Podcasts about chai pani

Priyanka Mattoo is the author of Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones, a wonderful memoir about food and place and how moving around the world inspired volumes and volumes of stories. We so loved having Priyanka into the studio, and we covered some serious ground. We discuss her upbringing in the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and her journey to Hollywood, where she worked as a talent agent and studio executive. We talk about food on TV, The Bear (naturally), but also what excites her on television today.Also on the show, Matt talks about his recent trip to India with chef Meherwan Irani of restaurants Chai Pani and Botiwalla. They visited Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmednagar and experienced so much including stops at Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, Cafe Yezdan, and Parsi Dairy Farm.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you.MORE FROM PRIYANKA MATTOO:The Best Restaurant in Town [TASTE]‘We Never Moved Back to Kashmir, Because We Couldn't' [NYT]The Monday Media Diet with Priyanka Mattoo [WITI]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chef Deuki Hong and journalist Matt Rodbard discuss their new cookbook, “KOREAWORLD,” and their upcoming celebratory dinner at Chai Pani on June 25th. Plus, we listen back to Lois's 2021 conversation with author and cultural historian Caseen Gaines about the 1921 history-making musical, “Shuffle Along.” Gaine's book is “Footnotes: The Black Artists Who Rewrote the Rules of the Great White Way.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we're talking pizza. Links and topics covered below...Pizza Quest—New episode featuring Peter Friedman, who runs All Purpose Pizza Shop Snacky Tunes—Darin hits both coasts, with NYC Chef Dan Kluger of Greywind, and with Matt Costa at Dangerbird Studios in LADonate to our 15th Anniversary campaign and enter to win in Asheville! Lunch for 2 at Chai Pani, dinner for 2 at Botiwalla, 2 tickets to AVLFestAmuse News is hosted and produced by RJ Bee and Heritage Radio Network. Original music by Amar Sastry.

Abhay is joined by the co-founder, CEO, and chef of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group, Meherwan Irani.  They chatted about his ongoing experiences with nostalgia, learning from the American South, and cultivating a food and spice empire.(0:00 - 3:11) introduction(3:11) Part 1: being a romantic, that classic American "bhel puri" story(14:24) Part 2: "andaaz", living in the American South, strategy/consistency(29:29) Part 3: letting go, cooking with professional patriotism, the descriptive word jumble(40:46) Conclusion

If you sit down with Meherwan Irani long enough you will likely figure out the answers to a lot of nagging questions that have been bothering you. Meherwan is not just a Chef he is a problem solver. Listen to this episode and find out: The evolution of Chai Pani & chow  How you can marry the boss's daughter  When to know the problem you are solving for? What is Chow Chow Asheville & Chow Chow on a plate? Where is the Indian culinary pantheon relevant?     On the mic this week: @trujillo.media @weisswine Join our Facebook family: @NCFandBPod Follow us on Instagram: @ncfbpod Find us on YouTube: NC F&B Youtube Support our Sponsors: Help us welcome  SYSCO as our Title Sponsor!! Drink better coffee - get Carrboro Coffee Roasters Here We have our own bitters thanks to Remedy Cocktail Co!  Get the NC F&Bitters HERE!

In this week's episode, Sid Evans, Editor-in-Chief of Southern Living Magazine, chats with Meherwan Irani, the chef behind Chai Pani, which in 2022 was recognized as the most outstanding restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation. Serving Indian street food in Asheville, NC, it draws on Irani's childhood in India, where his family welcomed travelers from the West into their home, and he'd sometimes play hooky from school to go out and sample the delicious street food of his hometown. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Biscuits & Jam is produced by: Sid Evans - Editor-in-Chief, Southern Living Krissy Tiglias - GM, Southern Living Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Dominique Arciero - Audio Engineer/Producer Jeremiah McVay - Script Editor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We spoke with Molly Irani, co-founder of Chai Pani Restaurant Group, about building a different kind of restaurant culture while also creating a thriving, decorated restaurant group with five concepts across three cities and a popular CPG line.

