He became the first Indian Chef de Cuisine of the Asian restaurant Dashanzi, running it for two years before reopening the Indian specialty outlet Saffron.
Rohit Chadha
JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Spa and Resort
He always aspired to be a chef. One of his favorite movies, Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese, features a profound monologue that begins, “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.” Growing up in suburban Mumbai’s Dahisar, he knew as early as the 7th grade that he wanted to be a chef and command his brigade. After nearly 14 years of constant dedication to cooking, he now serves as the Executive Chef at JW Marriott Walnut Grove Spa and Resort, possibly the youngest chef to hold such a position at a luxury hotel of this stature.
His culinary journey began at IHM Mumbai (2008–2011). During this time, he underwent a six-month training program at Madinat Jumeirah, working in various kitchens under expatriate chefs to hone his skills. This immersive experience included working in renowned restaurants such as Al Hambra (Spanish specialty), MJ’s Steakhouse, and Khaymat Al Bahar (a coffee shop). During this period, he also had the opportunity to contribute to prestigious events such as the World Economic Forum, the Horse Racing World Cup, and the Dubai International Film Festival.
Upon returning to India, he was selected through campus placements for the Hotel Operational Management Training Program at The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. After training in various departments for six months, he was placed at Golden Dragon, the Sichuan Chinese specialty restaurant, where he continued to work for five years. During his tenure, he also trained at Shamiana, the hotel’s coffee shop, to gain a broader understanding of operations. Notable highlights during this period included working with Chef Alain Passard for a four-hands dinner service, contributing to Zodiac Grill’s 25th anniversary, and participating in the 8th anniversary of Wasabi by Morimoto.
After six years at Taj, he joined Chef Hemant Oberoi to open the namesake restaurant in Bandra Kurla Complex. Between 2017 and 2018, he spearheaded operations for this fine-dining European concept restaurant, which catered to the city’s elite clientele.
In 2018, he took up the role of Chef de Cuisine at Hyatt Regency Pune, managing two restaurants: an all-day diner and Zeta, a European-style bistro. His tenure included representing the hotel at the Hyatt Good Food Series at Grand Hyatt Bolgatty. He was also selected by Himalaya as one of the top 10 chefs in India, earning an opportunity to travel to Japan to enhance his culinary skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led a small team of eight chefs as part of the business contingency plan, for which he was awarded Leader of the Year in 2021. He also opened Lotus Deck, an Asian restaurant, which, along with Zeta, won awards for Best Restaurant in 2019 and 2021.
From 2021 to 2024, he worked at JW Marriott Juhu Mumbai, where he was promoted to Executive Sous Chef in 2022. He became the first Indian Chef de Cuisine of the Asian restaurant Dashanzi, running it for two years before reopening the Indian specialty outlet Saffron. During this period, he cooked for Marco Pierre White, collaborated with Crossings Dubai for a four-hands dinner, and worked under the Masters of Marriott program with Chef Chintan Pandya of the famed Dhamaka restaurant in New York.
Since moving to JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Spa and Resort 11 months ago, he has been leading a brigade of 75 professionals across five food and beverage outlets. Under his leadership, the guest voice score for the quality of food has become the highest in the Asia Pacific region. He is deeply committed to working with regional, hyperlocal, and indigenous ingredients that reflect the terroir of the region.
In addition to his culinary accomplishments, he is an avid traveler. His travel experiences include backpacking through Thailand (2013), Sri Lanka (2016), Dubai (2017), Jakarta (2019), Vietnam (2023), and Malaysia (2024). He is also set to travel to the Maldives in January 2025 to open JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island and plans to visit Hong Kong the same year.
