Atul kochhar is a culinary prodigy and an Indian-born, British-based chef. He was one of the first Indians to receive a Michelin star for his culinary artistry. From being born in the small town of Jamshedpur to being a world-renowned chef, let us take a look at his journey!

He started his journey with the prestigious Oberoi group where he excelled as a sous chef and led a team of 18 people.  This led to his move to renowned Hilton chef Bernard Kunig’s restaurant in 1994. Building on his fine-dining experience, later that year Atul made the move to London to open Tamarind restaurant. Here his culinary excellence was recognised and during Atul’s tenure as head chef, he was awarded his first Michelin star in 2001.

Paving the way for his first independent venture, Atul left Tamarind in 2002 and in April 2003 opened Benares, named after Northern India’s spiritual city, in London’s prestigious Mayfair. With a focus on combining his heritage and love of British ingredients, Atul’s innovative modern Indian cuisine successfully redefined the perception of Indian cooking in Britain, leading to his second Michelin star in 2007, an accolade which he has retained at Benares until 2018 when he left the Benares group of restaurants to explore other independent ventures.

With regular return trips to his native country, Atul ensures that his creative dishes constantly evolve and continue to surprise and delight the senses. He has had the honour to cook for Prince Charles at St. James’ Palace and was invited to meet HM The Queen. Dedicating time outside of the kitchen to philanthropic endeavours Atul has worked with The Prince’s Trust and stands as an ambassador to The British Asian Trust to support high impact charities in South Asia and the UK.