Chef Tushar Tondvalkar brings over a decade of culinary experience, having staged at the Michelin-acclaimed restaurants Gaggan and Gaa in Bangkok, and worked in several of Vancouver’s well-known kitchens, including The Fish House in Stanley Park, Bauhaus, Blue Water Cafe, and as head chef at Mumbai Local. Over the past year, you may have experienced Chef Tushar’s cooking at pop-ups across the city or through his brand, The Indian Pantry, known for its simmering sauces and spice blends. Owning a restaurant has always been his dream, and now Chef Tushar is ready to welcome you into his culinary world with Kavita—his first restaurant, named after his mother, opening this fall.
From perfecting age-old techniques to adapting them for a North American kitchen, she built a thriving online community of over 100,000 people who connect through cultural cuisine. To her, keeping Punjabi flavors on the table matters most—whether it’s through a classic dish, a creative fusion, or a quick weeknight meal.
Chef Rehana Parveen, an Indian pastry chef with a deep-rooted passion for desserts, began her culinary journey after transitioning from finance. She started as a management trainee at Holiday Inn Goa under Chef Ranjeet Pandey and quickly excelled in the pastry department.
Aanal Kotak, an acclaimed chef from Ahmedabad, India, is making waves in Vaughan, Canada, with her latest venture, The Secret Kitchen. Renowned for her inventive approach to Indian cuisine, Aanal blends traditional flavors with global influences, creating a menu that delights and surprises.
Baldeep Singh & Kanwardeep Ahluwalia, founders and head chefs at Sirka Gourmet Takeout, are the driving forces behind the restaurant’s success in Surrey. Baldeep, a first-generation chef, believes in merging traditional techniques with creative flair, while Kanwardeep views cooking as both an art and a science.
A believer in the “swasth raho-mast raho” philosophy, Ritu Khemka is a true proponent of healthy living and healthy eating. A simple desire to document her recipes to pass them on to her daughters as her legacy, blossomed into a passion and a popular food blog.
