Chief Operating Officer at Pan India Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Chef Sanjay Malkani is a towering presence in India’s hospitality and culinary world, with a professional journey that spans more than four decades. Renowned for his strategic culinary insights, operational leadership, and passionate mentorship, Chef Malkani has shaped not only menus and kitchens but also the careers of countless chefs across the country. From luxury hotels to entrepreneurial ventures, his versatile contributions have made a lasting impact on Indian gastronomy.
Early Years and Culinary Inspiration
Sanjay Malkani’s journey into the world of culinary arts began at a time when India’s hospitality sector was still taking shape on the global map. Born into a culturally rich environment, Chef Malkani was exposed to the art of cooking from a young age. His early fascination with flavors, techniques, and the organized chaos of a professional kitchen drove him to pursue formal culinary training.
He was among the first generation of chefs who chose a full-time career in the kitchen during an era when being a chef was not considered a glamorous profession. It was this passion and commitment that laid the foundation for an extraordinary career.
Education and Training
Chef Malkani honed his skills through rigorous formal education in hospitality and culinary management. He trained at one of the premier institutes of the country, developing not just the art of cooking but also mastering the science behind food production, menu engineering, and kitchen design.
As he progressed in his career, he further enhanced his knowledge through international exposure and interactions with global chefs, adapting international best practices into Indian kitchens without losing the local essence.
Professional Milestones
The Oberoi Hotels – Executive Chef
One of the most defining chapters in Chef Malkani’s illustrious career was his role as Executive Chef at The Oberoi Hotels. The Oberoi Group is renowned for its luxury properties and world-class service, and Chef Malkani played a pivotal role in upholding its culinary reputation.
As Executive Chef, he was responsible for:
- Menu creation for fine-dining restaurants
- Training and supervising large kitchen brigades
- Introducing global culinary concepts to Indian hospitality
- Overseeing special banquets, celebrity events, and state functions
His leadership style combined classical culinary discipline with a deep understanding of guest expectations, which helped elevate the Oberoi’s food experience to global standards.
Chief Operating Officer – Pan India Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
After years in luxury hospitality, Chef Malkani transitioned to a corporate leadership role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pan India Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd., the company behind well-known brands like Spaghetti Kitchen, Copper Chimney, and Bombay Blue.
In this strategic position, Chef Malkani was in charge of:
- Managing operations across multiple restaurant brands
- Standardizing food quality across all outlets
- Overseeing supply chain, procurement, and vendor relations
- Designing kitchens for high-efficiency operations
- Launching new F&B concepts in metropolitan markets
His tenure at Pan India Food Solutions solidified his reputation as not just a chef, but also a culinary strategist with deep business acumen.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Consulting
After decades in corporate leadership, Chef Malkani embarked on a more entrepreneurial path, founding his own consultancy service through ChefSanjayMalkani.com. Here, he began offering:
- Kitchen planning and infrastructure design
- F&B concept development
- Staff training and culinary workshops
- Menu engineering and recipe standardization
- Operations audits for hotels and restaurants
This venture allowed him to collaborate with a diverse range of clients — from start-up cafes to heritage hotels — across India and Southeast Asia. His insights into what works in Indian markets, both urban and regional, became a valued asset for F&B businesses.
Signature Expertise and Contributions
Chef Sanjay Malkani’s strength lies in the rare blend of culinary creativity and operational efficiency. Some of his signature areas of expertise include:
Kitchen Design and Planning
With his background in hotel operations, Chef Malkani has contributed to the design and layout of multiple commercial kitchens, ensuring they meet international hygiene and workflow standards.
Menu Development
Whether it’s modern Indian cuisine or fusion menus, his creative approach to flavor profiles, ingredient sourcing, and plating has led to the creation of unique dining experiences.
Training and Mentorship
Chef Malkani is a mentor to many successful chefs today. He has conducted workshops, participated in hospitality institutes as a guest lecturer, and continues to guide upcoming talent.
Recognitions and Awards
Over the years, Chef Malkani has received numerous awards and accolades, including:
- Best Indian Chef Award – awarded by Zomato, recognizing his excellence in Indian cuisine
- Chef of the Year Nomination – by Hospitality Leader’s Choice Awards
- Golden Spoon Award – for F&B innovation (Pan India Food Solutions)
- Recognized contributor to culinary publications, including “Foods of India”
These honors are a testament to his dedication, skill, and long-standing contributions to the hospitality industry.
Media Appearances and Public Engagement
Chef Sanjay Malkani has been featured in various culinary magazines and trade journals. His expertise has been showcased in:
- Restaurant India Interviews
- Panel discussions on F&B strategy
- Television features and cooking demonstrations
He is also an active participant in hospitality exhibitions, food festivals, and F&B innovation summits.
