For food lovers in Kolkata, Christmas has come early this year. By five days to be precise. On the evening of December 20, at an exclusive event presented by My Kolkata and Glenburn Culture Club, Roni Mazumdar will discuss his journey from Kolkata boy to Michelin man in conversation with Vir Sanghvi, the most authoritative voice on food in India.
The conversation will take place at the Glenburn Penthouse (on Russell Street), 7pm onwards, in what will be the first-ever opportunity for Kolkatans to hear about Mazumdar’s revolutionary approach to Indian food in the US, in his own words. A lot of food for thought indeed (quite literally)!
Mazumdar is visiting the city for a few days this winter with his wife Sreoshy Banerjea, an award-winning urban designer who is presently the executive director of the New York City Public Design Commission and has been instrumental in shaping the look and feel of several parts of New York with her architectural expertise. Mazumdar, who moved from Kolkata to the US with his parents when he was 13, was an engineering student who found his calling through food. Mazumdar’s first restaurant in New York (in Brooklyn) was called Masalawala & Sons. Eleven years after he had opened it for his dad to occupy himself after retirement, the all-day Indian cafe and pantry is one of six restaurants run by Mazumdar in the US.
Recently, Mazumdar’s south Indian restaurant Semma earned a Michelin star, making it the only Indian restaurant in the US to hold that honour in 2022. Semma also ranked second in the New York Times’ top 10 new restaurants of 2022 in NYC.
Recently, Mazumdar’s south Indian restaurant Semma earned a Michelin star, making it the only Indian restaurant in the US to hold that honour in 2022. Semma also ranked second in the New York Times’ top 10 new restaurants of 2022 in NYC.
Mazumdar’s other food ventures include Kebabwala (Indian kebabs), Dhamaka (provincial Indian cuisine), Rowdy Rooster (Indian spiced fried chicken) and Adda Indian Canteen (Indian street food). Mazumdar’s food empire is managed by Unapologetic Foods, where he is the CEO. As one of India’s leading food representatives in the US, Mazumdar’s aim is to democratise Indian cuisine without neglecting regional and local delicacies or altering the peculiarities of Indian food to cater to a Western palate.
The Glenburn Penthouse on Russell Street will be the venue for the event
At the Glenburn Penthouse, entrusted with extracting valuable nuggets from Mazumdar will be Vir Sanghvi, who is no stranger to the world of food or Mazumdar’s achievements in the industry. Born in London and educated at Oxford University, Sanghvi is an award-winning journalist, writer, television personality and author besides being India’s most influential food expert. At 22, Sanghvi became the youngest editor in the history of Indian journalism and then went on to be the Editor of Sunday, a news magazine published by the ABP Group, the Editor of Hindustan Times, and the host and anchor of numerous television shows covering news, politics and lifestyle. Sanghvi is presently the co-founder and chairperson of Culinary Culture, a movement that brings together India’s passionate food community.
Besides the conversationalists, the evening will bring restaurateurs, chefs and food enthusiasts to the Glenburn Penthouse.
The My Kolkata and Glenburn Culture Club programme on December 20 is By Invitation Only
