Food for the Soul

Manav Tuli, formerly a chef at the award-winning Chaat restaurant at Rosewood Hong Kong, partnered with restaurant operator Jia Group to open Leela, a restaurant that pays tribute to India's rich food heritage, in November

- Tara Sobti 

How did you first meet Jia Group’s CEO and founder Yenn Wong?

I was having lunch with chef Agustin Balbi and I asked him how he opened [the Spanish Japanese Michelinstarred restaurant] Andō. He said he spoke to Yenn, and then it came to fruition. I told him I would love to speak to her too, and he connected me. Within ten days, my communication with Yenn started, and it did not stop [laughs].

Were you nervous about this new venture?

With any new beginning, it can be nerve-racking, yes. I was leaving a very well-established restaurant [Chaat], which was doing excellently. Leaving was difficult. My wife asked me: “If everything is going so well at Rosewood, why are you leaving?” She often asks what kind of crazy man she’s married to [laughs]. But you need adventure in your life. Chaat had achieved everything it had to and I was looking for a new challenge. I was with Rosewood for four years and my team was ready for a change too. Being an entrepreneur, and being a partner at Leela, gives me a very different perspective— and it’s a different kind of pressure. I’ve learnt a lot. It’s not just about making food and putting it on the plate. It’s ten times more than that. It’s exciting and it was just the right time.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Leela and what sets it apart from other Indian restaurants in the city?