Jump to content

Hemant Bhagwani

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hemant Bhagwani
Hemant Bhagwani

Hemant Bhagwani is an Indo-Canadian chef, sommelier, restaurateur, cookbook author, and entrepreneur based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1]

Education

[edit]

Bhagwani acquired his hotel and culinary management degree from Alpina School of Hotel Management Parpan in Switzerland (1993)[2] and followed it up with an EMBA from the University of Sydney (1994).[3] He completed his professional sommelier certification in Toronto, Canada, in 2002.

Career

[edit]

Bhagwani started his career by operating food service establishments in Sydney, Australia from 1994 to 1996, and then in Dubai, U.A.E., from 1996 to 2000.[4][5] In 2000, Bhagwani arrived in Toronto, and within two weeks, started working in CN Tower as Manager, Food and Beverage.[6]

In 2002, he decided to venture out on his own and took over a Hakka Chinese restaurant in Brampton, Ontario. He turned it around and renamed it.[4] He followed it up with Kamasutra restaurant and wine bar in Midtown, Toronto, Canada, in 2003.[7]

In 2007, he opened Amaya the Indian Room on Bayview Avenue, Toronto,[8][9][10][11][12] and Amaya's Bread Bar in 2008 in midtown Toronto.[3] He expanded the Amaya brand under the name of Amaya Express across Ontario, Canada.[13][14][15][16][17]

In 2013, Bhagwani created a unique Indian cuisine concept – Marathi, that continues to operate at Terminal 1, Toronto Pearson International Airport.[18][19]

Bhagwani started a lively Indian restaurant by the name Indian Street Food Company in 2015.[20][21][22][23] He was the first restaurateur in Toronto to institute the policy of no tipping to create an equal work environment.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] In the summer of the same year, Bhagwani conceptualized and opened Sindi Street Food in Mississauga.[34][35] Thus, being a serial entrepreneur,[36] he was recognized as a finalist in the 2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[37]

In 2016, Bhagwani opened The Fat Beet, blends of Indian, Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant in Thornhill, Ontario.[38][39][40]

On January 25, 2017, Bhagwani opened Leela Indian Food Bar, in The Junction neighbourhood of Toronto.[41][42] In August of that year, he sold Indian Street Food Co.[43][44]

In April 2018, Bhagwani launched a new club-themed restaurant, The Kolkata Club, in Mississauga, Ontario.[45][46]

Bhagwani was mentioned in Forbes online for sharing his entrepreneurial experience.[47] Bhagwani cherishes supporting young entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry.[48]

In the winter of 2018, Bhagwani launched another fast-casual concept, namely Good Karma,[49] a chain specializing in Indian food made from organic and locally sourced ingredients.[50][51][52][53][54]

Bhagwani is a strong supporter of skilled trades workers in Canada.[55] He advocates and employs hundreds of immigrant staff in his group of companies. He was hailed in media for supporting the immigration of foreign trade workers in Canada.[56][57] He encourages his staff members as his extended family.[58]

In late 2018, Bhagwani opened an Indian regional cuisine specialty restaurant named Goa Indian Farm Kitchen in Bayview Village Shopping Centre in North York, Toronto.[59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] In January 2020, he opened POPA – the first Burmese cuisine restaurant in Toronto at the Bayview Village Shopping Centre.[73][74][75][76][77][2][78][79][80][81][82][83]

In March 2020, Bhagwani was in the process of opening an independently run Indian cuisine restaurant at Chef's Assembly Hall when the city of Toronto was put under emergency closure to curtail the spread of COVID-19.[84][85] He is the first Canadian restaurateur to launch a lawsuit against insurance companies denying COVID-19 claims.[86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96]

On July 1, 2020, Bhagwani opened a new brunch restaurant named Egg Bird, in Leaside, Toronto.[97][98][99][100][101][102]

December 2022, Hemant Bhagwani is all set to bring his style of Indian cuisine to Tribeca, New York at 78 Leonard Street, the former Tetsu. [103]

