Chef Ashish Bhasin – Culinary Visionary & Hospitality Leader | Founder of CB Hospitality
Early Life and Culinary Foundation
Born on November 3, 1976, in India, Chef Ashish Bhasin grew up in a culturally rich environment where food played an integral role in daily life. From a young age, he was drawn to the aromas, textures, and flavors that defined Indian home cooking. His family valued tradition, and meals were not just nourishment but cherished rituals. Watching his elders cook with instinct and reverence sparked a fascination within him — one that would later evolve into a lifelong dedication to the culinary arts.
Chef Bhasin’s curiosity for food soon turned into a passion. Rather than following conventional career paths, he chose to explore the world of hospitality, determined to transform his love for cooking into a professional pursuit. After completing his secondary education at Mayoor School, Ajmer, where he developed a disciplined academic foundation, he made the life-changing decision to pursue formal culinary education.
In 1995, he secured admission to one of India’s most prestigious culinary institutions — the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), PUSA, New Delhi. Widely recognized as a training ground for some of India’s finest chefs and hospitality professionals, IHM PUSA provided Chef Bhasin with not only technical knowledge but also a rigorous understanding of kitchen operations, food safety, and global gastronomy. During his time at the institute, he immersed himself in every aspect of hotel management, from front-office operations to food production and service, laying the groundwork for what would become a remarkable culinary career.
Graduating in 1998 with a Diploma in Hotel Management, Chef Bhasin entered the industry at a time when Indian hospitality was undergoing transformation — with an increasing emphasis on luxury, global fusion, and experiential dining. Armed with his education, boundless energy, and a humble yet hungry mindset, he stepped into the professional world, ready to learn from the best and contribute to India’s evolving food landscape.
It was this solid foundation — rooted in academic excellence, cultural curiosity, and unrelenting passion — that empowered Chef Ashish Bhasin to thrive in some of the world’s most demanding hotel kitchens and eventually lead culinary innovation at the highest levels. His early journey remains a testament to the power of following one’s passion and the importance of structured education in shaping a world-class chef.
Career Beginnings: Taj and Oberoi Legacy
Chef Bhasin launched his career in the kitchens of the Taj Group and The Oberoi Group, two of India’s most prestigious hotel chains. During the formative years between 1998 and 2010, he rapidly progressed through a series of roles — from Sous Chef to Executive Chef — contributing to luxury hospitality benchmarks. These experiences honed his technical prowess, deepened his understanding of fine dining, and instilled the leadership values that define his career today.
Executive Roles at Leading Hotels
Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur (2010–2012)
At the award-winning Oberoi Rajvilas, Chef Bhasin played a pivotal role as Executive Chef, conceptualizing and launching a new Indian fine dining restaurant. His culinary direction not only redefined traditional presentations but also optimized budget operations and guest satisfaction metrics.
The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt (2012–2014)
In Egypt, he brought global innovation to local menus as the Executive Chef, restructuring food & beverage accounting systems and creating VIP degustation menus. His cross-cultural culinary adaptability stood out, delighting an international clientele with precision and personalization.
Trident Hotel, BKC, Mumbai (2014–2018)
As Executive Chef, he led a team of over 120 professionals at one of Mumbai’s busiest five-star hotels. He was instrumental in crafting inventive menus and building a culture of culinary excellence, operational efficiency, and team mentorship.
Leela Ambience Gurugram (2018–2023)
Chef Bhasin’s journey continued at Leela Ambience Gurugram, first as Executive Chef, then promoted to Director of Food & Beverage and Culinary. Under his leadership, the hotel recorded its highest-ever revenues. He managed multiple outlets and mentored senior culinary teams, introducing strategic pricing models and manpower development programs. His short tenure handling the responsibilities of General Manager in absence showed his versatility beyond the kitchen.
Executive Roles at Leading Hotels (2006–2023)
Chef Ashish Bhasin’s leadership journey through some of India’s finest luxury hotels is marked by innovation, operational excellence, and impactful team mentorship. Between 2006 and 2023, he played transformative roles across multiple Oberoi, Trident, and Leela properties.
He began this phase of his career at Trident Udaipur, where his operational finesse and creative instincts laid the groundwork for his future successes. He later took charge at the prestigious Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, where he made history as the first Indian chef to lead the property’s culinary operations. This landmark moment not only showcased his expertise but also reflected a shift in the industry’s trust in homegrown culinary leadership.
From 2018 to 2023, Chef Bhasin took the helm at Leela Ambience Gurugram, first as Executive Chef and later promoted to Director of Food & Beverage and Culinary. Under his visionary leadership, the hotel achieved its highest-ever revenue figures, driven by innovative pricing strategies, enhanced outlet performance, and a culture of team excellence. Notably, during a short transitional period, Chef Bhasin also managed the General Manager’s responsibilities, displaying his versatility and business acumen beyond the kitchen.
Additionally, he played a key advisory role in supporting Leela Palace New Delhi, where he mentored F&B and culinary teams while overseeing critical operational decisions, ensuring brand consistency and service excellence across locations.
