Shows
Big Food EnergyHimanshu Saini on Michelin Stars and Indian CuisineChef’s Table: Three Michelin-starred chef Himanshu Saini of Trèsind Studio, Dubai Appetiser: His culinary origin story – from cooking at home to leading one of Dubai’s most talked-about fine dining kitchensMain Course: Patience as a secret weapon, the power of teamwork, and why Indian cuisine deserves its moment on the global stagePairing: Spices as superpowers, changing perceptions of Indian food, and the joy of blending old with newHouse Special: Michelin stars and why Indian hospitality goes beyond the plateFrom the Counter: Crafting tasting menus, k...
2025-08-2738 min
Big Food EnergyAD Singh and Riyaaz Amlani on Food Spaces That Define a GenerationTable for Two: Restaurateurs AD Singh (Olive, Monkey Bar, SodabottleOpenerWala, etc) and Riyaaz Amlani (Social, Smoke House Deli, BANNG, etc)Starter: A throwback to the early days – Mocha mugs, Olive nights, and the quiet beginnings of a restaurant revolutionMain Course: Scaling with soul, shaping food culture, and why the best restaurants are more than what’s on the platePairing: Local pride, Catering to Gen Z, Investor Pressures, and the Unexpected Cost of Being CoolHouse Special: How to build spaces people return to, why India needs a robust nightlife scen...
2025-08-1446 min
Big Food EnergyBig Food Energy Is Back for Season 2Michelin-starred khichdi, food delivery algorithms, multi-generational Gujarati eateries, fermentation discourse, and the unapologetic rise of dosa – India isn’t just having a food moment, it’s leading a food movement.Hosted by food journalist Smitha Menon, Big Food Energy is back for Season 2 with more high-flavour conversations from the heart of India’s food evolution. From fine dining to street side snacks, kitchen labs, and diner preferences, this season serves up conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, aggregators, and food thinkers who are rewriting the rules and taking up space on the global culinary stage.Featuring guests Chef Him...
2025-08-1001 minBig Food EnergyThe Real Story Of Prateek Sadhu’s NAARIn this episode, we’re catching up with Prateek Sadhu, the chef with a fire in his belly and a bold vision called Naar — a one-of-a-kind fine dining spot tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Prateek made waves as the head chef at Masque, crowned India’s best restaurant by Asia's 50 Best, before deciding to trade the city hustle for a mountain adventure.
It's now Naar's first anniversary and Prateek has won multiple awards and accolades, including the Chef of the Year award at Conde Nast Traveller's Top Restaurant Awards.
Join us as we cha...
2024-11-1453 minBig Food EnergyCan This Platform Fix Hospitality’s Biggest Challenge?On this episode of #BigFoodEnergy, we're sitting down with Rishi Khiani, Karan Khetrapal, and Rachel Goenka, the folks behind Kaam.com, a platform that’s tackling one of the biggest challenges in the hospitality industry—labour shortages. Kaam.com is an industry-backed staffing and employment platform designed to create opportunities for both job seekers and businesses.
We’ll explore how Kaam.com goes beyond just job placement by offering skilling, training, and even financial inclusion for the communities they serve. Listen in as we dive into how this platform is not only addressing the curren...
2024-10-0347 minBig Food EnergyThis Simple Strategy Built A Thriving Craft Beer BusinessWhat if the secret to building a successful craft beer business wasn’t only about brewing great beer? In this episode of Big Food Energy, we dive into the story of how Nakul Bhonsle, the founder of Great State Aleworks, turned an unexpected strategy—his community—into the backbone of his brand’s success.
From tapping into local networks to fostering a loyal fan base, learn how this craft beer entrepreneur used the power of community to grow from a small operation to a booming, global business. Whether you're a brewer, entrepreneur, or just curious...
2024-09-0544 minBig Food EnergyCan Fine Dining Be Sustainable?In this episode, we sit down with Chef Deepanker Khosla, the visionary behind Haoma, Bangkok's Michelin-starred restaurant renowned for its groundbreaking sustainability practices. From winning the Sustainable Restaurant of the Year award at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants to redefining what it means to be an eco-conscious eatery, Chef Khosla shares his insights on how sustainability shapes every aspect of Haoma. Tune in to discover the challenges, innovations, and philosophies that drive one of the world's most sustainable restaurants.
Created By Smitha Menon In Association With Creators Journal
Written and Hosted By Smitha Menon
Ex...
2024-08-2246 minBig Food EnergyWhat Happens When Inclusivity Becomes the Main Ingredient At A Cafe?In this episode of Big Food Energy, we’re chatting with Alina Alam, founder of Mitti Cafe, a groundbreaking social initiative changing the landscape of inclusivity in the food industry.
The chain started as a single cafe in Bengaluru in 2017 and has since expanded to 38 outlets in corporate spaces, malls, and airports in major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. It recently opened a location on the campus of the Supreme Court of India and the Rashtrapati Bhavan! 🚀
We explore how Alina uses the power of food to empower and uplift those with special needs across India...
