Niyati Rao Head Chef & Partner, Ekaa Chef Niyati’s travels, and culinary background served as served as the inspiration for Ekaa. Prior to opening her own restaurant, Chef Niyati trained at the Taj Group of Hotels and went on to work with some of the top restaurants in the city including The Zodiac Grill, Wasabi by Morimoto, and A Reverie in Goa to name a few. She even had a stint at Noma, Copenhagen which is recognised as one of best restaurants in the world. She finally found her way back to Mumbai in 2020 and decided to use her experience at Noma to explore local ingredients that can be used in a way that impacted the Indian culinary industry. After much research and thought, she conceptualized a restaurant whose cuisine is interpreted entirely by ingredients, and not any cuisine. Rather, the cuisine would be inspired by people, cultures, seasons, childhood memories, places travelled and the journey to this point of everyone at Ekaa. Niyati, along with an old colleague, set out to venture to fulfil her passion towards the Indian dining experience. After one and a half years’ worth of hard work, Ekaa finally born. “Time and the freedom to do whatever you want is luxury to me.” Panchali Mahendra Panchali’s upbringing was nomadic, due to the transferable nature of her father’s job, but it was punctuated with excellence in academics, art, and sports, which culminated in her selection to be a part of India team for basketball at 16. Additionally, Panchali possessed an inherent acumen for design and art, particularly in the realm of charcoal painting. Her true calling, however, was in the world of hospitality. Graduating as a gold medallist from University of Huddersfield, UK and IHM Aurangabad India, both in Hospitality Honors, Panchali got selected for a scholarship program and received her postgraduation certificate in hospitality from the Oberoi Group of Hotels (OCLD). With more than two decades of experience, Panchali is a zealous advocate of the food and beverage industry, having worked on close to 70 restaurants across the globe. In 2017, she opened Atelier House Hospitality under the guidance of Mr. Ahmass Fakahany, CEO and Owner of Altamarea Group and AHH. Under Panchali’s leadership, Atelier House Hospitality has cemented its place as a high-quality “Don’t take life too seriously, everything pans out.” boutique player in the market, both through developing and conceptualizing locally grown brands and bringing in international brands. Panchali has provided consulting and operational support for the local market and expanded a home grown brand internationally as well. However, Panchali is also a steadfast advocate for women’s growth and development in the industry, actively participating in key mentorship programs. Panchali’s morning ritual begins by walking her dog, and ends with her cooking a meal every night for her family. She says, “My most important possession are my books, I have 100’s of them. I’m still an old school person, my culinary books that have added great value to my life.” President, Atelier Hospitality 68 | | 69
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