On today's episode of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer has a special “On the Road” show from the 2022 James Beard Awards in Chicago, which took place from June 11-13 in Chicago, IL. Shari's coverage includes her exclusive red carpet interviews with nominees and presenters at the Chef and Restaurant Awards at the Lyric Opera House, with a bit of our Speed Round game too! Plus, Shari has interviews with some of the winners during the awards ceremony and celebration (listed below). Congratulations to everyone! It was a wonderful awards weekend! Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to celebrate your journey; and Solo Dining experience at Chef Jason Vincent's Giant in Chicago. 2022 James Beard Awards -- Shari's red carpet and awards ceremony interviews in chronological order:Damian Sansonetti, Chaval, Portland, MENominee: Best Chef: Northwest and PacificRuben Ortega, Xochi, Houston, TX Nominee: Outstanding Pastry ChefZak Stern, Zak the Baker, Miami, FLNominee: Outstanding Baker Irene Li, Mei Mei Dumplings and Prepshift, Boston, MALeadership WinnerMavis Jay-Sanders, Drive Change, NYCLeadership WinnerChristian ClemensonActor playing James Beard, HBO Max series “Julia” JJ Johnson, FIELDTRIP, NYCNominee: Best Chef: New York StateLydia Chang, Pichet Ong, and *Peter Chang, Peter Chang, VA and MD*Nominee: Outstanding Chef(Lydia translates)Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar, Dhamaka, NYCWinner: Best Chef: New York StateNominee: Best New Restaurant, NYCCaroline Schiff, Gage & Tollner, NYCNominee: Outstanding Pastry ChefKatie Button and Felix Meana, Curate, Asheville, NCWinner: Outstanding HospitalityNominee: Best Chef: SoutheastTiffany Derry, Roots Southern Table, Farmers Branch, TXNominee: Best New RestaurantNominee: Best Chef: TexasCheetie Kumar, Garland, Raleigh, NCNominee: Best Chef: SoutheastChris Williams, Lucille's Hospitality Group, Houston, TXNominee: Outstanding RestaurateurAyesha Nurdjaja, Shukette, NYCNominee: Best Chef: New York StateYia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen, Minneapolis, MNNominee: Best Chef: MidwestManeet Chauhan, Morph Hospitality Group, Nashville, TNPresenterClare Reichenbach, CEOJames Beard FoundationEllen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group, Philadelphia, PANominee: Outstanding RestaurateurSheldon Simeon, Tin Roof, Kahului, HINominee: Best Chef: Northwest and PacificClaudia Fleming, Union Square Hospitality Group, NYCPresenter**Justin Chearno, The Four Horseman, Brooklyn, NYCWinner: Outstanding Wine ProgramAlba Huerta, Julep, Houston, TXWinner: Outstanding Bar ProgramBrandon Jew, Mister Jiu's, San Francisco, CAWinner: Best Chef: CaliforniaWinner (Media Awards): Best Restaurant and Professional Book (with Tiehlon Ho)Grace YoungHumanitarian of the YearErick Williams, Virtue Restaurant & Bar, Chicago, ILWinner: Best Chef: Great LakesKatie Button and Felix Meana, Curate, Asheville, NCWinner: Outstanding HospitalityNominee: Best Chef: SoutheastMeherwan Irani, Chai Pani, Asheville, NCWinner: Outstanding RestaurantMartin Yan Lifetime Achievement Award**Photo Courtesy of Shari Bayer.Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. And check out Shari Bayer's YouTube Channel for two #JBFA videos with red carpet highlights and more! Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. HRN is home to transformative exchanges about food. Our 35+ member-supported food podcasts empower eaters to cultivate a radically better world. This month, we're asking you to join us. Become a monthly sustaining member at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.All in the Industry is Powered by Simplecast.

Two of Schedulefly's customers just won the two biggest James Beard awards, Outstanding Chef (Mashama Bailey, The Grey, Savannah, GA) and Outstanding Restaurant (Chai Pani, Asheville, N.C.). We read some quotes from their acceptance speeches on this episode. 

Molly is such a genuine, kind person, it's no wonder Chai Pani is such a successful, admired business. Enjoy!

