Atul Kochhar is taking Indian food to the world

Madhur Jaffrey made Indian food a household name in the UK; Atul Kochhar's restaurants made it gourmet. Neeta Lal meets the Indian chef with two Michelin stars to his credit

Like the man, his restaurant too, is understated. I’m at Benares Restaurant & Bar, on 12a Berkeley Square House in London’s spiffy Mayfair, which won its India-born, British-based owner-chef Atul Kochhar his second Michelin star in 2007. Handcrafted furniture, water features and glowing lamps populate the 80-seater discreetly. An elegant bar occupies a sizeable section of the eatery. Waiters bustle about. Fragrant masala chai soon materialises at my table.   

As I sip the brew, the man saunters in. “Hi, I’m Atul!” says Kochhar, pulling up a chair across from me. He is a two-Michelin-star chef, presiding over a culinary