One of the first Indian chefs to gain a Michelin star, Atul Kochhar is a culinary legend and we can’t wait to see the dishes he has in store for England v India ODI in The Green Room.

Atul Kochhar’s inimitable talent as a twice-Michelin-starred chef has changed the way people perceive and experience Indian food. He has been at the forefront of the Indian culinary industry for over 25 years and is recognised on an international scale.

Born in Jamshedpur, India, Atul started his career at the prestigious The Oberoi Group of hotels in India where he became sous chef and led a team of 18. Rising significantly through the ranks, he also gained his diploma in Hotel Management and moved to the Hilton Group to work under the guidance of renowned chef Bernard Kunig. In 1994 Atul was given the opportunity to move to London to lead and open Tamarind restaurant.

Inspired by his native India, Atul combines his heritage with his love of British ingredients to create and deliver modern Indian cuisine. It was at Tamarind restaurant in 2001 where he received his first Michelin star and in doing so, became the first of two Indian chefs to ever win a Michelin star. In 2002 Atul then went on to open his very own restaurant, Benares in London’s Mayfair, which earned him a second Michelin star in 2007. In 2018 Atul left Benares to pursue other independent ventures and to further develop the Atul Kochhar Hospitality Group and his catering company AMOD events.

TV & Media

Atul has become the recognisable face of modern Indian cuisine on television, in print media, at festivals and on the radio. His innovative take on food continues to win Atul an admiring public through regular TV appearances including BBC’s Great British Menu, BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, James Martin Saturday Morning, Yes Chef, CurryOn and The Chef.

Most recently Atul’s entrepreneurial nature made him the perfect investor on BBC2 and Netflix series, Million Pound Menu. With recipes, restaurant reviews and interviews featured internationally in print and online, Atul has also written anumber of admired cookbooks:

  • Simple Indian
  • Benares
  • Fish, Indian Style
  • Curries of the World
  • 30 Minute Curries
  • Curry Everyday (due to be released in March 2022)

Charity Work

While continuing as a restaurateur and balancing other commitments, it’s important to Atul that his time outside of the kitchen is dedicated to a further range of positive endeavours. His charity work encompasses The Prince’s Trust and, to give something back to another great cause, Atul is ambassador to The British Asian Trust, supporting high-impact charities in South Asia and the UK. Early 2020 Atul embarked on his second voyage to Antarctica to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, a charity that remains very close to his heart due to very personal reasons.

Atul’s work ethic and talent have not gone unnoticed, and he has had the privilege of cooking for Prince Charles at St James’s Palace and was personally invited to meet HM The Queen during one of the President of India’s official visits.