In this episode, we interview Meherwan Irani, the CEO, Executive Chef, and Founder of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group. Here’s What You’ll Learn in this Episode: Chai Pani is a context-based business model that focuses on why instead of the how Why it’s important to just let your team come up with better ideas Who Meherwan considers "carriers," and why they are pivotal in allowing a business to grow and expand The origins of the name Chai Pani How and why the team at Chai Pani focuses on the little things For complete show notes, including some supplementary information from this episode visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/089 To see our upcoming social events and workshops, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/events To recommend an interviewee, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/podcast Music by Commonwealth Choir If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, review, and/or share! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville's makers. Check out Making It in Asheville on other platforms! https://www.instagram.com/makingitinasheville/ https://www.makingitinasheville.com/youtube/ https://makingitinasheville.com/subscribe/

In this episode, we interview Meherwan Irani, the CEO, Executive Chef, and Founder of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group. Here's What You'll Learn in this Episode: Chai Pani is a context-based business model that focuses on why instead of the how Why it's important to just let your team come up with better ideas Who Meherwan considers "carriers," and why they are pivotal in allowing a business to grow and expand The origins of the name Chai Pani How and why the team at Chai Pani focuses on the little things For complete show notes, including some supplementary information from this episode visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/089 To see our upcoming social events and workshops, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/events To recommend an interviewee, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/podcast Music by Commonwealth Choir If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, review, and/or share! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville's makers. Check out Making It in Asheville on other platforms! https://www.instagram.com/makingitinasheville/ https://www.makingitinasheville.com/youtube/ https://makingitinasheville.com/subscribe/

In this episode, we interview Meherwan Irani, the CEO, Executive Chef, and Founder of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group. Here’s What You’ll Learn in this Episode: Chai Pani is a context-based business model that focuses on why instead of the how Why it’s important to just let your team come up with better ideas Who Meherwan considers "carriers," and why they are pivotal in allowing a business to grow and expand The origins of the name Chai Pani How and why the team at Chai Pani focuses on the little things For complete show notes, including some supplementary information from this episode visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/089 To see our upcoming social events and workshops, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/events To recommend an interviewee, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/podcast Music by Commonwealth Choir If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, review, and/or share! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville's makers. Check out Making It in Asheville on other platforms! https://www.instagram.com/makingitinasheville/ https://www.makingitinasheville.com/youtube/ https://makingitinasheville.com/subscribe/

We're going to western NC to visit Asheville, NC and get all the local approved places to stay, eat, drink and stay with @sarajanecase from @enneagramandcoffee! SHOW NOTES: Where to stay: Hotel Indigo, Grove Park Inn, The Windsor Where to eat: Cucina24, Chai Pani, Buxton Hall BBQ, All Souls Pizza, Sunny Point Cafe, Over Easy Cafe (only pop-up shops), Mayfel’s Where to drink: Little Jumbo, Antidote, Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge, Wicked Weed Funkatorium, Burial Beer, Highland Brewing Company The Montford Rooftop Bar, The Crow and Quill What to do: Grove Park Inn, Grove Park Inn Spa, Biltmore Estate, LaZoom tour Top 5 Coffee Shops: Farewell, High Five Coffee, Trade and Lore, Liberty House Coffee and Cafe, Summit Coffee Co. Rapid Fire: Instagrammable spot: Wall Street Pizza: All Souls Pizza Asheville Event: Bele Chere Festival Coffee Shop: Liberty House Coffee and Cafe Wine & Cheese: Sante Best Season: Fall Favorite rooftop: The Montford Rooftop Bar Hiking Spot: Craggy Gardens Local Business: High Five Coffee

A lively discussion with Meherwan Irani, co-founder of Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani, Buxton Hall BBQ, Botiwalla, Spicewalla). Irani chats about his latest business venture (launched during the pandemic), creative intuition, business pivots, and how the pandemic is leveling the playing field.

Chef Meherwan Irani pays homage to his homeland at his Indian restaurants in Atlanta and Asheville, NC. His innovative take on chaat, the crunchy, spicy street snacks he eats in India, has earned him four James Beard Award-nominations. Yet he is not bound by any notions of authenticity. In fact, some might balk at how he makes biryani in this episode. He cooks this traditional layered rice dish in a most untraditional way, and talks about why he believes it’s not fusion, it’s evolution. Follow Spicewalla, Chai Pani, and Meherwan Irani on Instagram. Learn more about his restaurants at ChaiPaniRestaurantGroup.com.Become a listener food sponsor and pay for the ingredients we cook with in a future episode by donating $20 at SkilletPodcast.com.Follow Skillet Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments and updates on Season Three.

