How many Chowman stores do you have outside Calcutta now?
It gives me great pleasure and honour to announce that Chowman has not just stayed in Calcutta but also stepped into a national venture and expanded to Bangalore, Delhi NCR and now to Hyderabad. I want to carry this legacy of flavours and love across the whole country. Chowman has successfully completed 13 years of its culinary journey, with the plan of conquering the entire country we effectively have 22 stores in Calcutta, four in Delhi NCR, six in Bangalore and a newly launched one in Hyderabad. I want every city to have the luxury to taste authentic Chinese.
Why Hyderabad?
Hyderabad has traditionally been known as the city of the nawabs, and the city is full of restaurants serving nawabi cuisine. It was entirely up to me to unveil the tastes of Chowman in Hyderabad, a city where authentic Chinese food was not widely available. After Bangalore’s huge success, I saw a significant increase in demand for Chowman throughout the South Indian region, which was one of the main factors in making Hyderabad my next stop as part of the expansion strategy. Little did I know when I launched the store in Bangalore that Chowman would quickly become one of the best-selling Chinese eateries in the city. I was extremely inspired to expand to Hyderabad by the way the South Indians have embraced Chowman. Advancing Chowman in Hyderabad has created opportunities for talent acquisition and provides room for innovation and experimentation in new markets. Furthermore, it allows for diversification and reduced dependency on a single market, which can be crucial for long-term sustainability.
What can we expect from this outlet? Is it any different than the others?
Chowman, Hyderabad is actually our second largest outlet in South India so far with its own central store and an office premise. Coming to its distinction in comparison to our other outlets, there is no such difference since the very motto is to impart the very essence of Chowman that has been popularised back in Calcutta and Bangalore in terms of its ambience and aura, flavour, signature dishes. For me, Chowman is an ideology of a neighbourhood fine dining and the agenda is to create this ideal module across every Chowman outlet in India.
Behind our tagline, ‘Think Chinese, think Chowman’, is the reverberation of our agenda to create a fine-dining experience that is accessible to the middle-class gentry with food that caters to the ever-evolving taste buds. This is why we try to incorporate sauces, many major ingredients as well as crockery-cutlery and decor from different parts of Asia in order to give those unique flavours deviating from the prevalent Indo-Chinese dominance in the culinary segment.
Chowman’s design was very critical initially. I literally wanted something that could ooze out the very ancient, authentic ethos of China and it took me years to come to terms with my interior designer and finalise the core design. Our warm lights, mahogany and teal wood furniture against a backdrop of subtle white and black with contrasts of golden are all reminiscences of rustic China. Of course, the big Buddha face is a mandatory inclusion to impart that meditative aura since both Chinese and Indian cultures have equalised the act of consuming food to be a holy practice. Every little detail that one gets to see and feel is done with precision, even the selection and curation of ambient music for the diners.
Debaditya Chaudhury, MD, Chowman, Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2
In terms of the menu, is this the same, or are there differences?
There’s no question of adapting to the tastes of different regions because that is what I wanted to break away from and make a place for something more authentic. Chinese is a very common cuisine that has reigned in India and many people have adapted it accordingly. But the reason we got to become the ruling brand is because of the unique flavour that we impart by keeping it close to authenticity. It’s this taste that has fetched us all the love across India and across the world, further motivating us for this national expansion. So, there’s no question of deviating from that by any means. Rather we strive to make people seek exposure to Chinese that is different from the rest.
Also, take us through some star items on the menu.
A thoughtfully crafted menu with a diverse selection of quality ingredients can truly elevate the dining experience for our customers. It is a dedication to providing a wide range of flavours and options, catering to various tastes and preferences. We make sure we pay attention to detail as it is appreciated by our patrons. Some of our star items on our menu are Chowman Special Rice/Noodles handcrafted with the perfect balance of fresh vegetables, premium meats, and our signature sauce. Roasted Chilli Pork, Pan Fried Chilli Fish, Seafood Noodles, lobster dishes, Prawn in Oyster Sauce, Khao Suey alongside our signature dishes like Kolkata Style Chilli Chicken/Fish and Pork are popular too. All our dishes are characterised by their complex flavours and a variety of textures create a harmonious interplay of flavours. These star dishes are a testament to Chowman’s commitment to delivering a fusion of bold, authentic flavours that leave a lasting impression on every palate.
What are your future expansion plans?
We’ve currently got over 32 outlets all across Calcutta, Bangalore, and Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad and all total we have 44 incorporated in the family, which includes Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2 as well. Our upcoming Chowman expansion includes additional locations in Bangalore and Hyderabad in the South, followed by openings in Bombay and Pune in the West. In the North, we’ll be introducing a branch in Chandigarh, and in the South, we’re set to launch in Chennai. Furthermore, we’re planning to add four new outlets in Delhi in the near future.
Sharing the love for Chowman’s unique flavours with a wider audience can be a fulfilling endeavour. It not only allows more people to experience the exceptional cuisine but also helps in building a stronger brand presence. It’s a great way to connect with different communities and create lasting memories through food.
BESTSELLERS
(l-r) A comforting bowl of ramen, Lamb in Bell Pepper, Red Chillies and Cashew Nuts, Khao Suey, Lobster in sauce of your choice