When Life Gives You Lemons...
Forbes India|February 1, 2019

Bhupender Nath rose from the middle-class lanes of Patna to the swish set of Dubai, and is now taking Indian food into new realms

Pankti Mehta Kadakia
When Life Gives You Lemons...

My mind is a jumble, first because of what I am tasting, and then because of what I am hearing. I’m processing the story that is coming at me from the other side of the table, which is much at odds with what’s on it. I’ve just sampled a smidgen of stone-cold, deeply savoury khandvi gelato—and liked it. My Gujarati heritage isn’t certain of what feelings to allow, but it involuntarily nods to the cleverness of an airy, sophisticated—wait for it—dhokla gazpacho that comes next.

I’m at the uber-cool Trèsind in Dubai, stealing a few hours from a family holiday to meet with its owner, Bhupender Nath, 46, who I’ve been chasing since I heard the restaurant is making a Mumbai debut—and who has quite the story to tell.

Nath arrives late, and apologising, leaving me to first acquaint myself with Trèsind’s dim elegance, fitted in Dubai’s swanky and storied Nassima Royal Hotel. He now sits across from me at a quiet corner table, in a natty patterned shirt and casual blazer. It’s a little after noon on a Saturday, and diners haven’t yet begun to pour in. He has called various times over the past few minutes with regrets for his tardiness—he was out till 4 am flitting from one flashy party to the next—and now shakes his head at the mounting social obligations his wife and he have to scale in Dubai.

“Here, no one comes for lunch before 2 pm on a Saturday,” he gestures to the empty restaurant. “In this season, on a Friday, everyone in Dubai is out partying until late.”

That’s part of the reason we’re here today. The rest is a long-winded tale that begins back in India. In Patna.

Denne historien er fra February 1, 2019-utgaven av Forbes India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February 1, 2019-utgaven av Forbes India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA FORBES INDIASe alt
Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued
Forbes India

Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued

The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years
Forbes India

Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years

As of 2020, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s super app for financial services had run up losses in thousands of crores. Now, as digital payments gets yet another boost courtesy Covid-19, he’s hopeful of reaching near breakeven in two years

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 4, 2021
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN
Forbes India

THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN

Covid-19 has shown that women are more likely to face the brunt of job losses than men, and find fewer opportunities when they want to resume. That apart, several have to deal with increased hours of unpaid work at home and even domestic abuse

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Forbes India

LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

Leaders must not only guard their teams first during a crisis, but also deal with stakeholders with respect and dignity. And apart from pursuing business goals, they should remain committed to our planet and the environment

time-read
7 mins  |
May 21, 2021
PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST
Forbes India

PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST

Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground

time-read
9 mins  |
May 21, 2021
INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR
Forbes India

INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR

While clinical research will get a boost, having a skilled workforce and public spending on health care will be challenges in the near term

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION
Forbes India

DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION

As the pandemic brings technology and innovation to the core of business and daily life, the next decade will see about 150 million digital-first families in India

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?
Forbes India

Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?

Augmenting sustainability alongside digital capabilities is an economic, competitive and global opportunity for India’s businesses, but regulations need to reflect intent

time-read
10 mins  |
June 4, 2021
EV Dream Still Miles Away
Forbes India

EV Dream Still Miles Away

Electric vehicles have remained a buzzword in India for years. But not much has moved on ground due to high upfront costs, range anxiety and charging infrastructure

time-read
6 mins  |
June 4, 2021
Living Waters
Forbes India

Living Waters

A virus has caused us to scramble for oxygen but our chokehold on the environment is slowly strangling the very waters that breathe life into us. The virus is a timely reminder: We are merely consumers, not producers of life’s breath on this planet

time-read
4 mins  |
June 4, 2021