Once we reach 100-outlet mark & stabilise operations across multiple clusters, we will explore international opportunities: Chowman MD

Chowman, the popular Chinese restaurant chain, is actually a journey of a foodie, who dared to bring a bend to the food narrative in Bengal.

- RITWIK MUKHERJEE Kolkata, 31 August

Chowman, the popular Chinese restaurant chain, is actually a journey of a foodie, who dared to bring a bend to the food narrative in Bengal. He is not just a foodie but an avid traveller, a dreamer by heart, and madcap by nature, and is also the founding member of popular Bengali Rock Band, 'Lakkhichhara'. Debaditya Chaudhury travelled all over Asia, learning the Chinese culture, understanding their food tradition before starting Chowman in 2010. Fifteen years down the road, with a wide array of 600 items on the menu and an amazing variety of Thai and other Pan-Asian delicacies, Chowman currently has 37 outlets out of the 52 belonging to its F&B group. But this is just the beginning. Its vision is to reach 100 outlets across 18 cities by the end of the decade, and it is moving steadily towards that milestone. It is currently present in cities like Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad & Mumbai and it plans to open in cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Nagpur, and Bhubaneswar in the next 3 years.

Speaking to The Statesman exclusively, the musician-turned-entrepreneur and Managing Director of Chowman Chain of Restaurants, Debaditya Chaudhury (photo right), narrates the story of the evolution of Chinese cuisine in India and also the evolution and growth of Chowman. He also touches upon some other interesting aspects and trends of the restaurant business in India. Excerpts:

Q: How have you seen the restaurant landscape changing and evolving over the last 15 years in India and in Kolkata, in particular?