2024-08-0833 minBig Food EnergyThe Secret Sauce: How Samyukta Nair Builds London's Top RestaurantsIn this episode of Big Food Energy, we're chatting with Samyukta Nair, the visionary restaurateur behind some of London's most sought-after dining spots, including Jamavar, Bombay Bustle, Socca, Koyn, and MiMi Mei Fair. Samyukta has hospitality in her DNA, hailing from the renowned Nair family, founders of the prestigious Leela Hotels group.
In this episode, we delve into how Samyukta has harnessed her family's legacy to carve out her own path as an award-winning restaurateur and entrepreneur. Discover her secrets to developing unique restaurant concepts that thrive in London's highly competitive culinary scene. From he...
2024-07-2541 minBig Food EnergyThe Secret To An Award-Winning Bar is...While retiring and running a bar is a dream that many people have, few understand what really goes on behind the scenes and how to build a sustainable business.
In this new episode of Big Food Energy, we're chatting with Pankaj Balachandran of Countertop Collective, the company behind some of the coolest bar programs in the country.
Pankaj has worn many hats—sommelier, hotelier, restaurateur, and entrepreneur. With Countertop, Pankaj offers a range of consulting services that promise to significantly raise F&B standards in India.
Even though Countertop has only been around fo...
2024-07-1145 minBig Food EnergyThe Indian Entrepreneur Bringing Tech To ChocolateIn this episode, we sit down with Chaitanya Muppala, the innovative CEO of India's first craft chocolate company. After 13 successful years transforming the Indian sweets and snacks industry at his family business, Almond House, Chaitanya is now turning his attention to chocolate.
Chaitanya Muppala is not just any chocolatier. By leveraging AI and blockchain technology, he is pioneering a new era of transparency in the supply chain, putting Indian cacao beans on the global map. His unique approach blends Hyderabad’s tech expertise with the rich tradition of Indian flavours, creating a chocolate experience like no other....
2024-06-2747 minBig Food EnergyHow To Run A Bar Ft. Rakshay Dhariwal Of Pass Code HospitalityIn this episode, we’re chatting with Rakshay Dhariwal, the person behind some of India’s coolest bars and restaurants, including PCO, Jamun, Pings, and Saz.
When PCO, one of Delhi's first speakeasy-style cocktail bars, opened in 2012, it was a game-changer. It emphasized cocktails over straight pours, offering a space for long conversations with bartenders or making new friends.
Since then, Rakshay and his team have launched numerous successful bars and restaurants across the country, introduced India Cocktail Week, and most recently, India’s first premium agave spirit, Pistola. Rakshay has always been ahead of the cu...
2024-06-1339 minBig Food EnergyThe Art Of Malabari Dum Biryani ft Paragon’s Sumesh GovindIn this episode, we speak to Sumesh Govind, owner of Paragon, a chain of restaurants based in South India & Dubai serving home-style Kerala cuisine. Earlier this year, Paragon ranked #5 in the most legendary restaurants in the world list by Taste Atlas, an online food guide.
Sumesh is known as the person who revolutionised the dining landscape of Kerala owing to his ability to turn his biggest adversities into his greatest strengths. His slow-cooked insights build up to reveal a sharp business acumen worthy of a mentor for those aspiring to be part of this industry.
C...
2024-06-0631 minBig Food EnergyCreating One Of India's Top Restaurants Ft. Aditi Dugar ( Masque)In this episode, Smitha chats with Aditi Dugar, the visionary behind Masque, about how she became one of the first female restaurateurs on the Asia’s 50 Best list, and the risky bet she took of revolutionising Indian fine dining landscape with a 10-course tasting menu.
Learn about her journey of blending local ingredients with global techniques, and the crazy story of how her mother's methi masala reached the shores of Italy. An inspiring chat for foodies and aspiring restaurateurs!
Tune in to learn more about the incredible rise of Masque and the woman who made it...
2024-05-3022 minBig Food EnergyIt's All In The Heritage Ft Chef Pam, Founder Of Michelin ⭐️ Restaurant 'Potong'At Potong, Chef Pam, Asia's Best Female Chef is dishing up her heritage and creating a legacy by translating culture into cuisine. In this episode, Smitha is joined by Chef Pam, who speaks to her about how she took her personal history and translated it into a beautiful culinary experience.
Created By Smitha Menon In Association With Creators Journal
Executive Producer: Shivam Srivastav
Written and Hosted By Smitha Menon
Editor: Edify
Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay
2024-05-2342 minBig Food EnergyBehind The Macaron Ft. Pooja DhingraContrary to popular opinion, life isn't all sugar and sprinkles when you run a popular brand like Le15india which has become one of the most recognised food labels on social media.