This episode is brought to you by me, Susan Cooper. Because today is my birthday! For my birthday, I'd love for you to share my podcast on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you! You're the best. Welcome to Dinner Tonight Atlanta! I get it - there are too many great restaurants in Atlanta. That's why I'm going to decide for you. I’m taking you neighborhood by neighborhood, week by week through the restaurants of Atlanta. Nobody is paying me to do this (yet). I'm just here to help you decide where to go. This week we’re going to Downtown Decatur. Tonight we're going to Chai Pani at 406 W Ponce de Leon Ave. It's creative Indian street food. They also have classic thalis, platters and other spicy goodness on a Saturday night. Can't handle the spice? Enjoy a lassi or cold brew to cool you down. This is Susan Cooper and I just decided where you’re going to dinner tonight.

Hit the road to Lisdoonvarna for an exciting episode of great Celtic music. Flook, Brobdingnagian Bards, ChildsPlay, The Flying Toads, Rising Gael, Larry Mallette, Matt Lewis, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Echoelake, Daimh, A Campo Traviesa, Dylan Walshe, Crepuscule, Greenwich Meantime, Lilt I hope you enjoyed this week's show. If you did, please share the show with ONE friend. The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is dedicated to growing our community and helping the incredible artists who so generously share their music. If you find music you love, buy their albums, shirts, and songbooks, follow them on Spotify, see their shows, and drop them an email to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. Remember also to Subscribe to the Celtic Music Magazine. Every week, I'll send you a few cool bits of Celtic music news. It's a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Plus, you'll get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free, just for signing up today. Thank you again for being a Celt of Kindness. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 With the new year comes a new votes in the Celtic Top 20. This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. Just list the show number, and the name of as many bands in the episode as you like. Your vote helps me create next year's Best Celtic music of 2019 episode.  Vote Now! THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 0:03 "The Bunting Fund / Ocean Child" by Flook from Ancora 5:16 "Road to Lisdoonvarna/Swallow Tail/Morrison's Jig" by Brobdingnagian Bards from I Will Not Sing Along 7:53 "Cuckanandy/Chris Childs" by ChildsPlay from The Bloom of Youth 13:03 "The Exiles" by The Flying Toads from In Stitches 17:32 "Foggy Dew" by Rising Gael from Roots 22:10 CELTIC FEEDBACK 25:31 "Cloverleaf/Look Right/The Rolling Jig" by Larry Mallette and Matt Lewis from A Stroll in the Park 30:35 "Muirisin Deas Agus Nora" by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh from Foxglove & Fuschia Murr-en Nick OWL-eev 34:13 "Call of the Highlands" by Echoelake from Single 36:30 "Gur E Mo Ghille Dubh Dhonn" by Daimh from The Hebridean Sessions 42:04 CELTIC PODCAST NEWS 44:02 "The Eagle's Whistle/La Culebra" by A Campo Traviesa from Dreaming with the Rain 48:16 "Where Dublin Meets County Wicklow (feat. James Fearnley)" by Dylan Walshe from All Manner of Ways 51:43 "Itchy Fingers" by Crepuscule from Hap and Rowe 55:20 "Last Call" by Greenwich Meantime band from Proof 1:00:28 "Bill the Weaver/Port Sean Gabha/Taim in Arrears" by Lilt from X The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather. To subscribe, go to Apple Podcasts or to our website where you can become a Patron of the Podcast for as little as $1 per episode. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. CELTIC PODCAST NEWS * Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. My name is Marc Gunn. I am a Celtic musician and podcaster. This show is dedicated to the indie Celtic musicians. I want to ask you to support these artists. Share the show with your friends. And find more episodes at celticmusicpodcast.com. You can also support this podcast on Patreon. TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through it's culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Join the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST! There are many ways to support the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. You can make a donation via our virtual tip jar or paypal. You can buy a bumper sticker, pint glass or t-shirt. But the best way of all is to become a Patron of the Podcast. You can make a pledge of a dollar or more per episode and cap how much you want to spend each month. Your generosity funds the creation, promotion and production of the show. It allows us to attract new listeners and to help our community grow. And you also get episodes before regular listeners. And when we hit a milestone, you get an extra-long episode. We are $47 away from a two-hour instrumental special along with sending every patron a free 2019 sticker. You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast at http://patreon.com/celticpodcast. I want to thank our Patrons of the Podcast: Chris C., Dwayne B., Cathy H., Kevin L., Trevor, Murray F I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? You can send a written comment along with a picture of what you're doing while listening. Email a voicemail message to celticpodcast@gmail.com Denis Konouck emailed:  “Welcoming you to Atlanta.  A great place to live. I moved from DC to Decatur Ga in 1992 to be around for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.  Never moved back. Three random Celtic items. 1) WRFG (FM 89.3) has a long-running Celtic music show broadcasting every Sunday 5-7pm 2) The Marlay House in Decatur GA is our best local Irish pub.  The pub used to have a weekly Irish music session but I think that has gone dormant.  One of the best pubs to get a pint, watch rugby and football (soccer) and get some trad food.  Good place for St. Patrick's Day with live music. Bonus is that the Marlay has its own fish n' chips food truck that goes to outdoor festivals. 3) Mac McGee on Decatur square is another good Irish pub with a large selection of irish whiskey.  The pub occasionally has Irish music. Decatur itself has some of the best restaurants and bars in the Atlanta.  I particularly recommend the Brick Store Pub (best beer selection in US) and Chai Pani (great Indian cuisine). Wishing you a smooth relocation” Sam Vermeulen emailed on Facebook: "Just discovered this show on spotify. I'm on the 3rd episode  non stop . Thanks for doing this." Nancy Klein emailed a photo: "Dear Mark, I am an American woman who loves your show. I listen to it in Spain, where I live now. We used to live in Ireland where I really enjoyed listening to music there. So your show brings Ireland back to me. Here are three photos of the Dingle Pennisula in Ireland, where you will be going on your upcoming trip with fellow Celtic music lovers. With appreciation for all that you do"

