Top 30 Chefs of India Revealed at FoodSuperstars 2024 in Udaipur by Culinary Culture
Udaipur, 21 st October 2024 — Culinary Culture proudly concluded the third edition of
FoodSuperstars – India’s Top 30 Chefs, presented by Zoya, on October 21, 2024, in the stunning
city of Udaipur. Hosted by Vir Sanghvi, Chairman of Culinary Culture, this prestigious awards
ceremony celebrated the culinary artists transforming India’s food landscape with their innovation
and passion.
The event was a resounding success, showcasing a remarkable lineup of talented chefs flown in from
across the country. The coveted No. 1 rank went to Chef Hussain Shahzad recognized for his
restaurants which include The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro and Papa’s. The list welcomed seven new
entrants and five returning chefs to the list, including Prateek Sadhu, Manu Chandra, Suresh Pillai
and celebrated vibrant culinary talent from eight cities, with Mumbai securing the highest
representation at ten spots.
Dressed in bespoke scarves from Tasva by Tarun Tahiliani, the chefs took center stage as the list was
revealed in descending order. The event also honored Special Award recipients, including the late
Imtiaz Qureshi, who was posthumously awarded the Legend Chef Award. Previous No. 1 chefs, such
as Regi Mathew, were also celebrated as they joined Manish Mehrotra in the Hall of Fame,
underscoring their lasting influence on the culinary landscape.
Raaj Sanghvi, CEO of Culinary Culture, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are immensely grateful for
the industry’s support for this unique platform. A huge congratulations to Hussain for being ranked
No. 1, and to all our FoodSuperstars. It’s heartening to witness the amazing community of chefs
we’ve built over the past three years. Thank you to our partners—Zoya, Veeba, Fratelli, Bisleri
Vedica, and Tarun Tahiliani with Tasva. We look forward to seeing you next year in a new Indian city
for the fourth edition, which we aim to make even bigger!”
The selection process for FoodSuperstars is rigorous, conducted by a dedicated team of over 40
FoodHunters who traveled the nation to identify outstanding culinary talents. Each nomination is
thoroughly vetted and debated before being presented to Culinary Culture’s Secret Jury which is
overseen by Vir Sanghvi, ensuring that only the most deserving chefs make the final list.
Importantly, FoodSuperstars maintains its integrity by not accepting any form of advertising or
commercial considerations from restaurants or hotels, and the list remains completely confidential
until it is revealed live at the ceremony. In a groundbreaking approach, these awards focus on the
chefs themselves, independent of their restaurant affiliations, ensuring that recognition stays with
the chefs throughout their careers.
Bikram Basu, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at ABDL, remarked, “On behalf of the entire
ABDL team, heartiest congratulations to Chef Hussain Shahzad for being ranked No. 1, and to all the
culinary artists who were a part of this year’s FoodSuperstars. It’s indeed a pleasure to collaborate
ZOYA Special Batch Gin with FoodSuperstars, a platform that celebrates and recognizes the
versatility of taste, flavors and aroma crafted by the amazing convergence of chefs.”
As the culinary community gathered to celebrate excellence and creativity, this year’s No. 1 Chef,
Hussain Shahzad shared their gratitude: “Thank you Culinary Culture and all the FoodSuperstars
partners for this honor. I am grateful to be part of this amazing community and this will inspire me to work harder to be worthy of this responsibility. Thank you for making chefs feel special.”
FoodSuperstars 2024, held over two days and featuring a day of panel discussions known as Culinary
Conversations, was more than just an awards ceremony; it was a vibrant celebration of food,
creativity, and talent. This event brought together India’s finest chefs, allowing them to create
unforgettable memories against the breathtaking backdrop of Udaipur.
The Top 30 Chefs honored with the prestigious title of FoodSuperstars for 2024 are:
1. Hussain Shahzad
2. Johnson Ebenezer
3. Gresham Fernandes
4. Varun Totlani
5. Niyati Rao
6. Manu Chandra
7. Alex Sanchez
8. Prateek Sadhu
9. Jai Prakash Singh
10. Nooresha Kably
11. Naren Thimmaiah
12. Rahul Gomes Pereira
13. Avinash Martins
14. Shantanu Mehrotra
15. Doma Wang
16. Nikhil Nagpal
17. Manuel Oliveira
18. Pooja Dhingra
19. Lakhan Jethani
20. Amninder Sandhu
21. Sahil Mehta
22. Shubham Thakur
23. Julia Carmen Desa
24. Kavan Kuttappa
25. Vanshika Bhatia
26. Manish Sharma
27. Seefah Ketchaiyo
28. Chalapathi Rao
29. Adwait Anantwar
30. Shri Bala
Legend Chef 2024 by Culinary Culture: Imtiaz Qureshi
Pastry Chef 2024 by Veeba: Vinesh Johny
Young Chef 2024 by Fratelli: Ralph Prazeres
Sustainable Chef 2024 by Zoya: Neeraj Rawoot
People’s Chef 2024 by Vedica: Suresh Pillai
For more information about FoodSuperstars and to discover India’s Top 30 Chefs of 2024, visit
www.CulinaryCulture.co or follow us on Instagram @CulinaryCultureCo.
About Culinary Culture
Culinary Culture stands as India’s definitive voice in food. Co-founded by Vir Sanghvi and Sameer
Sain, it represents a comprehensive movement that encompasses every facet of India’s culinary
landscape. As the country’s only authoritative and independent rating organization, Culinary Culture
bestows stars upon restaurants, honors exceptional chefs, and pays tribute to the country’s vibrant
street food vendors. Culinary Culture is renowned for its global Culinary Exchanges, inviting the
world’s most celebrated chefs to showcase their talents in India while sending Indian chefs to cook at
the world’s finest restaurants. Culinary Culture boasts an esteemed academy of FoodHunters,
comprising over 40 of India’s most prominent food experts, strategically located across the country.
Other popular IPs include Ultimate Restaurant Ratings, FoodSuperstars, Culinary Conversations and
StreetFoodSuperstars.
About Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited
Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited (ABDL) is the third largest Spirits company in India, in terms
of annual sales volumes between FY14 and FY24. ABDL has a presence in five main flavors, i.e.,
whisky, brandy, rum, vodka, and gin, with ‘millionaire’ brands like Officer’s Choice Whisky,
Officer’s Choice Blue Whisky, Sterling Reserve Premium Whiskies and ICONiQ White Whisky.
Currently, its manufacturing network comprises 33 units, of which 9 are owned bottling units, 1
owned distillery, and 23 non-owned manufacturing units.
(www.abdindia.com)