Smitha chats with the founder Pooja Dhingra about what it takes to build a pan-India patisserie🍰 business, the biggest challenges she's faced despite her many successes and what she learned about herself while being a judge on MasterChef India. It's an honest, no sugarcoat conversation 😉
Created By Smitha Menon In Association With Creators Journal
Executive Producer: Shivam Srivastav
Written and Hosted By Smith...
2024-05-1646 minBig Food EnergyThe Art Of Storytelling & Food Ft. The Bombay CanteenWhy do we vibe with our favourite restaurants instead of just liking them? Dining experiences are fast-evolving, and the most memorable meals these days go beyond the taste buds. In this episode, Smitha is joined by Yash and Sameer, founders of Hunger Inc. Hospitality (The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro, Bombay Sweet Shop, Veronica's. Enthucutlet & Papa's), who decode just how they have built one of India's best F&B companies by creating a larger narrative for food in India.
Created By Smitha Menon In Association With Creators Journal
Executive Producer: Shivam Srivastav
Written and Hos...
2024-05-0942 minBig Food EnergyYour Friendly Neighbourhood Chips Brand Ft. Mota ChipsWe all have our favourite local snack brands that we binge on but how does a brand survive past nostalgia and continue to stay relevant across generations?
The answer lies in the potatoes, according to Jeegar Mota, Director of Mota Chips, a Mumbai-based potato chips brand that started from a small facility of 1,000 sq. ft to a state-of-the-art 12,0000 sq. ft facility which caters to over 1500 retailers today and has generations of kids and adults hooked to their OG flavours.
Jeegar claims his chips have 25% less oil than any other crisps on the market, we find out ho...
2024-05-0238 minBig Food EnergyWelcome To Big Food Energy 🍕📊All you need to know about the one-of-a-kind podcast about the food and drinks industry in India. Insights that can help you with opportunities, storytelling and also create better experiences and flavours. Hosted by Smitha Menon, ex-food editor of Conde Nast Traveller and produced by Shivam Srivastav (Creators Journal). Created by Smitha Menon and Shivam Srivastav.
2024-04-2901 min
Travel OraclesTravel Oracles: Smitha in IndiaJoin us each Wednesday on the Travel Oracles Podcast as I have conversations with worldly women. This week, host CARRIE A. MITCHELL talks with SMITHA MENON - Culinary Editor at Condé Nast Traveller India - currently in dazzling Mumbai. Places discussed: India, South Africa, Vietnam, France. GUEST: SMITHA'S LINKSSmitha's CNT ArticlesSmitha's InstagramMENTIONED LINKSSamantha Brown's Show 'Places To Love'Padma Lakshmi show 'Taste the Nation'History of Ladakh, IndiaHOST: CARRIE'S LINKSCarrie's WebsiteCarrie's NewsletterCarrie on InstagramCarrie on T...
2021-08-111h 07
The Fountain Court Chambers PodcastSeason 1: Episode 9 – Disputes in Singapore: A 360 Degree Analysis (Part 2)This is the second part of Fountain Court’s 360-degree analysis of the Singapore disputes regime, hosted by Singapore-based Fountain Court barrister Andrew Pullen.
Part 1 featured two conversations – one with Smitha Menon of Wong Partnership about current trends and developments in the jurisdiction, and another about arbitration in Asia with Delphine Ho of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and arbitrator and Fountain Court door tenant Professor Benjamin Hughes.
This part features another two conversations, this time focusing on litigation and third-party funding.
2015 saw the establishment of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) – a new division of the Singapore High Court...
2021-06-031h 03The Fountain Court Chambers PodcastSeason 1: Episode 8 – Disputes in Singapore: A 360 Degree Analysis (Part 1)This episode is the first of two hosted by Singapore-based Fountain Court barrister Andrew Pullen, looking at the dispute resolution landscape in Singapore.
Singapore is well-established amongst the leading centres for international arbitration globally, but this is not the whole story; each of the four conversations across these two episodes focuses on a different part of the disputes picture.
This part starts with a conversation with Smitha Menon who is a Partner and Deputy Head of Restructuring & Insolvency at Wong Partnership. She practices in international arbitration and holds several positions with the International Chambers of Commerce. Andrew and Smitha speak...
2021-05-061h 04
Baapbeeti - A Pregnant Papa PodcastBaapbeeti Season 2 - TrailerSeason 2 of Baapbeeti A Pregnant Papa Podcast will take you on a baby's journey from hospital to home.
Not many have shared the 'sound' on this topic when babies are vulnerable to the world.
Some adapt quickly, some take time. For us it was 6 days in the Neonatal Intesive Care Unit.
This season will narrate our each day when we saw Swabhaav struggling with ventilator in the ICU.
Season 2 Episode 1 will release by end of this month.
Meanwhile catch with all other episodes from Season 1 and follow @pregnantpapa on...
2021-02-1101 min