Garima Arora Chef & Owner, Restaurant Gaa Garima Arora is the Chef-Owner of Restaurant Gaa and the Indian Eatery & Wine Bar, Bangkok, Thailand. She is also the founder of Food Forward India; a not-for-profit initiative aiming to explore and catalogue the immense diversity of the cuisines of India. Her passion for the culinary world began in her family’s humble kitchen in Mumbai. A journalist, Arora made the switch to the culinary world with a short cooking and studying stint in Paris, France. In 2018, Arora became the first Indian female chef to earn a Michelin Star at the age of 32. In the following year, she was voted Asia’s Best Female Chef 2019 while her restaurant Gaa officially entered the ranks of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, debuting at No. 16 with the Highest New Entry Award. In 2022, Arora was the winner of Michelin Guide Young Chef Award. To date, she is the only Indian female chef to win the Michelin Star. In 2023, Arora debuted as a judge on the popular cooking reality show “MasterChef India” Season 7, becoming the first female judge to participate in the show. Today, Arora is known for applying traditional Indian cooking “To me, that’s the most luxurious thing one can have in this day and age where things, moments are conveniently kind of lying together.” techniques onto locally sourced ingredients to create a unique dining experience. She is a strong advocate of the relevancy and resourcefulness of Indian cooking techniques in the modern kitchen. Her mantras for a successful life are hard work, discipline and your entourage. Two of her favourite drinks start with C, “Well, the two Cs depends on the time of the day. It’s Chai or champagne. Both work either on night or day. It doesn’t matter. Chai and Champagne. There’s only two favourite drinks.” Gautama Datta Gautama Dutta is an alumnus of Lawrence School, Sanawar and the National Defence Academy. A former combat veteran, Dutta is also an Asian medallist in yachting, a circumnavigator, and holds a world record for sailing at the highest altitude. He has been actively involved in the yachting business for the last two decades. He founded Marine Solutions, India’s leading luxury yacht retailer, and has successfully diversified into other related marine business spaces of yacht charter and marinas. Based out of Mumbai, Dutta effectively runs business operations, hands-on style, a skill gained from his military experience. He currently heads the prominent yacht charter businesses of Burgess Yachts and Oceanaire Yachting and has successfully garnered an audience in India of those who seek luxurious sea getaways. “Luxury is the very best in creativity and craftsmanship.” Executive Director, Marine Solutions; Chief Representative, Burgess Yachts India 62 | | 63
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