Latest news with #Latin-Asian
News18
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Gauri Khan's Restaurant Torii Saw 'Increased' Sales After Fake Paneer Row, Reveals Chef
Last Updated: Torii is Gauri Khan's first restaurant. It is located in Mumbai's Bandra. Gauri Khan's Torii was recently in the news after a content creator claimed that the restaurant served 'fake paneer". The claim was made on the basis of the iodine test that went viral on Instagram. The stakeholders issued a statement, denying this allegation and explaining the science behind the test. In a recent chat with SCREEN, Head Chef Stefan Gadit opened up about the impact of the controversy. Stefan said, 'It makes an impact when we point fingers at something baseless. The quality, the ingredients, everything we provide is top-notch; we had nothing to worry about. We issued the statement so that people could know what is happening and how things are done." He added, 'There is a lot of stuff going on with food chemistry and food science, it takes four years, just pouring something on something was just…don't get me wrong. He did that with his pure intentions, just wanted to check." When asked if he had spoken to the content creator, Stefan said, 'We did speak to the gentleman and tried to get a sense of how things are done in the culinary world and how food science works. He understood and took off the post. We, as a team, as the management, believe that people are smart enough to understand what was going on." Reflecting on how the controversy impacted business, Stefan shared, 'It increased our business and I got more than 20-30 followers on Instagram, so that was a blessing in disguise, I would say." For the unversed, Gauri Khan ventured into the hospitality industry with her debut restaurant, Torii, located in Mumbai's vibrant Bandra neighbourhood. The establishment, which opened its doors in February 2024, offers a unique blend of Latin-Asian fusion cuisine in a setting that reflects Khan's signature style. The name Torii is inspired by the traditional Japanese gate found at the entrance of Shinto shrines, symbolising the transition from the mundane to the sacred. Khan's design philosophy for the restaurant incorporates this concept, aiming to create an immersive dining experience that transports guests into a world of refined elegance. Culinary direction at Torii is led by Chef Stefan Gadit, whose international experience influences the innovative menu. First Published: June 09, 2025, 19:45 IST
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Editorial: If you're in the office today, consider going out for lunch
Amy Le has been in the bricks-and-mortar restaurant business for a decade. Her Latin-Asian fusion restaurant Saucy Porka offers Loop workers exciting options such as duck gumbo, guajillo pork 'bacos' (tacos made from bao), and Puerto Rican rice with panang curry chicken. She does it all on a very tight margin at 335 S. Franklin St. The year started out offering some hope, as more office workers returned to the area due to stricter in-office policies. But lately, Le told us, she has noticed that when groups come in, someone in the party usually brings food from home. In 2024, Americans ate 3% fewer lunches out at restaurants and other venues, with a growing number of people opting to pack their lunch, according to Circana, a Chicago-based consumer analytics firm. But that's not the only problem at Saucy Porka. Le also told us she expects that the cost of goods and produce will go up due to new tariffs; she purchases many of her supplies and produce items from Mexico, China and Vietnam. And if her costs go up, she is hesitant to pass too much on to customers, who are already becoming less likely to dine out for lunch. People notice a 10% increase on a $10 sandwich. Uncertainty means people tighten their belts when it comes to little luxuries such as eating out. We can understand this decision, only logical when times are lean. But while you're tightening your personal budget, you might also consider the community you hope is still around when you're comfortable spending a little more money again. The big chains will most likely be able to weather this shift. The smaller joints — some of our favorites — could go under without customer support. Lunch isn't just transactional at work — it's one of the rare moments during the day when you have a chance to bond with co-workers. You can build trust and rapport by picking up food for a colleague. Or walk to grab takeout together. Maybe even have a sit-down meal. Lunch is also a chance to try something new that's not available in your neighborhood — or anywhere else, for that matter. This is Chicago, after all. In the years leading up to the pandemic, downtown developers fostered a new wave of dining hall-style experiences tailored to Loop workers, such as the now-defunct Revival Food Hall, which offered everything from coffee to barbecue to ramen to poke bowls. Others are still around, such as Willis Tower's Catalog and 'From Here On' in the Old Post Office, which between them are home to Chicago favorites such as Tempesta, Rick Bayless' Tortazo and Do-Rite Donuts and Chicken. Variety like this makes downtown Chicago an appealing place in which to live and work. Without it, the city becomes a lot less vibrant and exciting. And after COVID-19 led to the closure of hundreds of restaurants and food-related businesses, we feel protective of the food joints that remain, especially downtown. Le and her peers who made it through COVID just got out of survival mode. Let's not forget them as they navigate this new chapter. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
Chicago Tribune
10-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: If you're in the office today, consider going out for lunch
Amy Le has been in the bricks-and-mortar restaurant business for a decade. Her Latin-Asian fusion restaurant Saucy Porka offers Loop workers exciting options such as duck gumbo, guajillo pork 'bacos' (tacos made from bao), and Puerto Rican rice with panang curry chicken. She does it all on a very tight margin at 335 S. Franklin St. The year started out offering some hope, as more office workers returned to the area due to stricter in-office policies. But lately, Le told us, she has noticed that when groups come in, someone in the party usually brings food from home. In 2024, Americans ate 3% fewer lunches out at restaurants and other venues, with a growing number of people opting to pack their lunch, according to Circana, a Chicago-based consumer analytics firm. But that's not the only problem at Saucy Porka. Le also told us she expects that the cost of goods and produce will go up due to new tariffs; she purchases many of her supplies and produce items from Mexico, China and Vietnam. And if her costs go up, she is hesitant to pass too much on to customers, who are already becoming less likely to dine out for lunch. People notice a 10% increase on a $10 sandwich. Uncertainty means people tighten their belts when it comes to little luxuries such as eating out. We can understand this decision, only logical when times are lean. But while you're tightening your personal budget, you might also consider the community you hope is still around when you're comfortable spending a little more money again. The big chains will most likely be able to weather this shift. The smaller joints — some of our favorites — could go under without customer support. Lunch isn't just transactional at work — it's one of the rare moments during the day when you have a chance to bond with co-workers. You can build trust and rapport by picking up food for a colleague. Or walk to grab takeout together. Maybe even have a sit-down meal. Lunch is also a chance to try something new that's not available in your neighborhood — or anywhere else, for that matter. This is Chicago, after all. In the years leading up to the pandemic, downtown developers fostered a new wave of dining hall-style experiences tailored to Loop workers, such as the now-defunct Revival Food Hall, which offered everything from coffee to barbecue to ramen to poke bowls. Others are still around, such as Willis Tower's Catalog and 'From Here On' in the Old Post Office, which between them are home to Chicago favorites such as Tempesta, Rick Bayless' Tortazo and Do-Rite Donuts and Chicken. Variety like this makes downtown Chicago an appealing place in which to live and work. Without it, the city becomes a lot less vibrant and exciting. And after COVID-19 led to the closure of hundreds of restaurants and food-related businesses, we feel protective of the food joints that remain, especially downtown. Le and her peers who made it through COVID just got out of survival mode. Let's not forget them as they navigate this new chapter.
