> Hawkyns at The Crown Inn in [[Amersham]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hawkynsrestaurant.co.uk/|title=Hawkyns by Atul Kochhar|language=en-US|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref> and Indian Essence in [[Petts Wood]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianessence.co.uk/|title=Indian Essence|language=en-US|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref>

 

A further London restaurant has recently been announced to open in Westminster late 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/restaurants/mathura-atul-kochhar-restaurant-westminster-fire-station-a4139011.html|title=Atul Kochhar to open new restaurant Mathura in former fire station|date=10 May 2019|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref>

Atul has been awarded a number of accolades including receiving an [[Honorary degree|Honorary Doctorate]] from [[University of Southampton]] in recognition of his work and contribution to the culinary industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotelnewsme.com/catering-news-me/a-tale-of-dedication-and-innovation/|title=A Tale of Dedication and Innovation|date=2 May 2015|website=Hotel News ME}}</ref> Kochhar is involved with many charities, in particular [[Barnardo's]], [[Great Ormond Street Hospital]] and [[Save the Children]], and an Ambassador for Find Your Feet, a small charity that supports poverty stricken rural areas by developing successful poverty-relief programmes that encourage self-sufficiency and independence.<ref name="atulkochhar.com"/>

Kochhar has been featured in numerous television series; most recently [[BBC Two|BBC2]]'s [[Million Pound Menu]] where he invested in new dining concepts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2J950QqyLhD37HrHGm1lQbr/whos-who-fred-and-the-investors|title=BBC Two – My Million Pound Menu – Who's Who? Fred and the Investors|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref> He previously presented a series called Curry on with Atul Kochhar on the [[B4U (network)|B4U network]] and a series on [[Malaysia]] called Kochhar's Spice Kitchen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b4utv.com/curryon/index.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=12 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617163015/http://www.b4utv.com/curryon/index.html |archivedate=17 June 2012}}</ref> Kochhar appeared in [[MasterChef (British TV series)|Masterchef Goes Large]], season two and BBC2's [[Great British Menu]] in a bid to create a menu in honour of the [[Elizabeth II|Queen's]] 80th Birthday. Furthermore, he also appeared in [[Market Kitchen]] and [[Saturday Kitchen]] series 1–3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/food/chefs/atul_kochhar|title=Atul Kochhar|publisher= BBC}}</ref>