Suvir Saran launched his memoir in New Delhi as Sahil Bhaveja raised a celebratory toast to the queer community, with Saran in conversation with Aneesh Gawande, moderated by Aishwarya Sharma.
New Delhi | 2 February 2026: Potions at 1 Ambawatta, Mehrauli, hosted the New Delhi launch of Tell My Mother I Like Boys, the deeply personal and unflinching memoir by Michelin-starred chef and cultural trailblazer Suvir Saran, published by Penguin India, on 2 February 2026. The evening unfolded as an intimate fireside conversation between Saran and politician Anish Gawande, moderated by Aishwarya Sharma, bringing together literature, lived experience, and contemporary dialogue on identity, inclusion, and selfhood.
At once a memoir and a reckoning, Tell My Mother I Like Boys traced Saran’s journey from Delhi to New York, of culinary acclaim shadowed by silence, of joy plated for the world while shame was quietly swallowed. Stripping away the gloss of celebrity, the book confronted family silences, cultural negotiations, illness, and the emotional cost of living a double life. Food emerged as both refuge and revelation, salvation, self-expression, and a bridge between worlds, culminating in a coming-out that ultimately became a coming-home.
Widely regarded as a trailblazer, Suvir Saran reshaped the global perception of Indian cuisine. His iconic New York restaurant, Devi, became the first non–Northern European restaurant in North America to earn a Michelin star, altering the course of culinary history and opening doors for a new generation of South Asian chefs. Yet behind these accolades lay a more private narrative, one that the memoir brought to light with remarkable candour and emotional precision.
Speaking about the book, Suvir Saran said, “This memoir is not about food alone, it is about truth. About the long cost of silence, and the dignity that comes with finally living without apology. Writing this book was an act of both breaking and healing, and I hope it allows others to feel less alone in their becoming.”
The evening’s fireside conversation placed the memoir within a broader cultural and civic context. Anish Gawande, reflecting on the evolving landscape for the LGBTQIA+ community in India, shared, “We are witnessing a shift, especially in cities like Delhi, towards greater inclusion, empathy, and visibility. Conversations like these matter because they humanise identity and remind us that progress is built not just through policy, but through stories that foster understanding and belonging.”
Anchoring the evening was Potions at 1 Ambawatta, a space known for its immersive cocktails and cultural programming. To mark the occasion, Potions raised a symbolic and celebratory toast to the LGBTQIA+ community with the launch of a special Pride-inspired cocktail, unveiled in conjunction with the book launch and added permanently to the Potions menu.
Sahil Baweja, Founder of Potions, said, “Potions has always believed in storytelling, through flavour, through experience, and through community. Launching this drink alongside Suvir’s memoir is our way of honouring courage, authenticity, and the many identities that shape our city. This is not a one-night gesture; it’s a commitment we’re proud to place on our menu.”
The launch at Potions reflected a meeting of worlds—literary, political, and gastronomic—where personal truth met public dialogue. As Tell My Mother I Like Boys found its readers, the evening stood as more than a book launch, becoming a shared moment of reflection, affirmation, and celebration.
About the Book
Tell My Mother I Like Boys is a bold and transformative memoir exploring identity, queerness, shame, and self-acceptance. Spanning Delhi, Bombay, and New York, it chronicles how brokenness can become a beginning, and how living “without apology” becomes the truest form of dignity. The book has received advance praise from voices including Geetanjali Shree, Shashi Tharoor, Frances Mayes, and Vikas Khanna.
About the Author
Suvir Saran made history with Devi, the first Indian restaurant in North America to earn a Michelin star. One of the world’s first openly gay chefs, he has shaped iconic restaurants across India and internationally. A lifelong student of Indian classical music and a multidisciplinary artist, Saran’s work spans cuisine, craft, and culture. His memoir is an unflinching gift of courage, resilience, and return.