Signature Opening – Korkai, Chennai
Among Chef Bhasin’s major consultancy milestones is the successful launch of Korkai at VGP Golden Beach Resort, Chennai. Now open to the public, Korkai stands as a unique coastal culinary destination, combining heritage flavors with modern finesse. The project reflects Chef Bhasin’s deep understanding of regional cuisines, menu engineering, and experiential dining design—delivered with elegance and precision.
Current Consulting Engagements Across India & International Markets
Now based in India, Chef Ashish Bhasin leads a series of high-impact consulting projects under the CB Hospitality banner. His current portfolio spans multiple cities across India and abroad, proving his reputation as a top-tier hospitality strategist and culinary advisor.
Chef Bhasin is actively working on F&B consulting and restaurant development in the following locations:
- United States: Texas
- Middle East: Dubai
- India: Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Goa, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Gurgaon, Noida, Raipur
From high-end restaurants and resort dining concepts to pre-opening consultations and operational turnarounds, his work continues to shape the culinary and hospitality landscape in India and beyond.
Entrepreneurial Journey: CB Hospitality
In March 2023, Chef Ashish Bhasin founded CB Hospitality, an elite culinary consulting firm. As Founder & Director, he now offers:
- Turnkey restaurant and hotel solutions
- Menu development and culinary innovation
- Kitchen design and operational strategy
- Event catering and concept development
His consultancy projects include:
- Kashkan (Dubai)
- Fontina (Noida)
- Maira (Raipur)
- Downtown Luca (Gurgaon)
- Upcoming ventures like Boomrang Club (Jaypee Group) and Korkai (VGP Golden Beach Resort, Chennai)
Prestigious Events & High-Profile Clients
Chef Bhasin has curated culinary experiences for some of the most exclusive events in India and abroad. Highlights include:
- World Food India – curated events for two consecutive years at Pragati Maidan.
- Constitutional Day Banquet – crafted the official menu for the President of India.
- Hyundai EV Launch – developed the menu for this landmark event at Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Chennai.
- India by the Bay Gala Dinner (2024) – a prestigious event in Hong Kong showcasing India’s culinary diplomacy.
- Anant Ambani’s wedding ceremonies – contributed to one of India’s grandest wedding feasts.
Early Media Recognition: 31 Varieties of Rice at Taj Mahal Hotel
Chef Bhasin first garnered national attention in 2002, featured in The Hindu’s “Rice Galore!” for orchestrating a groundbreaking event at Taj Mahal Hotel, Delhi. He designed a one-of-a-kind feast featuring 31 different rice-based preparations — from biryanis and pulaos to kheer and Chinese rice dishes — all using KRBL’s India Gate and Doon brands. The article hailed him as a “cook, manager and scientist,” applauding his innovation and mastery across global cuisines.
Honors and Recognition
Chef Ashish Bhasin has received numerous accolades for his excellence:
- 🏆 Top 5 Chef (Hotels) – Food Food (2017)
- 🏅 Silver Hat Award – Indian Culinary Forum
- ✨ Featured in Vir Sanghvi’s Top Chef List
- 🏅 Super Talented Top 20 Chefs – UpperCrust
- 🥇 Pioneer of India’s HomeChef Movement
- 🌱 Recognized for reviving lost Indian culinary traditions
Passion Projects & Cultural Preservation
Chef Bhasin is deeply passionate about India’s culinary heritage. His ongoing initiative, ShodhAvat, launched in collaboration with Jharkhand Tourism, seeks to document and preserve tribal cuisines and traditional techniques. He is a leading advocate of sustainable food systems, regional cooking traditions, and culinary education.
Leadership, Mentorship, and Vision
Beyond his culinary creations, Chef Bhasin is known as a mentor and strategist, empowering future chefs through structured training, team development, and operational excellence. He believes in combining heritage with innovation and in developing food systems that are both sustainable and economically viable.
Current Focus and Future Goals
Based in India, Chef Ashish Bhasin is actively engaged in F&B consulting projects across Dubai, Chennai, Noida, and Raipur. With CB Hospitality, he aims to revolutionize how Indian cuisine is curated, presented, and celebrated both locally and globally.
CB Hospitality
About CB Hospitality
Founded by Chef Ashish Bhasin, CB Hospitality is a premier consulting firm offering a wide spectrum of services tailored for the hospitality industry. With a core philosophy that “a happy heart makes happy food,” the firm delivers high-quality, innovative, and client-centric solutions. CB Hospitality specializes in hotel and restaurant consulting, culinary and kitchen planning, turnkey projects, digital content creation, food brand advisory, and business development strategies.
The company works closely with its clients to identify challenges and craft solutions in areas such as menu development, kitchen design, market research, and revenue optimization. With an eye on excellence and scalability, CB Hospitality helps hospitality ventures elevate guest experience, improve operations, and unlock business growth.
