Ep# 12 | WTF is The Restaurant Game? Nikhil w/ Pooja Dhingra, Zorawar Kalra & Riyaaz Amlani

WTF is with Nikhil Kamath

It’s easier to set up an arms factory than to sell a sandwich or a drink. This reflects the hidden complexity the restaurant world possesses. As Indians we are culturally inclined to want options when it comes to our food, we go to multicuisine restaurants with our families, cafés with our work friends, fine dining for our dates, and pubs with our friends! We judge the AC temperature, the music, the food, the waiter, the cutlery, and everything in between. This involves not only recipe building but also mastering technology, marketing, interior design, and much more. With this episode, we will walk you through a checklist of crucial decisions to start and thrive in this space. We have with us Riyaaz Amlani, best known for his brands like SOCIAL, Smoke House Deli, & Boss Burgers; Zorawar Kalra, famous for his appearances on Masterchef and his brands like Farzi Cafe, Masala Library, & Pa Pa Ya; Pooja Dhingra, renowned for Le15, known for their macaroon; currently a judge in Masterchef India and an author.

If you’re below 22 & are working on building something in the F&B space, here’s the chance to get the support you’ve been looking for ➡️Apply here: https://tally.so/r/mBp7LN

#NikhilKamath: Co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon and Gruhas

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#ZorawarKalra: Founder & MD - Massive Restaurants; TV Show Host, and MasterChef India Judge

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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zkalra/

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/zorawar-kalra-2051375/

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#RiyaazAmlani: Founder & CEO - Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.

Follow Riyaaz here:

Twitter https://twitter.com/RiyaazAmlani

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/riyaazamlani/

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/riyaaz-amlani-52193b1/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RiyaazAmlaniOfficial/

#PoojaDhingra: Founder & CEO of Le15 Patisserie, MasterChef India Judge, and Author

Follow Pooja here:

Twitter https://twitter.com/poojadhingraa/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/poojadhingra/

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/poojadhingraa/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChefPoojaDhingra/

Pooja’s Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@poojajdhingra/

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:39) - Pooja's Childhood

(04:11) - Why Pooja Quit Law School

(08:09) - Early Hustle to Macaroon Fame

(15:47) - Pooja’s World: Books, Masterchef & Podcasts

(16:53) - How Covid Changed Pooja

(17:58) - Reason for Scarcity of Female Chefs

(22:36) - Zorawar's Passion for Food

(24:05) - Jiggs Kalra's Legacy

(36:58) - Zorawar's Personal Insights

(38:09) - Riyaaz’s Karate Days

(39:50) - Regulations & Restaurants: Bottleneck

(44:05) - Riyaaz's Personal Life and Parsi History

(48:04) - Riyaaz & Music: DJ Days

(49:35) - Story of Berry’s & Riyaaz's Past

(52:13) - Riyaaz Reveals Prithvi Cafe’s History

(56:32) - Innovative Monetisation: Restaurant Hacks

(01:01:12) - Role of Restaurants: Bigger Picture

(01:02:10) - Why Most Restaurants Fail

(01:07:05) - India's Increasing Dine-Out Trend

(01:10:30) - SOCIAL's Product-Market Fit

(01:11:30) - Ease of Credit & Cloud Kitchens

(01:13:10) - Rise of Western Cuisine: Economics

(01:16:20) - F&B Data Utilization

(01:28:48) - Evolution of Dessert Market: Trends

(01:33:27) - Future of QSR

(01:40:23) - Nikhil's Food Business Checklist

(02:00:45) - Pitfalls of Celeb Restaurants

(02:13:30) - Aggregators in F&B

(02:27:50) - Perfecting Supply & Location

(02:48:33) - Restaurant Design Essentials

(02:56:50) - Importance of Recommendations

(03:11:00) - HR & Seasonal Impacts in F&B

(03:19:40) - Blind Taste Game: Test the Experts!

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