Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin GupShup's Executive Chef Zahir Khan GupShup As I’ve written many times in this column before, one of the best ways to travel to a destination without actually getting on a plane and going there is to experience its food. Sometimes that means dining at a restaurant such as a Greek taverna to be transported to Greece or a churrascaria to taste what Brazil’s all about. Today, I invite you to come with me to India, the country where I was born and still consider home.
The place where I get my “home” fix apart from my mother-in-law’s kitchen in Mumbai is a restaurant in New York, where I live, which me and my family love: GupShup . Located near Union Square, GupShup is a vibrant, always packed spot that makes for a great time every time. The colorful decor includes kitschy art and a two-story wall of 3,000 steel tiffins or vessels that Indians use to carry their lunches.
Bollywood beats that make you want to get up and dance are on play and add to the “I’m so happy” vibe. But the patrons wouldn’t pack this place if the food wasn’t seriously good, and that, it truly is. As an Indian, I can tell you that the dishes are delicious authentic and showcase regions throughout the country.
The culinary master who creates them is Zahir Khan, GupShup’s head chef who comes from a family of master chefs and has has worked under celebrities in his field such as Jiggs Kalra and Moin Qureshi. Chef Zahir believes that India.