March 2023, Toronto celebrity chef Hemant Bhagwani opens Goa New York in the Big Apple. [104]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Aksich, Caroline (21 September 2016). "Inside the kitchen of Amaya and Indian Street Food Co. owner and chef, Hemant Bhagwani". Toronto Life. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b Laws, Nick (2020-03-30). "In the Kitchen With: Hemant Bhagwani, Pōpa, Toronto". Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  3. ^ a b Nuttall-Smith, Chris (25 March 2016). "Indian Street Food Co.: The man behind Amaya looks to recapture the magic". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Reinvention the recipe for chef's success". Toronto Star. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. ^ Raqueno, Michelle (8 August 2015). "New Openings: Sindhi Indian Street Food Restaurant". insauga.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  6. ^ Jermyn, Diane (3 June 2011). "What makes Indian food authentic? Not the heat". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  7. ^ Mourtada, Rasha (26 March 2009). "Dehli with a difference". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  8. ^ Waxman, Adam (2014-06-01). "Where To DINE Now: Amaya Restaurant". DINE Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  9. ^ "Hemant Bhagwani | where.ca". where.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  10. ^ Sathiyanathan, Lakshine. "Amaya restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani takes tipping off the menu". CBC.ca. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Amaya the Indian Room to close later this month". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  12. ^ "Amaya Indian Restaurant in Toronto". dobbernationLOVES. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  13. ^ "17 Indian Dishes You Love To Eat, But Can't Pronounce". HuffPost Canada. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  14. ^ "Best Indian Restaurants in Toronto - Amaya Restaurant". www.amayarestaurant.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  15. ^ "Fast growing Indian food delivery chain Amaya expands into downtown with $70,000 renovation". www.yongestreetmedia.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  16. ^ "Junoon by Amaya | First Canadian Place | Exchange Tower". myfirstcanadianplace.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  17. ^ "5 Toronto Chefs Share the Food Trends they Want to See Take off Next". View the VIBE Toronto. 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  18. ^ Clay, Chris (2013-12-12). "Indian, Japanese cuisine on the menu at Pearson". Mississauga.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  19. ^ Airport, Toronto Pearson International. "Toronto Pearson celebrates the city with unique tastes from renowned Toronto chefs". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  20. ^ Fleming, Rebecca (16 November 2015). "Introducing: Indian Street Food Co". Toronto Life. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  21. ^ "See the chef, the room and the food at Indian Street Food Co". The Globe and Mail. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  22. ^ Leslie (2016-03-25). "Scrumpdillyicious: Indian Street Food: Hemant Bhagwani's New Amaya". Scrumpdillyicious. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  23. ^ "See the chef, the room and the food at Indian Street Food Co". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  24. ^ "Q&A: Hemant Bhagwani, the restaurateur who's doing away with tipping". Toronto Life. 2015-11-13. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  25. ^ "Inside the kitchen of Amaya and Indian Street Food Co. owner and chef, Hemant Bhagwani". Toronto Life. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  26. ^ "Amaya restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani takes tipping off the menu".
  27. ^ "Why tipping is going away (and why I'll miss it)". Toronto Life. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  28. ^ "Another Toronto restaurateur does away with tipping". Toronto Life. 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  29. ^ "Hemant Bhagwani Archives". Branding & Buzzing. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  30. ^ "Hemant Bhagwani Archives". Good Food Revolution. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  31. ^ "Amaya restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani takes tipping off the menu". Building Block Associates. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  32. ^ "Restaurants Canada Show panel looks at tipping". Canadian Pizza Magazine. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  33. ^ "Toronto's Amaya Restaurant Does Away With Tipping". HuffPost Canada. 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  34. ^ "New Openings: Sindhi Indian Street Food Restaurant". www.insauga.com. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  35. ^ "5 Most Shocking Recent Restaurant Closures in Mississauga". www.insauga.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  36. ^ "Indian Street Food Co.: The man behind Amaya looks to recapture the magic". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  37. ^ "Ontario region's legacy-building entrepreneurs advance to finalist stage of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program". Ey.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  38. ^ Henry, Michele (20 April 2016). "Amaya's Hemant Bhagwani opens Thornhill's restaurant, makes chickpea patties". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  39. ^ "What's on the menu at The Fat Beet, a new Middle Eastern restaurant from Hemant Bhagwani". Toronto Life. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  40. ^ "Toronto Restaurant Openings: Pinkerton's Snack Bar, Carver, Piano Piano, Beavertails, Kiva's, Burgatory". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  41. ^ Tsui, Yvonne. "First Look: Hemant Bhagwani expands to the Junction with Leela". Post City Magazines. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  42. ^ Fleming, Rebecca (23 January 2017). "What's on the menu at Leela, a new Indian tapas restaurant from the owner of Amaya". Toronto Life. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  43. ^ Liu, Karon (21 August 2017). "Hemant Bhagwani leaves his Indian-food empire". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  44. ^ "Indian Street Food boss, Hemant Bhagwani, quits Bayview". The South Bayview Bulldog. 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  45. ^ Mississauga, 488 Eglinton Ave W. Unit 22; Ontario (18 April 2018). "Unique, First-of-its-Kind Restaurant Opening in Mississauga". www.insauga.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ "Culinary workers call for culture shift as #MeToo puts spotlight on harassment". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  47. ^ Wu, Leslie. "Five Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid, From Chef Hemant Bhagwani". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  48. ^ Wu, Leslie. "Five Things To Consider When Opening A Restaurant, From Veteran Chef Hemant Bhagwani". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  49. ^ "Best Vegan Restaurants in Toronto - Good Karma Restaurant". www.thegoodkarma.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  50. ^ "Good Karma - blogTO - Toronto". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  51. ^ "Good Karma | Hemant Bhagwani". ARTLEE Creative Agency. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  52. ^ "Toronto Restaurant Openings: Bar Buca, Good Karma, Call A Chicken, Daldongnae". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  53. ^ "Open now and opening soon: Toronto's newest restaurants | Dished". dailyhive.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  54. ^ Manzocco, Natalia (2018-09-04). "New Toronto restaurants: Grand Electric - NOW Magazine". NowMagazine. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  55. ^ "What to do in Toronto this week: April 24 to 30, 2017". Toronto Life. 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  56. ^ "One-on-one with Hemant Bhagwani". MENU. 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  57. ^ Kably, Lubna. "Canadian jobs menu could have Indian cooks salivating - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  58. ^ "Hemant Bhagwani – Taking Toronto to New Territory | Varli Media". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  59. ^ "10 New Toronto Venues for Spring 2019 Meetings and Events". BizBash. 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  60. ^ Bridges, Katie (2019-04-03). "Flavour of the Week: Goa Indian Farm Kitchen". Foodism TO. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  61. ^ "All the exciting flavours of GOA at Hemant Bhagwani's newest eatery". Toronto Guardian. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  62. ^ Palamarchuk, Andrew (2020-01-30). "North York's Goa restaurant offers regional Indian menu". Toronto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  63. ^ "Hemant Bhagwani#008". Faces of Food. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  64. ^ "Bayview Village Shops". www.bayviewvillageshops.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  65. ^ "What's on the menu at Goa Indian Farm Kitchen, Hemant Bhagwani's new restaurant at Bayview Village". Toronto Life. 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  66. ^ "Goa Indian Farm Kitchen - blogTO - Toronto". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  67. ^ "Goa Indian Farm Kitchen opens at Bayview Village in North York". Toronto.com. 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  68. ^ Codingest (2019-04-07). "What's on the menu at Goa Indian Farm Kitchen, Hemant Bhagwani's new restaurant at Bayview Village". THE ONTARIO TIMES. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  69. ^ "Goan Voice Newsletter: Thursday 07 May. 2020". www.goanvoice.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  70. ^ "10 new restaurants, bars and supermarkets to check out in April". Toronto Life. 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  71. ^ "Ask A Chef: Saffron Eggplant". House & Home. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  72. ^ "What's on the menu at Goa Indian Farm Kitchen". Sharon Chung, Broker. 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  73. ^ "Where do you find Burmese cooking in Toronto?". thestar.com. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  74. ^ "Inside Pōpa, the new Burmese restaurant by chef Hemant Bhagwani". TRNTO.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  75. ^ "You've never eaten anywhere like Toronto's newest restaurant". Curiocity Toronto. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  76. ^ "Restaurant industry faces critical worker shortage as holiday demand peaks".