Chef and restaurateur Meherwan Irani is on a mission to change the perception of Indian food in America. Born in London, raised in India, and living in America for many decades, Irani’s experience with his native food is textured. At his outstanding and innovative Asheville and Atlanta restaurants, Chai Pani, he articulates a clear vision in the form of street food, which on this lively episode of the show we discuss in detail.From his Internet famous kale pakora, to the idea of jugaad—which basically means the ingenious ethic of hacking things to make them work—to his clear argument that there really isn’t something called Indian food. I love this guy.Also on the show, Anna has a fun and revealing interview with Donald Moore, the Chief Culinary Officer at The Cheesecake Factory. And, yes! They discuss the origins of the cheeseburger springroll.

It's hard to put into words how much respect I have for Meherwan Irani. The 3x James Beard Award nominee has been so generous with his time with us over the years, including being featured in our second Restaurant Owners Uncorked book. We caught up with him this week after interviewing a few of the team members Chai Pani recently sent to India for twelve days, to learn at a deep, intimate level about the inspiration for Chai Pani. We talked about why it was important for that trip to happen, and much more about the restaurant business, Meherwan's goals, and the legacy he hopes to leave. This is a can't-miss episode. Enjoy!

Chai Pani Restaurant Group recently sent five team members to India for twelve days, to get a true, deep understanding of the inspiration for Chai Pani, Indian street food. Three of the team members, Isaac, Andy and Gavin sat down with me to share why they went, what they learned, and how the trip impacted each of them both professionally and personally. In over a decade of serving restaurants, this is one of the coolest investments I've ever seen a restaurant make. This is such an incredible story, and we're so proud at Schedulefly to have the opportunity to share it. Enjoy...

Carmelo has been in the restaurant business since he was fifteen years old. An artist and an active non-profit volunteer, Carmelo has thrived in the family environment at Chai Pani and has learned how to make special connections with customers and provide them "wow" experiences. Enjoy...

