Owner, Chef Atul Kochhar

Born in Jamshedpur, eastern India. Lives with wife, daughter and baby son. Career : Entered family business in 187 then trained and worked at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi (1989 - 1994) where he gained a Diploma in Hotel Management and established himself as one of the leading chefs of his generation. Chef/Owner of Benares in Berkeley Square, London. Previously Executive Chef at Tamarind in Mayfair from 1994 when they gained a Michelin Star in 2001 at the age of 31. In June 2002 Atul joined Marks and Spencer as consultant chef for their Indian range ; lives in West London with wife & daughter ; author ; TV personality. Gained Michelin Star at Benares 2007. Associated with Safran Restaurant at Le Touessrok Resort in Mauritius. Took part in BBC2's Great British Menu in 2006. He is a regular on the BBC’s “Saturday Kitchen” and has appeared on ITV’s “Saturday Cooks” and UKTV Foods’ “Great Food Live”. August 2008 opened his second restaurant Vatika located at Wickham Vineyard in Hampshire. Author of Indian Essence Cookbook.