Gauri Khan's restaurant chef breaks silence on viral 'fake paneer' controversy: 'It was a blessing in disguise'

Economic Times

3 hours ago

After being accused of serving "fake paneer" by a content creator, Gauri Khan's restaurant Torii faced backlash—only to come out stronger. Head chef Stefan Gadit revealed the controversy actually boosted business. Clarifying the scientific misinterpretation behind the iodine test, the team turned a PR crisis into an unexpected opportunity, proving that confidence and clarity can flip the script.
Torii, the Mumbai eatery co-owned by Gauri Khan, faced viral accusations of serving inauthentic paneer. But instead of damage, the controversy sparked curiosity. Chef Stefan Gadit revealed that business improved, calling it a "blessing in disguise." (Screenshots: Instagram/t oriimumbai )
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Chef Stefan Gadit Speaks Out: 'We Had Nothing to Worry About'
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Negative Publicity, Positive Outcome
When a social media influencer alleged that Gauri Khan's Mumbai restaurant Torii served 'fake paneer,' it triggered a food scandal none saw coming. The accusation, based on a self-conducted iodine test, claimed that the paneer had starch—a tell-tale sign, the influencer said, of it being inauthentic. The video gained traction fast, dragging Torii into a digital courtroom where culinary expertise was put on trial by trending hashtags.But in an unexpected twist, the fallout turned out to be more promotional than damaging.In a candid interview with The Indian Express, Torii's head chef Stefan Gadit broke his silence and addressed the whirlwind. 'The quality, the ingredients, everything we provide is top-notch,' he said. 'It makes an impact when we point fingers at something baseless... there's a lot of food chemistry involved. Just pouring something on food doesn't always tell the full story.'The chef maintained that Torii had followed every protocol and standard when it came to food sourcing and preparation, especially for Asian-inspired dishes which often use soy-based ingredients that can react during such tests.Instead of retaliating, the restaurant decided to educate. Gadit revealed that the management reached out to the influencer for a discussion, explaining how food science works—an approach that paid off. 'He understood and took off the post,' said Gadit, emphasizing that the restaurant trusted its customers to see through the noise.Rather than hurting the restaurant's business, the viral moment surprisingly boosted it. 'It increased our business and I got more than 20-30 followers on Instagram,' Gadit added with a laugh. 'So that was a blessing in disguise.'This unusual outcome proves how the digital age has changed the rules of crisis management—where sometimes, even bad press can be a marketing windfall.Following the viral video, Torii had promptly issued a statement clarifying that the test conducted only indicated the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. The statement reaffirmed that soy-based elements in certain Asian dishes could trigger such results, but that didn't make the paneer 'fake.' They stood by their food, stating their 'commitment to excellence remains unwavered.'For Gauri Khan's Torii, a viral accusation became an unexpected campaign—one that not only proved their culinary integrity but also added curiosity and footfall.