How Ritu Dalmia Built Her Empire Without Following Any Rules

Food Journalists Priya Krishna and Anisha Oommen on Restaurant Reviews and the Future of Food Writing

Behind The By-lines: Priya Krishna (The New York Times), Anisha Rachel Oommen (Goya Journal), and Smitha Menon pull back the curtain on what it means to write about food today. Amuse-Bouche: Food as a lens into caste, class, politics, and identity;  and why the table is still one of the last places we can have hard conversations. Main Course: The blurred lines of PR and journalism, maintaining professional boundaries as a food writer, and what “good taste” means when dining out becomes social currency.  Quick Bites: From Indian English prose to plastic tablecloths and dosa definitions, how language and aesthetics shape whose food stories get told. In the Margins: On AI, the future of media, and why being a food journalist is less about hype and more about holding power to account, one story at a time. This episode is fact checked, double spiced, and just the right amount of sweet, which means the Bombay Bhel Chikki [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chikki-bar?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop was the only sensible pairing, really. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/]Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]

Akhil Iyer of Benne and Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar on Hyper-focused Restaurants

Rasam for Two: Akhil Iyer of Benne in Bombay and Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar on going hyper-local with dosa and ramen. Bangalore Special: Growing up in Bangalore, experiencing local and global cuisine, and tying that childhood nostalgia into their respective microdiners. Main Course: Building an entire business around a single dish, and the role of social media in creating hype Broths & Chutneys: Rethinking what “authenticity” really means, and how dosa and ramen are finding  new homes in urban India y today. No By Two: Striking a balance between authenticity and adapting to consumer needs, and plans of expansion. Today’s episode is crunchy, chaotic, and slightly addictive. So obviously, I had to pair it with Choco Butterscotch Barks [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chocolate-butterscotch-bark?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/]Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]

Saransh Goila on Scaling Butter Chicken While Balancing Profitability & Creativity

Chef’s Table: Saransh Goila of the famed Goila Butter Chicken is on a mission to bring a fresh take on the classic dish and entrepreneurship. Appetiser: From pop-ups to over a 100 kitchens, how Saransh’s ambitions turned the classic butter chicken into a global culinary experience.   Main Course: Crafting experiences for consumers, building structures for acquisition, and navigating the hard truths of profitability vs. creativity Combos: How to keep creativity alive when running a business and navigating being a chef and creator in an era of  “chefluencers”.  Delishaaas: Finding meaning beyond likes and metrics, the power of mentorship, and why telling India’s food story will always be worth it. This one’s a deep dive into creator ambitions, delivery numbers, desi cravings, and digital-first food. I mean, what else but Chocolate Butter Cookies [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chocolate-butter-cookies?utm_source=podcast+&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop for that kind of comfort math? – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/] Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]

Vinesh Johny on Finding Bangalore’s Sweet Spot

On the Brew Board: Vinesh Johny of Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts, Kopitiam Lah, and LICK Local Roast: How a college kid’s idea turned into Lavonne Academy, arguably India’s best pastry school Soups and Short Eats: The creative process, the evolution of India’s pastry scene, and the tightrope walk of scaling up without selling out House Special: Holistic hospitality: – from Lavonne’s classroom, Kopitiam Lah’s coffee culture, to the ice cream fueled frenzy of LICK Chef’s Blend: The wild side of dessert innovation, the Indian ingredients he’s most excited about, and why VC money can’t buy soul. From The Counter: From finding Bangalore’s sweet spot for global flavours to the power of patience and practice Pastry: Leadership, team spirit, parenthood, and chocolate flutes. This episode is about breaking moulds and finding flavour in unlikely places, so what better pairing than Chilli Cheese Bhujia [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chilli-cheese-bhujia-mini-90g?_pos=1&_psq=chilli+cheese&_ss=e&_v=1.0] by Bombay Sweet Shop – fiery, cheesy, and impossible to put down. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production.

How Ritu Dalmia Built Her Empire Without Following Any Rules

On the Kitchen Counter: Ritu Dalmia of DIVA, Cittamani, and more The Mise en Place: From a childhood fear of Indian cuisine to reimagining it with her signature global flair. Full Course: How a single idea turned into a restaurant empire – built on impulse, experimentation, and the power of passion. Cultural Garnish: Blending Italian simplicity with Indian complexity, and finding unexpected overlaps in two rich food traditions. Inside the Kitchen: Leadership lessons, mentorship mindsets, and creating safe spaces for teams to thrive. Catering Spread: Why catering isn’t just about feeding people – it’s about telling a story and making every bite memorable. Finishing Touches: Advocating for LGBTQ rights, learning to balance ambition and self-care, and the future of dining done her way My chat with Ritu was a little messy, a little salty, and filled with lots of stories. Obviously, I had to go with something classic but punchy, like the Roasted Makhana & Peanut Chikki [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/roasted-makhana-peanut-chikki?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/]Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] and Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]