Chef, Owner Udit Ranjan Sarkhel

Born 31 July 1958 - Died in Calcutta 9 February 2012 - a sad loss. Education : Obtained a Senior Cambridge, 3 year degree from Calcutta University and Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Technology in Bombay. Career : Joined Taj Group as trainee chef in 1981 and appointed Head Chef of Indian speciality restaurant Tanjore in 1984. Travelled extensively in India and organised training programmes for new trainees.. 1986 bestowed active memebrship to Les Toques Blanches as only second member in Bombay. Posted to London in 1988 as Executive Chef of The Bombay Brasserie and made honorary member of Chaine Dea Rotisserie in 1989. Has organised food festivals in Hong Kong 1984 & 1986 ; Singapore Hilton 1984 ; Festival of India Paris 1985 ; Ettington Park Hotel Stratford 1989 ; Foley Lodge Hotel in Newbury 1994. He has cooked for Mrs Indira Gandhi, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Sultana of Brunei plus celebrities such as Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Tom Cruise, Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn, Janet Jackson, and Mich Jagger. Has appeared numerous times on radio and TV and wrote the Bombay Brasserie Cookbook in 1996. Left Bombay Brasserie to start critically acclaimed Sarkhel's in Southfield, Wimbledon with wife Veronica helped by two children Neil and Jade. Gained numerous awards but closed the restaurant in 2007 after divorce. In late 2007 opened Mango & Silk in Sheen and after extensive research in India is concentrating on authentic cuisine and passing his expertise on to others via apprenticeship courses. Mango & Silk awarded Bib Gourmand in Michelin 2009. Died of heart attack whilst in Calcutta in February 2012 the day after his father.