Avinash Shashidhara Wiki, Age, Great British Menu, Wife, Parents, Family, Nationality, Ethnicity

Avinash Shashidhara Biography – Avinash Shashidhara Wiki

Avinash ‘Avi’ Shashidhara is an Indian chef based in London. He is currently the head chef at Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai, an Indian restaurant in London, United Kingdom. He worked as Chef De Partie at Hibiscus Restaurant from September 2005 to March 2006, as Sous Chef at The Old Bridge hotel from March 2006 to March 2008 and as Senior Chef at the River Cafe from April 2008 to September 2018.

Born in India, Avi was bitten by the cooking bug from a young age having been raised around markets and his dad’s farm. After leaving India to perfect his cooking in the UK, Avi worked his way through restaurants including Claude Bosi’s two-Michelin-starred Hibiscus, and spent a decade working at The River Café.

“In Bangalore, I worked at Italia, where Antonio Carluccio was a consultant. He and Priya Paul [the chair of Park Hotels India, where Shashidhara trained as a chef] would bring in cookbooks, including the blue River Cafe and Easy, and say, ‘This is the kind of food we want.’ I’d look at them thinking, ‘This place must be amazing,’ but I never thought I’d work there,” Avinash told The Guardian.

“In 2005, I moved to the UK (there was a huge chef shortage in Britain and agencies were recruiting in India) and in 2006 got a job at the Old Bridge Hotel in Huntingdon. The owner, John Hoskins, was friends with Rose Gray’s son, Ossie [a former River Cafe general manager], and John sent us for lunch at the River Cafe. I loved it.”

He added: “I arrived at the restaurant in 2008 as a junior chef, starting at the bottom on cold starters and desserts, as everybody does. I trained in French fine dining and had to unlearn everything. The River Cafe way meant elegant but rustic. Sian [Wyn Owen] would say, ‘Babes, imagine you’re at home, helping yourself, that’s how I want you to plate food.’ It was a huge change in how I looked at food.”

In 2020 he decided to take the plunge and open Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai in Fitzrovia. Here he serves Indian dishes inspired by traditional recipes, and has a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 plate.

Avinash Shashidhara Age

Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai’s Head chef Avinash Shashidhara was born in August 1981 in Bangalore, India.

Avinash Shashidhara Great British Menu

Indian-born chef Avinash Shashidhara appeared on BBC’s Great British Menu 2023 representing London & the South East alongside Robbie Lorraine, Brian Danclair and Ferdinand ‘Budgie’ Montoya.

Posting on Instagram, Avinash wrote: “It’s show time! I’m happy to announce I’m on @greatbritishmenu 2023. Super humbled to be representing London & the South East alongside some excellent chefs.

“Tune in on Tuesday the 7th of March at 8pm on BBC Two to watch me in action. This year the theme celebrates illustration and animation and Paddington bear’s 65th birthday.”

His competition menu sees him look to The Gruffalo and Fantastic Mr. Fox animations for inspiration.

Avinash Shashidhara Nationality

Chef Avinash Shashidhara is of Indian nationality.

Avinash Shashidhara Instagram

Avinash Shashidhara’s Instagram handle is @avishashidhara.