Meet the Chennai chef blending European techniques with Indian flavours

Dinner unfolded in little intervals at Chef Saikailash’s Homecoming supper club. Every few courses, Sai would step out of the kitchen to introduce the dishes, talk about the ingredients and offer a glimpse into the thinking behind the menu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/gen-z-is-turning-to-strangers-potlucks-and-supper-clubs-as-a-gateway-to-new-friendships/article70007607.ece He would spend a few minutes before heading back in, where nearly 30 covers awaited him.

There was no elaborate kitchen brigade working behind him; much of the evening’s cooking was being handled by the chef himself. It was an unusual rhythm for a dinner service, but one that offered an intimate glimpse into the workings of a supper club. Chef Saikailash is a Chennai-born chef who spent 13 years working in London’s restaurant industry before returning to the city earlier this year.

Starting out as a kitchen porter, he worked his way up to head chef, holding senior positions at restaurants including Humble, Inca and Pirana.