The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru to Host the Latest Edition of ‘Shefs at The Leela’ in Collaboration with ‘Dean With Us’

India, 13th July, 2023: The Leela Bhartiya City to host the latest edition of ‘Shefs at The Leela’ in association with ‘Dean With Us’ (Rupali Dean and Akanksha Dean) with four globally renowned women chefs - Romy Gill, Sanjana Patel, Meha Kumar, and Vanshika Bhatia. On July 15, 2023, these celebrated women chefs will come together to curate an exquisite dining experience with a menu that will showcase their signature culinary styles and culinary interpretations. This unique event will see the coming together of two distinctive arts - culinary and dance with Classical Dancer Madhu Natrajan’s mesmerizing interludes perfectly complimenting and interspersing the versatility of the four talented Chefs.

‘Shefs at The Leela’, launched in 2022, is a distinctive and innovative initiative that was conceptualised by the brand in partnership with ‘Dean With Us’ to celebrate women chefs. This initiative serves as a platform to promote equity in the kitchens and brings together talented women chefs who have carved a niche for themselves. This unique concept showcases the learnings and signature cooking styles of women chefs through curated dinners, panel discussions, and masterclasses while also encouraging other budding women culinary experts.

Following the phenomenal success of the previous editions of ‘Shefs at The Leela’ at The Leela Palace Bengaluru, The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel and Residences, The Leela Palace Chennai and an exclusive curation of the concept as a run-up to Women’s Day with a 3-day long extravaganza at The Leela Palace Bengaluru, The Leela is delighted to present yet another edition at The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru to further honour and celebrate women chefs who are making waves in the culinary world with their talent, passion and commitment.

“’Shefs at The Leela’ is a celebration of talent and culinary passion. The brand has very successfully hosted a series of events around this initiative and received immense appreciation from patrons as well as the industry. We are delighted and honoured to bring the next edition of ‘Shefs at The Leela’ to The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru and have given this version a unique twist

Virender Razdan, General Manager, The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru

by adding the element of another art form – dance, that will perfectly and seamlessly complement the evening. We are committed in building diversity in our kitchens and take pride in celebrating the achievements of women.”

Spread across 2 days, ‘Shefs at The Leela’ will commence with a ‘Masterclass by the Shefs’ on July 14 and will conclude on July 15 with an extraordinary sit-down dinner which will be curated and serviced by an all women workforce. Led by the women chefs Romy Gill, Sanjana Patel, Meha Kumar, and Vanshika Bhatia, an all-women culinary production and service team of The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru will present a spectacular evening which will be an amalgamation of food, flavours, cultures, and cooking techniques. While the graceful dance performance by Madhu Natrajan will thematically compliment the evening by celebrating the multiple facets of Shakti, the feminine phenomenon; Hastas, or hands, essential tools of expression, and Rasa, the pinnacle of culinary experiences that encompasses both emotions and tastes to create a memorable experience.

Shefs at The Leela

Date: 15th July 2023

Price: INR 7500 plus taxes per person

Venue: The Grand Ballroom, at The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru

To reserve your experience, please contact:

Name: Mr. Ramu Dasari

Mobile: +91 7411782463

E-mail: ramu.dasari@theleela.com

MORE ABOUT THE SHEFS, CURATORS AND THE DANCER

CHEF ROMY GILL - A chef, author and broadcaster based in the south-west of England. In 2016 she was appointed an MBE in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list.

CHEF SANJANA PATEL - Creative Director and Executive Chef at La Folie Sanjana Patel shares a special relationship with chocolate – one of reverence, love, and discovery. As the Creative Director and Executive Chef at La Folie, she showcases her passion for chocolate in a plethora of original, haute couture-style renditions of French delicacies.

CHEF MEHA KUMAR - After several years at Miramar by Paco Perez (2 Michelin star), Where she was responsible for processing and handling high-quality seasonal products in the menu. Meha has returned to her roots in India, where she is curating her own menus which are more conceptual in nature, carving her path in the experiential dining sector.

CHEF VANSHIKA BHATIA - Chef Owner- Petite Pie Shop (French Bistro style Dining- India’s first Pie Shop) & Chef Partner- Omo- Soul Food Community (experimental Vegetarian cuisine focusing on Indian Ingredients), Chef Vanshika has been named in the list of ‘40 chefs under 40’ in India by CN Traveller. Chef Vanshika elevates the art of using every part of the ingredient. The seamlessness with which it becomes part of a perfectly executed dish, shows how she balances classic training and freestyle creativity perfectly.

THE CURATORS

AKANKSHA DEAN

Food & Travel writer and culinary researcher, Independent Chef & Events Specialist

A trained hospitality professional from the Institute of Hotel Management Aurangabad, Akanksha Dean is the first and only Indian chef to train with Massimo Bottura at Modena, Italy; the top chef’s three Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana is still considered the best restaurant in the world. Travelling for local food and culture has taught her to develop a completely original perspective on everything, by rewarding innovation and fresh thinking. Akanksha recently won the Magicka Award for the ‘F & B Concept Curator Of The Year’, with ‘Shefs at The Leela’ being one of the highlights.

RUPALI DEAN

Award winning Journalist; Food & Travel Photographer; A Catalyst and an Events specialist.

Awarded as the ‘Best food writer in the country’ by the Indian culinary forum, WACS and the ministry of Tourism, Dean is a familiar name in Travel & Food writing. Her passion and work take her on various travels within India and across the world and her by-line is familiar to discerning readers of newspapers and magazines. Rupali recently won the Magicka Award for the ‘Top Food Influencer of The Year’.

THE DANCER

MADHU NATARAJ

Founder and Choreographer

A graduate of Commerce, Journalism and Choreography, Madhu trained in Kathak under the tutelage of her mother, the legendary Guru - Dr Maya Rao and with Guru Chitra Venugopal and later studied Contemporary dance in New York. ‘India Today’ chose Madhu as one among India’s 50 Young Achievers. She also received the ‘Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ from the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India, FICCI Women’s achievers award to mention a few of her accolades. She is an Ananta Aspen Global Leadership Fellow. With over 200 choreographies to her credit, Madhu is a panelist at important design, cultural, philanthropic, corporate, and academic organizations and has performed in and traveled to over 50 countries. Madhu also heads India’s premier dance education centre- The Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography- founded by Dr Maya Rao and Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay (Under the aegis of UNESCO)

ABOUT THE LEELA PALACES, HOTELS AND RESORTS

Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned by a Brookfield Asset Management-sponsored private real estate fund and operates eleven award-winning properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India. These include the flagship hotel in the capital city of New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gurugram, East Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar and now Kovalam and Ashtamudi in Kerala. The Leela celebrates each hotel through its unique location, art, culture and cuisine with thoughtful services, celebratory rituals, and immersive experiences. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts was voted the World’s Best Hotel Brand twice in a row by Travel + Leisure, USA, World’s Best Awards Survey, 2020 and 2021. In 2023, the brand has once again been featured in the top 3 World’s Best Hotel Brands. An epitome of true Indian luxury hospitality, The Leela is committed to providing guests with unforgettable stays in settings that capture the essence of India. The brand has a marketing alliance with US-based Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.

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