Mentorship Legacy
One of the most cherished aspects of Chef Malkani’s career is his contribution as a mentor. A strong advocate of “train-the-trainer” programs, he has trained and inspired hundreds of chefs in India and abroad.
Chef Nilesh Limaye, a well-known figure in Indian gastronomy, has publicly credited Chef Malkani for teaching him critical aspects of kitchen management and restaurant strategy.
His approach to mentorship emphasizes discipline, attention to detail, innovation, and respect for culinary traditions. Many of his mentees have gone on to become Executive Chefs, F&B Directors, and entrepreneurs.
Digital Presence
Chef Malkani is among the few senior chefs who have effectively used digital platforms to share their culinary journey. He engages with a large audience on social media:
- Instagram: @chef.malkani – where he shares recipes, industry insights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from his kitchen and projects.
- Facebook: Chef Sanjay Malkani
- LinkedIn: A platform where he shares articles and interacts with hospitality professionals.
His social media presence is not only a branding tool but also an educational resource for young chefs and F&B students.
Personal Philosophy
Chef Malkani believes that “A great dish begins long before it hits the plate.” His emphasis is on:
- Planning: Kitchen layout, menu balance, and prep systems
- People: Empowering staff through education and empathy
- Process: Standardization to maintain consistency and quality
- Passion: Always innovating, always learning
This 4P approach has become a cornerstone of his consulting philosophy and operational model.
Current Engagements and Future Vision
Today, Chef Malkani continues to work as a culinary advisor and mentor. He collaborates with:
- Boutique hotels
- Cloud kitchen startups
- Health-focused F&B brands
- Food-tech platforms looking to integrate traditional Indian cuisine
He remains committed to raising the standards of Indian hospitality and is currently working on publishing a book that combines memoirs, recipes, and operational insights from his decades in the industry.
Career Highlights of Chef Sanjay Malkani
Chef Sanjay Malkani’s illustrious career is marked by strategic leadership, culinary innovation, and operational excellence across some of India’s most reputed hospitality and food service establishments. Over the span of more than four decades, he has held prestigious titles that reflect not only his skill in the kitchen but also his visionary leadership and business acumen. From luxury hotels to scalable restaurant chains, his influence is deeply embedded in the fabric of India’s evolving culinary industry.
Key Responsibilities:
- Designing seasonal and à la carte menus for multiple fine-dining outlets.
- Supervising food preparation for high-profile banquets, international conferences, and VVIP events.
- Recruiting and training young culinary staff with emphasis on hygiene, consistency, and presentation.
- Collaborating with procurement and supply chain departments to ensure only the highest quality ingredients reached the kitchen.
- Conducting regular audits to maintain compliance with international food safety norms.
Under his leadership, The Oberoi kitchens earned numerous accolades for both innovation and consistency. The hotel’s restaurants became sought-after culinary destinations for both Indian and international patrons.
Chief Operating Officer at Pan India Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
After establishing a strong foundation in hotel kitchens, Chef Malkani transitioned into a more strategic and entrepreneurial leadership role as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pan India Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd. This marked a turning point in his career — from being a culinary artist to becoming an operational architect for large-scale restaurant enterprises.
Pan India Food Solutions was a major player in India’s organized dining sector, managing multiple restaurant brands across formats including casual dining, fast casual, and delivery. The company’s portfolio included popular names like:
- Spaghetti Kitchen (Italian cuisine)
- Copper Chimney (North Indian)
- Bombay Blue (Indian fusion and street food)
- Food Talk India (consultancy and F&B development)
As COO, Chef Malkani’s expertise was crucial in scaling the operations of these brands, ensuring consistency across locations, and improving customer experience across touchpoints.
Strategic Contributions:
- Designed and executed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) across outlets in India.
- Revamped outdated menus to modernize offerings while retaining brand identity.
- Oversaw kitchen planning and staff training for new outlet openings.
- Ensured seamless coordination between culinary teams, marketing departments, and finance to drive profitability.
- Established strong vendor networks for standardized procurement at scale.
This role also enabled him to work with cross-functional teams, giving him insights into branding, retail positioning, and customer behavior in India’s metropolitan markets. His guidance helped Pan India Food Solutions expand its presence while maintaining a focus on quality, efficiency, and brand loyalty.
Director & Executive Chef at Svedantika Hospitality
With years of success in corporate hospitality and restaurant chains, Chef Malkani next brought his expertise to a newer venture: Svedantika Hospitality, where he served as Director & Executive Chef. His key role here was to shape the culinary direction and operational frameworks for their fast-growing food brand — Go Panda.