About the Founder – Chef Ashish Bhasin
Roots and Education
Born in Ajmer, Rajasthan, Chef Ashish Bhasin never imagined his fondness for cooking would evolve into a celebrated culinary career. What began as a hobby slowly became his life’s passion. He graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Pusa, New Delhi, one of India’s top hospitality institutions. He also completed an advanced hotel management training program at the Taj Hotel Management Institute, where he emerged as a top performer in both theoretical and practical modules. These formative years laid the foundation for his deep understanding of food service, operations, and culinary creativity.
Professional Experience and Leadership
With over 26 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chef Bhasin has worked across multiple domains—culinary leadership, hotel management, business development, marketing, and team building. His passion for progressive Indian cuisine, combined with a sharp focus on financial management, has enabled him to deliver remarkable results in both high-pressure kitchens and boardrooms.
Chef Bhasin is known for his hands-on leadership style, deep operational insight, and people-first philosophy. He strongly believes in the empowerment of teams and has consistently emphasized the role of motivated individuals in driving business success. His ability to innovate, reduce costs, enhance guest satisfaction, and lead under challenging circumstances has earned him industry-wide recognition.
Work Philosophy and Strengths
Chef Bhasin embodies a self-driven, practical, and highly adaptable work ethic. He is an expert in cost control, kitchen design, guest experience optimization, and project execution. As a communicator and mentor, he has demonstrated exceptional ability in negotiation, team motivation, and process implementation.
In alignment with the digital age, he values ongoing dialogue with guests and influencers via social media. He finds these real-time feedback channels vital for growth, learning, and staying attuned to evolving guest preferences.
CB Hospitality – Consulting Projects
Completed Projects:
- Boomrang Club – Jaypee Group
- Korkai – VGP Golden Beach Resort, Chennai
- ETW (Restaurant Court) – Washington DC
- Downtown Luca – CyberHub, Gurgaon
- Melting Pot Microbrewery – Golf Course Road, Gurgaon
- Zuvaah – M3M, Gurgaon
- Korkai (Second Outlet) – Chennai
Chef Bhasin currently serves as a Chef Consultant and Advisor to Cherish Hospitality, helping brands scale with innovation, insight, and integrity.
CB Hospitality – Project Portfolio by Chef Ashish Bhasin
Chef Ashish Bhasin, through his consultancy venture CB Hospitality, has led and executed several prestigious food and beverage projects across India and internationally. Known for his strategic insight and culinary innovation, Chef Bhasin continues to shape modern dining experiences at a global level. Below is an updated list of his notable projects, including several now successfully launched and operational:
Successfully Executed & Opened Projects
- Korkai – VGP Golden Beach Resort, Chennai (Opened)
- Downtown Luca – CyberHub, Gurgaon (Opened)
- Melting Pot Microbrewery (Porche) – Golf Course Road, Gurgaon (Opened under the brand name “Porche”)
- Zuvaah – M3M, Gurgaon (Opened)
- Korkai (Second Outlet) – Chennai (Opened)
- CHAR – Chennai (Opened)
🚀 Ongoing & Upcoming Projects
- Boomrang Club – A signature project by the Jaypee Group, this venue is set to redefine the clubbing and dining scene with immersive F&B concepts.
- ETW (Restaurant Court) – Washington DC, USA. This upcoming hospitality initiative blends cross-cultural dining formats with refined international hospitality.
Each of these projects is a reflection of Chef Bhasin’s deep commitment to culinary storytelling, operational precision, and guest-centric innovation. His ability to customize concepts to local tastes while maintaining global standards continues to position CB Hospitality among the most trusted names in F&B consultancy.
Awards and Recognitions
Chef Ashish Bhasin’s remarkable achievements include:
- 🏆 Top 5 Chef (Hotels) – Food Food, 2017
- 🥇 Best Indian Culinary Chef – PCTE University, 2020
- 🏅 Legend of Indian Hospitality 2025 – PCTE University
- 🏅 Silver Hat Award – Indian Culinary Forum
- ✨ Featured in Vir Sanghvi’s Top Chef List
- 🏅 Super Talented Top 20 Chefs – UpperCrust
- 🥇 Gold Medalist – All India Chef Competition (College Days)
- 🥇 Topper – HOMT Program at Taj (Theoretical and Practical)
His restaurants have earned praise from:
- EazyDiner & Vir’s Choice Awards
- Times Food Guide
- Food Food Channel
- Numerous other esteemed culinary platforms
Culinary Contributions and Initiatives
Chef Bhasin is widely credited as a pioneer of the HomeChef movement in India, inspiring culinary enthusiasts to professionalize their craft. He has also spearheaded culinary research focused on reviving India’s forgotten food heritage, combining traditional flavors with contemporary techniques to preserve India’s diverse culinary identity.
Prestigious Events Curated
Chef Bhasin’s talent and reputation have led him to curate high-profile events including:
- World Food India – Pragati Maidan (2 consecutive years)
- Constitutional Day – Hosted by the President of India
- Ambani Wedding Ceremonies – Puja and Haldi for Mr. Anant Ambani
- Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 – Opening Dinner
- India by the Bay 2024 – Gala Dinner in Hong Kong
