THE WORLD AROUND ONE Sanjeev Pandey
“I TRY TO INCORPORATE SEVERAL RUSTIC DISHES ON THE MENU, WHICH RECEIVE A LOT OF ACCOLADES FROM OUR GUESTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. –SANJEEV PANDEY
Chef Owner, Indian Harvest, Chicago, USA
Pandey has been a force in Indian cuisine for 22 years now, but not necessarily in a way that kindles far-reaching movements.
While chefs like Vineet Bhatia and Srijith Gopinath have thousands of admirers, Sanjeev Pandey’s handwork is of a more private and particular strain. He cooks food that’s about India and family and memory, yes, but eventually his diverse plating and flavour amalgamations replicate the workings of his own mind.
Indian Harvest aims to be the uncontested go-to Indian restaurant in the community. The restaurant periodically showcases varieties of regional Indian cuisine.
“I have also incorporated certain dishes that originated from my grandmother’s kitchen. I try to incorporate several rustic dishes on the menu, which receive a lot of accolades from our guests from all over the world. Our core values are about serving fresh, hearty meals with due care,” shares Pandey.
The Allahabadi aloo, a recipe from his grandmother, is a must order at every table. “Winter in my hometown was the season of harvesting coriander and my grandmother
would prepare the most eclectic pairing of potatoes and fresh coriander seeds. It would be selfish of me to not share this art with the world,” smiles Pandey.
The philosophy he works with is to use fresh and mindful ingredients while incorporating new trends in cooking. “We have seen generations of our regulars. They are all dear to us and we hope to continue fostering relationships with the local community and beyond,” says Pandey.