Go Panda was a contemporary QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) concept focused on Asian-inspired cuisine, primarily serving Chinese, Thai, and Oriental fusion dishes. Chef Malkani’s involvement ensured that the menu was not only exciting and flavorful but also operationally feasible for quick service environments.
Contributions to Go Panda:
- Created a scalable kitchen model that balanced authenticity and speed.
- Developed a modular menu that allowed easy customization while keeping ingredient costs low.
- Introduced smart packaging systems for takeaway and delivery.
- Implemented training modules for kitchen and service staff to ensure brand consistency.
- Conducted market studies to align offerings with young urban consumers’ preferences.
His leadership at Svedantika Hospitality not only gave the brand a strong start but also positioned it as a competitive QSR in India’s highly dynamic food industry. His ability to transform concepts into reality was evident in Go Panda’s initial success and customer retention.
Multi-Dimensional Culinary Leadership
Chef Sanjay Malkani’s professional experience is not limited to titles or designations — it reflects a larger philosophy of evolution, education, and excellence. Whether it was the luxury dining rooms of The Oberoi, the bustling multi-city operations of Pan India Food Solutions, or the experimental kitchens of Go Panda, Chef Malkani approached every challenge with vision and discipline.
What sets him apart is his ability to bridge the gap between creativity and commercial viability. He understands the importance of taste and presentation, but also knows how to manage food costs, streamline supply chains, and keep a brand’s identity alive through evolving market demands.
Leadership Style and Impact
Chef Malkani is known for being a people-centric leader. In all his roles, he has placed strong emphasis on:
- Team building and mentorship
- Training chefs and F&B staff to become future leaders
- Emphasizing hygiene, discipline, and food safety
- Leading by example — staying hands-on in the kitchen when needed
- Adopting new technology and automation in kitchen operations
He is also known to recognize talent early and has mentored several chefs who now hold top positions across India and the Middle East. His network within the industry is vast, and his opinion is sought after for kitchen design projects, restaurant launches, and menu curation.
JOURNEY :A Culinary Architect and Mentor of Modern Indian Hospitality
Chef Sanjay Malkani’s professional journey is an inspiring testament to how passion, discipline, and vision can build a legacy that extends beyond the kitchen. With over four decades of experience, he has carved a distinct path in the Indian culinary and hospitality industry — one that combines the finesse of a master chef with the strategic insight of a corporate leader. From the luxurious kitchens of The Oberoi Hotels to boardroom meetings at Pan India Food Solutions, and now as a consultant and mentor, Chef Malkani’s trajectory reflects a rare and admirable evolution.
What sets Chef Malkani apart is his ability to balance the art and science of cooking with the operational complexities of large-scale food services. While many chefs excel in cooking or leadership, few manage to seamlessly transition between both worlds. Chef Malkani not only led high-end hotel kitchens to success but also played a pivotal role in scaling restaurant brands across the country, optimizing kitchen workflows, designing effective menus, and mentoring cross-functional teams.
His contribution to India’s culinary landscape isn’t just in the dishes he has created or the brands he has shaped — it’s also in the people he has nurtured. Generations of chefs, including notable names like Chef Nilesh Limaye, attribute their foundational skills and professional approach to his mentorship. He has always been a believer in sharing knowledge and elevating others, a quality that underscores his enduring influence. He doesn’t just teach recipes — he imparts systems thinking, planning skills, and leadership values that young professionals can carry throughout their careers.
In his current role as a culinary consultant and strategist, Chef Malkani continues to drive transformation within India’s food and beverage industry. He collaborates with restaurants, hotels, QSR chains, and food startups, helping them conceptualize new ideas, refine operational systems, and elevate culinary standards. Whether it’s kitchen design for a new hotel, menu engineering for a cloud kitchen, or staff training for a chain of restaurants, his expertise remains relevant and in demand. His approach blends traditional hospitality values with modern market demands, offering clients both innovation and practicality.
More than a chef, he is a culinary architect — someone who builds experiences, systems, and futures. His professional journey serves as a blueprint for aspiring chefs who dream of going beyond the stove. He exemplifies how a strong foundation in culinary arts, when combined with business acumen, can open up a world of opportunities — from heading top hotel kitchens to influencing the strategic direction of food service enterprises.
Chef Sanjay Malkani’s legacy is still growing, driven by his enduring commitment to excellence and his passion for uplifting India’s culinary reputation on the global stage. As he continues to mentor, consult, and create, his impact will not only be remembered in dishes served or restaurants built but in the careers shaped and the standards he helped raise — one kitchen at a time.