What does authentic mean? And what is the responsibility of the consumer of the art versus that of the artist? I heard those discussions in my graduate school literature classes years ago, and really, they bear out in discussions of food as well. Case in point, this chat with Meherwan Irani, two-time James Beard chef semifinalist with five restaurants in Asheville, NC, Atlanta, and Decatur, GA. He made his name with Chai Pani in Asheville, which enthusiastically celebrates Indian street food, and so you don’t want to miss the part of this discussion where he explains some iconic dishes he serves. We chatted during the Highlands Food & Wine Festival on a day it was 38 degrees at noon, and he and his staff served a lamb chili to a crowd that went through 500 portions in under two hours. I’ll bet a lot of those people didn’t even ask what the name of the dish was, they’d just heard it was good. And for Irani, I bet that omission probably didn’t ruin his day. He sees his role, or at least a role he’s adopted, as that of ambassador for intense Indian flavors that are well-crafted but not intimidating. It’s the idea behind his newest venture, Spicewalla too, which aims to serve both chefs and home cooks and provide the freshness for the Indian spice pantry about which Irani is so passionate. It’s just another example of a man who is constantly considering his role in the communities he serves, in the larger idea of American cooking, and in continuing to create what he calls a “pop of something happening” in the way Indian food is being interpreted here. My South happily encompasses this too, and I am always at the ready to sop my plate of curry with a piece of naan.

Meherwan Irani from Chai Pani in Asheville joins Hanna and Robert to talk about blending Indian street food with Southern ingredients as well as his new BBQ project Buxton Hall. Also: just in time for St. Patrick's day, Irish whisky is making a comeback. Theme song by The Bluestone Ramblers (thebluestoneramblers.com)

Charleston Wine + Food was more than just biscuits and grits! For a special interview about Indian cuisines and influences, Kat Johnson welcomed Maneet Chauhan of Chauhan Ale and Masala House in Nashville and Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani in Asheville and Atlanta. They each share stories of growing up in India and how their experiences shaped the type of food they cook. For Maneet, she was always the kid in the kitchen asking questions about techniques and ingredients. She now expertly blends Indian and Southern flavors in her menus. Meherwan had a much different experience, since traditionally boys didn't spend much time cooking where he grew up. Instead, he found his love of food on the street. When you experience the food at Chai Pani, you understand why Meherwan decided to pay homage to those flavors. Both Maneet and Meherwan are helping Indian cuisine reach a larger audience by making it approachable and educational. They even have lots of helpful advice for home cooks hoping to try their hand at preparing traditional indian dishes – and the first piece is "never use curry powder!"

Meherwan Irani got an MBA and spent 15 years in corporate America, working for other people. He was not unhappy, but never jumped out of bed in the morning excited to head to work. So in 2009 as the economy was collapsing, he and his wife Molly took a leap of faith and decided to start a restaurant. Meherwan was a self-taught chef with a 150-page business plan and in need of $70,000 to get started. All the banks turned the Irani's down for a loan, as did the SBA. But they raised the money, convinced the landlord of a prime location in downtown Asheville, NC to lease them his space, and opened Chai Pani on day one with customers lined up around the block while having spent $0 on advertising and having only $250 in the cash register (and $0 in the bank), knowing they needed to sell a lot of food in the first three days or they'd have nothing left. But they were so busy the first day they had to close at 2pm because they ran out of food. Just five years later (2014), Meherwan was nominated for a James Beard award best chef in Southeast, and today he and Molly own five successful restaurants with another opening soon. This is a very inspiring, educational story about trusting the people that work for you, having passion and faith in yourself, using scarcity to your advantage, and not relying on conventional wisdom. Enjoy...

Learning to craft a story for business success...   Nathan sits down with Chef Meherwan Irani co-owner of Chai Pani Asheville, MG Road Lounge, Chai Pani Decatur, and yet to be opened Buxton Hall Barbecue for the 50th episode of Finding Asheville. They chat about growing up in India, why he decided to transition from a lucrative real estate sales career to opening Chai Pani, how to develop a chef’s palate, why intention and follow through is all you need in life to succeed, why being in the moment is Meherwan's solution to balancing the work between three locations and family, and why being a good story teller is the key to Irani’s success.   This episode was recorded at Mojo Coworking at 60 North Market Street in Downtown Asheville.   Be sure to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here to get new episodes to download to your listening devices each week and get caught up on past episodes!   Oh and if you are feeling super nice like the Finding Asheville Facebook page here.