10 food lords reveal their favourite hangout places in Delhi

After I listed the 26 restaurants (or dining experiences, or lack of them) that define Delhi's palate in my last column, I was overwhelmed by the response I got. In fact, I got material for another column based on the recommendations of my readers and social media followers, but that'll come later - after I have checked them out on my own!

The response made me wonder where chefs and restaurateurs like to go on an off day. They have discerning palates and have travelled around the world, so their recommendations definitely carry weight. I asked a randomly selected group of some of the best in the business to share the name of one restaurant they would definitely like to visit in 2016.

The list took me by surprise because they, like their guests (especially those of the younger generation), are re-discovering the beauty and diversity of the kitchens of India (to use the evocative brand name from the ITC stable in an entirely different way).

And... here's the list.

1. Ranveer Brar, celebrity chef and consultant, Flyp

A Lucknow boy, Brar earned his spurs in our city, where he was the executive chef of Radisson Blu MBD (Noida) and The Claridges New Delhi, before moving on to study at the Culinary Institute of America and then open two award-winning restaurants in Boston. Back in Delhi after a stint in Mumbai, Brar is not only giving a direction to MTV's pan-Indian restaurant venture, Flyp, but also indulging his sense of nostalgia. Unsurprisingly therefore, his must-visit restaurant for 2016 is Olive Bar and Kitchen in Mehrauli. "I have very fond memories of the space from my last stint in Delhi," says Brar. "I absolutely love the ambience and the starters there, but I haven't visited the place in 12 years. I would now love to visit it for an open-air Delhi winter dinner."

Also read: Health lessons from the kitchens of the Nawabs

Address: Haveli Nos. 6-8, Kalka Dass Marg, Mehrauli

2. Ajay Anand, chief culinary designer, Pullman/Novotel, New Delhi Aerocity

He may have spent the last 15 years on the high seas working at the fine-dining restaurants of the Carnival cruise ships, and now presides over the ultra-chic Pluck restaurant at the Pullman/Novotel, New Delhi Aerocity, but chef Ajay Anand's heart still beats for Sadar Bazar's Madan Lal Halwai. One of those few remaining sweet shops that trace their roots to pre-partition Lahore, the shop is famous for its Badam Pinni, Mango Barfi and Sohan Halwa and the poori-aloo sabzi it serves only on Sundays.

Address: 5285, Sadar Thana Road, Near Sadar Bazar Police Station

3. Saurabh Udinia, chef de cuisine, Farzi Cafe And Masala Library

The young chef's passion for Modern Indian Cuisine and molecular gastronomy drives the two successful restaurants whose kitchens he leads, but he loves Yeti: The Himalayan Kitchen's Nepalese Tibetan spread and the chicken curry at Rajinder Da Dhaba, Safdarjung Enclave. It's amazing how the more complex a chef's techniques are, the more basic food he pines for!

Also read: Why this Michelin star chef is not easily satisfied

Address: Yeti: The Himalayan Kitchen, Hauz Khas Village and M-Block, GK-II Main Market; Rajinder Da Dhaba, Safdarjung Enclave Market, Behind Old Kamal Cinema  

4. Manu Chandra, chef and partner, Monkey Bar And Fatty Bao

After AD Singh talent-spotted him for Olive Beach, Bangalore, after his return from the Culinary Institute of America, Manu Chandra became instantly famous for his Modern European haute cuisine. Chandra is now better known for Monkey Bar and Fatty Bao, "fun dining" bar-restaurants for the millennial generation, but his tastes are still very upper crust. No wonder, Indian Accent is on top of his list, but the stunning bit is that he's never been to India's finest restaurant! He must be the only person in the entire hospitality industry to have this dodgy distinction!

Address: Indian Accent, The Manor, 77, Friends Colony West

5. Vikram Khatri, executive chef, Guppy by Ai

Here's another young chef who has been single-minded in his focus on Japanese cuisine for the last 15 years. Today, he's without doubt the country's foremost Japanese chef, but the restaurant he's most excited about checking out in the year ahead is NRI (Not Really Indian) by the UK's Michelin-starred Indian celebrity chef, Atul Kocchar. The restaurant, all set to open in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), will feature dishes such as Bunny Chow and Johnny's Roti popularised by the Indian diaspora.  

Address: NRI, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai (the restaurant is scheduled to open in 2016)

6. Ruchira Hoon-Philip, food consultant and head of content, BetterButter

She wears the multiple hats of journalist, blogger, master baker and Web maven, but Ruchira's passion is to curate menus for new restaurants popping up in Delhi. Her latest is Dirty Apron at one end of the B-6 Market, Safdarjung Enclave, where the chicken laksa risotto is particularly famous. Being the conjurer of such eclectic dishes, Ruchira unsurprisingly is a big fan of Afghan Darbar, where the Afghan Burger and fries beckon to be checked out in 2016.

Address: Afghan Darbar, Lajpat Nagar-II, Behind Central Market (Near Bata Showroom)

7. Rohit Aggarwal, director, Lite Bite Foods:

The man who, in partnership with Dabur's Amit Burman, runs the largest airport restaurant business in the country, besides brands such as Punjab Grill and American Tandoor, wishes to revisit Chor Bizarre after a hiatus of 15 years. Why after such a long break? Says Aggarwal: "I had a really great experience when I went there many, many years ago. I love Kashmiri food and the taste of what I ate way back then still lingers in my head. What would I eat? Rista, gushtaba, tabakhmaaz." Being an avid hiker (and biker), Aggarwal can sweat away such indulgences.

Address: Chor Bizarre, Hotel Broadway, Asaf Ali Road (Near Delhi Gate)

8. Rohit Gambhir, executive chef, The Oberoi New Delhi:

As a chef he has been at the forefront of The Oberoi Group's " Rivaayat project" to revive the country's heritage cuisines, but modern Italian is his personal favourite, which is why Artusi, a stylish restaurant that celebrates the cuisine of Emilia Romagna, is his top choice as he prepares to usher in 2016.

Also read: Gourmet foods that will ruin every animal lover's appetite

Address: Artusi Ristorante e Bar, M-Block, Greater Kailash-II Market

9. Rajesh Variyath, Corporate Executive Chef, Radisson Blu Mbd, Noida

The experienced chef responsible for running two acclaimed restaurants - Made in India and RED - is headed to Chandni Chowk in 2016. His destination is Kake Di Hatti, which is without doubt the city's best haunt for stuffed paranthas (aloo-pyaaz and gobhi are my favourites), though it doesn't have the most salubrious ambience. They have these gimmicky giant paranthas, but you can always have one sliced according to your needs.

Address: Kake Di Hatti, Church Mission Road, Fatehpuri, Chandni Chowk

10. Arjun Sharma, chairman, Select Group

A second-generation travel entrepreneur, hotelier and the force behind Delhi-NCR's busiest mall, Select Citywalk, Sharma has a world-travelled palate, so he didn't surprise me when he said he wanted to visit Sakura, the Japanese restaurant (the first to serve real sushi and sashimi in the city) at The Metropolitan Hotel New Delhi, which was formerly the Nikko. But why Japanese when there's nothing left to be discovered of the cuisine? Sharma is quick with an answer: "I believe (and hope) they still maintain the quality of genuine Japanese food that they debuted with years ago. I have not been back for years and would love to go there."

Address: The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa New Delhi, Bangla Sahib Road.