The award-winning chefs are coming together for a buzzy pop-up, marking the mountain restaurant Naar's first urban outing, at Indian Accent outlets in Mumbai and Delhi
(From left) Chef Prateek Sadhu, chef and founder at Naar in Himachal Pradesh and Chef Manish Mehrotra, Culinary director, Indian Accent
We’re on a Zoom call that spans heat-stricken Delhi, the hills of Kasauli and rainy Mumbai, with a conversation flitting from chaat to climate change, dissected with equal passion.
I’m speaking with two of the country’s most recognisable champions of Indian food: Chef Manish Mehrotra, culinary director, Indian Accent, known for its contemporary take on classic Indian fare; and chef Prateek Sadhu, chef and founder at Naar in Himachal Pradesh, with a mission to bring local and lesser-known Indian ingredients to world-class dining experiences.
The two chefs are breaking bread for a buzzy pop-up in Mumbai and Delhi, where they will collaborate for a one-time menu, at Indian Accent outlets in both cities. The pop-up travels to Mumbai on June 22 and 23, and to Delhi on June 26 and 27.
“It was a collaboration bound to happen,” says Mehrotra. “In this heat, what could be better than bringing the mountain-inspired restaurant Naar to come to Delhi and Mumbai. Indian Accent food is accessible in Delhi and Mumbai, but there’s a lot of curiosity around Naar, which so many people haven’t been able to experience just yet. People have tasted Prateek’s food—but not that of his new restaurant’s avatar.”
Sadhu adds: “For me, the idea is simple: It’s amazing to be back in Mumbai, number one, and number two, which is very important for me, to be cooking with chef Manish. Collaborations are a great way to showcase what you’re doing at your restaurants, but it’s also more about two teams coming together, and having fun.”