  77. ^ Ball, Daniel (2020-02-18). "First look: Toronto's new Burmese restaurant Pōpa". Eat North. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  78. ^ Davidson, Sonya (2020-01-31). "Pōpa brings the rich flavours of Burma, Bali and Macau to Toronto". Toronto Guardian. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  79. ^ "Restaurant industry faces critical worker shortage as holiday demand peaks". PressFrom - CA. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  80. ^ "Popa - blogTO - Toronto". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  81. ^ "Burmese restaurant Popa opens at Bayview Village". Toronto.com. 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  82. ^ "TasteToronto | Pōpa". TasteToronto | Pōpa. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  83. ^ "Pōpa Toronto | Burmese Macanese Balinese Cuisine". www.popatoronto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  84. ^ "Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News March 12-18, 2020". Toronto Restaurants by Stephanie Dickison. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  85. ^ Ahsan, Sadaf (2020-03-10). "New Toronto restaurants: Diner's Corner - NOW Magazine". NowMagazine. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  86. ^ "Toronto restaurant owner sues insurance company for denying COVID-19 claim, hopes others will follow". thestar.com. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  87. ^ "What insurers do — and don't — owe restaurants during COVID-19". TVO.org. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  88. ^ "Flood of COVID-19-related lawsuits expected to hit courts".
  89. ^ "Toronto chef launches lawsuit to make insurance companies pay up for business interruption". TRNTO.com. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  90. ^ Manzocco, Natalia (2020-05-13). "Businesses suing for COVID-19 insurance relief - NOW Magazine". NowMagazine. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  91. ^ Palamarchuk, Andrew (2020-05-07). "Restaurateur sues insurance company for denying COVID-related claim". Toronto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  92. ^ Newman, Stacey. "Restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani takes a critical stand by suing his insurance company for denial of claims – SUSTAIN Magazine". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  93. ^ "More insurers sued over business interruption claims". Business Insurance. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  94. ^ Meckbach-106, Greg (2020-05-08). "COVID BI coverage dispute lawsuit arises over 'civil authority' order clause". Canadian Underwriter. Retrieved 2020-07-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  95. ^ "Toronto Restaurant Sues Insurance Company Over Denied COVID-19 Claims". Top Class Actions Canada. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  96. ^ News, C. B. C. "Flood of COVID-19-related lawsuits expected to hit courts - 24News.ca". www.24news.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-06. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  97. ^ "Bayview Eats: Egg Bird grand opening & Darna's new patio". The South Bayview Bulldog. 2020-07-04. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  98. ^ "Ten Toronto restaurants that are open on Canada Day for patio dining or takeout". TRNTO.com. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  99. ^ "Brunch and fried chicken the stars at Hemant Bhagwani's Egg Bird". TRNTO.com. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  100. ^ Ball, Daniel (2020-07-06). "Chef Hemant Bhagwani's Egg Bird opens in Toronto". Eat North. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  101. ^ Ltd, Kostuch Media (2020-07-06). "Hemant Bhagwani Opens New Concept". Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  102. ^ "Egg Bird - blogTO - Toronto". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  103. ^ "Tribeca Citizen | Distinguished Indian Canadian chef is coming to Leonard". Tribeca Citizen. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  104. ^ Schembri, Jennifer (2023-03-01). "Toronto celebrity chef Hemant Bhagwani opens Goa New York in the Big Apple". Streets Of Toronto. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
Retrieved from "http://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Hemant_Bhagwani&oldid=1263689070"