Chef Manish Mehrotra moves on from Indian Accent, Comorin: ‘There’s a time when one needs to explore new frontier…’

Celebrated chef Manish Mehrotra, known for establishing multi-award winning restaurants Indian Accent and Comorin and taking them to the heights that they reached, has decided to move on from the restaurants and explore new frontiers.

“There’s a time when one needs to explore new frontiers and spend some time with the family and that time has come for me,” chef Mehrotra was quoted in a press statement issued by EHV International, the parents company.

Indian Accent, which promises innovative Indian cuisine and is one of the early restaurants to offer tasting menus, has been on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list year after year since 2015, currently ranking at number 26. In 2024, it also made it to the extended list of World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024. After its landmark presence in Delhi, the restaurant expanded its footprints to New York and most recently in Mumbai in 2023. Comorin, which offers flavours of the Indian subcontinent, made its debut on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants extended list in 2022 and is currently at rank 79.

“I had joined the company when I was a young man in the year 2000 and have literally grown with this company. I have learnt a lot and received great opportunities and support,” recalled chef Mehrotra in the press statement.

Talking about the brands that he had successfully established and became synonymous with, he said, “I leave very confident that the kitchen teams at all Indian Accent and Comorin restaurants are fully capable of maintaining the standards of excellence that these two restaurant brands are known for. I shall be closely watching and cheering all the chefs from the sidelines, especially chef Shantanu Mehrotra, executive chef of Indian Accent New Delhi, who has been with me right from day one and chef Rijul Gulati who is doing a terrific job as head chef, Indian Accent Mumbai.”

He also thanked the management and all his team members.

On Instagram, he shared a video offering a glimpse of his time spent at Indian Accent and Comorin and captioned it: “Twenty four incredible years with Old World Hospitality/ Ekatra… 15 magnificent years of Indian Accent… nine phenomenal years of Comorin… This has been a beautiful journey… beyond words… gratitude… As I move on to the new chapter in my life… I would like to thank everyone who made it possible… Mr Rohit Khattar, Rashmi Ma’am, Rishiv, all my Colleagues, Diners, Critics, Friends and most importantly my late wife Vindhya and my lifeline, my daughter Adah Mehrotra (sic).”

He also promised to “come back soon with something new, something exciting…”

Describing chef Mehrotra as an exceptional leader, the official statement read: “Chef Manish leaves a wonderful legacy at the two restaurant brands (Indian Accent and Comorin) which he helped build and nurture with his immense culinary talent and dedication. He is an exceptional leader and human being and will be sorely missed, but we wish him all the very best in his future journey and adventures.”

It further added that the chef Shantanu Mehrotra, executive chef at Indian Accent, New Delhi, will continue to lead the restaurant in Delhi with chef Gulati continuing to helm the kitchen of Indian Accent, Mumbai and chef Raveesh Kapoor at Indian Accent, New York. When it comes to Comorin, chef Dhiraj Dargan who has been the brand chef since inception will continue to expand that brand to further geographies.

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