Food Maps of Mumbai: Tasting the World on an Indian Palate

Thomas Zacharias began his culinary journey at a very young age in his grandmother’s kitchen in Kerala. He completed his Hotel Management at the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration in Manipal and went off to the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Upon graduating at the top of his class, he worked at the three star Michelin seafood restaurant Le Bernardin in New York City under Chef Eric Ripert. In 2011, Thomas found his way back to India and joined Olive Bar & Kitchen in Bandra where he spent three years managing the kitchen. Prior to joining The Bombay Canteen as its Executive Chef, Thomas travelled extensively to various corners of the country to entrench himself in the different elements of regional Indian home cooking. Inspirations from diverse flavors of India, the bounty of Mumbai’s vegetable & seafood markets, and his grandmother’s kitchen where his passion stemmed from, all reflect in the menu at The Bombay Canteen. Thomas loves to travel for food, and as a chef believes in promoting seasonal Indian produce, mentoring young cooks and ensuring the kitchen is a great place to work.

Smita Deo, grew up in the by lanes of Bandra, watching a faraway lighthouse from her home window, every morning as she got ready for school. She'd dream of achieving her little girlie dreams. Smita's early tryst with cooking began when she'd help her mother around the kitchen. The grinding of fresh masalas, the bubbling of the staple dali touy and the crackling of the batata kaap, would break her into unadulterated joy. Smita has always, liked the field of arts and culture, and went on to doing her degree in textiles at SNDT Juhu. She married the then architect and aspiring film maker Abhinay Deo and stepped into his world, armed with all that her mother taught her. 15 years into her marriage, she decided to put all her knowledge on paper to pass on as a legacy. Karwar to Kolhapur VIA Mumbai, is a result of the three years of hard work and the perfect food tale of three very beautiful cities

Rohan is a Co-Founder and CEO at Drums Food International, makers of Epigamia Greek yogurt, India’s first branded Greek yogurt, and Hokey Pokey ice cream. Epigamia was launched in 2015 and is currently available across major metros. Drums Food is one of the fastest growing FMCG companies in India.Rohan moved to India from the United States, where he grew up, in 2013 to pursue Drums Food’s foray into the FMCG space. His passion for food is linked to his passion for travel and history. He considers himself an amateur gastronomist as he can never be satisfied with a meal without knowing its origins and the culture behind the cuisine. He has traveled to over 40 countries and has a particular obsession with how certain cultures have influenced and contributed to some of the most interesting cuisines in the world. For example, the Italian and Jewish influence on the food of New York City, Arabic influence on Spanish cuisine, and Portuguese influence on Indian Goan cuisine. Rohan has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance & International Business from NYU’s Stern School of Business and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Vikram Doctor is one of India’s most respected food writers, critics and commentators. A journalist with the Economic Times in Mumbai, Doctor has specialized in writing on food issues for the past 12 years. He also has an ongoing podcast series with Audiomatic which delves into adventures of the palate, and provides insights into ingredients, recipes and contemporary food practices