The Imperia by Dhaba, a new Indian dining destination in Somerset, said July 10 that Chef Himanshu Pandey joined as its executive chef.
Pandey has more than 17 years of culinary experience, working at venues such as Hyatt Regency Gurugram, Sheraton Grand Palace Indore, Radisson Blu Indore, Hilton Hotels, and The Leela Ambience Gurgaon.
Pandey is known for his deep knowledge of regional Indian cuisine, curating dining experiences from luxury a la carte offerings to large banquets and celebrity events.
At The Imperia by Dhaba, Chef Pandey will spearhead all culinary operations, including menu development, inventory and procurement management, and implementation of culinary standard operating procedures. He will help shape the restaurant’s culinary identity and mentor the kitchen team.
Pandey has hosted and cooked for prominent Indian personalities such as cricketer Kapil Dev, celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, music figures Kailash Kher and Daler Mehndi, and Bollywood celebrities including Parineeti Chopra and Salman Khan.
Internationally, he has represented India at food promotions at The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore and showcased his talent at the F&B Masters in Thailand, where he finished in third place in the Asia Zone.
Indian restaurants are one of the fastest-growing dining destinations in New Jersey. Indian Americans are the second-largest Asian American community in the United States, with 4.4 million people, and the most affluent ethnic group in America. They are the biggest demographic in New Jersey’s Asian population; more than 41% of the Asian population, or 432,883 people, identifies as Indian.
The increasing popularity of Indian culture and rising income levels, especially among Indians in America, have boosted demand for Indian restaurants. Overall, industry revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual growth rate of 2.1% to $4.9 billion over the next five years.
