On this episode, Ragnar speaks with Hussain Shahzad, Executive Chef of Hunger Inc. Hospitality. A leading voice in Indian cuisine, he uses local ingredients, tradition, and innovation to shape a forward-thinking food culture. After training with the Oberoi Group in Mumbai and gaining experience at Eleven Madison Park in New York, Hussain returned to India to be part of a rapidly evolving culinary landscape. Chef Hussain is the creative culinary force behind Papa’s Bombay, a 12-seater chef’s counter recently named to TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2025 list.
Tune in to explore how Indian cuisine is evolving, discover the philosophy behind one of the world’s most intimate dining experiences, and learn why mentorship and empathy are essential to building the next generation of chefs on Episode 144: Progressive Indian Cuisine and Mentorship with Executive Chef Hussain Shahzad.
Tune in and LEARN:
- Redefining Indian Cuisine: Explore how Indian cuisine today is not just about tradition or spice, but a progressive, forward-thinking movement where chefs reinterpret heritage through innovation and local ingredients.
- The Power of Intimate Dining: Learn how Papa’s Bombay reimagines fine dining through a 12-seat chef’s counter experience, blending storytelling, nostalgia, and technique to create something deeply personal and immersive.
- Mentorship and Leading with Empathy: Hear how mentorship shaped Chef Hussain’s journey, and why he believes empathy is key to succeeding in today’s culinary world.
Resources
“Mentorship is really important, you always need to find someone who can guide you through the ups and downs… I look at a mentor as a Google Map—as a GPS. That person is the person who keeps you on track, who shows you the map and the way…
To find a mentor, you need to pick a role model… Your role model in life can continue to change. It doesn’t just have to be one person. You can have a mentor for a certain set of things in your life and then you can have another one… Your needs change and not one person holds all the keys to every door.”
Papa’s Bombay
As the culinary creative force at Papa’s Bombay, Chef Hussain described the intimate dining experience that takes place at this establishment, named to TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list in 2025. Meals are rooted in tradition, nostalgia, and experiences, but presented in a surprising and playful way, creating a dining adventure.
“The diners in Bombay are very adventurous. They’ve traveled abroad, had these experiences, and now they seek those same experiences back home… All we want to do is to motivate you to think a little differently about what Indian food means to you today, and what it will mean to you in the years to come. It gives us an opportunity to say stories of where we are from, who we are, and where we want to be.”
Hear more about the 12-seater restaurant by listening to the episode or watching it below.
Watch the episode:
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Chef Hussain for joining us.
World on a Plate is supported by Nestlé Professional and Electrolux Food Foundation.
