Michelin Ranked Tamarind Selects Executive Chef For Its U.S. Debut

Sept. 29, 2011 - PRLog -- Shachi Mehra has been named executive chef of Tamarind of London, which is set to make its U.S. debut in Newport Beach, Calif. in early November.  Born in India and raised in the U.S., Mehra will be blending her Western and Indian cultures to create dishes that marry tradition with modernity.  In preparation for the opening, Mehra has been working closely with Tamarind's Executive Chef Alfred Prasad, whose 11-year Michelin star legacy at the original location in London's Mayfair district has set the stage for the fall launch.

“Chef Mehra’s lifelong passion for the culinary arts and vast experience working in fine restaurants combined with her creativity and precision in the kitchen make her the prime candidate for introducing Tamarind to the States,” said Prasad, who said that the menu she has engineered artfully integrates California’s robust selection of seasonally fresh and sustainable foods from local farmers, ranchers and fisherman with Indian favorites and classics.  "I have enjoyed collaborating with her to help develop a menu that we think will be embraced by the American dining public."

Mehra spent summers during her youth in India, exposing her to the unique culture and myriad of tastes. Her original aspirations of becoming a doctor evaporated the moment she first stepped foot into the bustling kitchen of one of the East Coast's premier chefs, Bruce Johnson. This brief and fortuitous experience opened Mehra’s eyes as to how she could parlay her passion for the culinary arts into a career as a chef and she accepted Johnson's job offer on the spot. Since that day, Mehra has cut her teeth at some of the finest Indian restaurants in the country including NYC’s Tabla & Bread Bar, the Bombay Club in Washington DC and Palo Alto’s Junnoon (During her tenure there, she was named one of five “Rising Stars” by Gentry Magazine.)  While at Tabla, Mehra took an 8-month hiatus, embarking on a culinary exploration of the world with most of that time spent in India, where she learned about various ingredients, textures and foods that distinguish one region from another.  

Tamarind of London will build on the success of its Michelin honored predecessor with its unique blend of Indian cuisine and crossover dishes that take advantage of the West Coast’s fresh produce, seafood, poultry and lamb. The $3 million restaurant is set in a warm and sophisticated environment as conceived by award-winning Steven Langford Architects and is located in the chic Crystal Cove Promenade at 7862 East Coast Hwy, Newport Beach; 949-415-8865; www.tamarindoflondon.com.