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kamlnegi

@kamlnegi

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Executive chef Head of Research @restaurantnaar
Exploring the fusion of tradition and innovation

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Some moments are worth looking back on.

Although I couldn’t be present at the Condé Nast Traveller @cntravellerindia Top Restaurant Awards this year, my heart was full to see so many familiar names being recognised.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph some of the most humble people and places with extraordinary stories and from being chefs in front of the camera to becoming friends. Seeing them celebrated is a reminder of the many inspiring conversations, experiences and journeys along the way.

From touring across India with team @dhamakanyc @chefchintan @roni.mazumdar of @unapologeticfoodsnyc to figuring out art at the salon of @restaurantnaar with @prateeksadhu and @aashinakaul to being hosted by the most helpful @abhishekhonawar at @thejohrijaipur over just a phone call, doing one of the most early portraits of @chefhussainshahzad or pulling an all nighter with @latoyahtrindade at @bandraborn , photographing features, cook books and their launches for @sonalved at @masquerestaurant with @varuntotlani and sharing milestones with @chefavinashmartins and @tizlynmart over pre Christmas celebrations at their home and farm. Moments like these make me realise awards and recognitions don’t happen overnight, it’s sheer hard work, overcoming self doubt, starting grounded and giving your 100% every single day until you make it.

Grateful to have documented a part of this evolving dining landscape.

Congratulations to all the winners!

[Condé Nast Traveller, Indias Top 50 Restaurants, Top Restaurant Awards 2026, Indian Dining, Pankaj Anand]

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Growing up, the Himalayas was always this faraway land where the mythical and spiritual coexist. In school, we studied Poe, and I learned about the sublime in literature. Later, we studied the works of the Romantics: Wordsworth, Coleridge and, finally, Shelley. It was in Shelley's "Mont Blanc" that I first felt the capacity of a mountain to be sublime: in its vastness I sensed its capacity for inexplicable terror and beauty in equal measure, for overwhelming indifference by virtue of sheer scale beyond my imagination.

I felt the Himalayas must be even more sublime, even more awe-inspiring, and I was sure I would feel it even if I only ever reached its foothills. And I did, to a degree, but it wasn't the most interesting part. That would be learning about the centuries of history of the people in the region through the food at NAAR, whether transposed, like trout (introduced by the British in 1900), or hand-rolled wheat noodles from Uttarakhand (influenced by Tibetan trade routes).

I'm not claiming a three-hour meal here offers the full picture, but it is a glimpse through which one might be inspired to do the rest: edification by way of eating.

Nothing here is fantastical. The berries, herbs and morels I touch and eat are all very, very real and tangible. Yet what @prateeksadhu and his team achieve with smoke, fire, time and a deep understanding of the ingredients around them is nothing short of magical. A meal at @restaurantnaar is sublime.

More in my full story for @themalaymail in my bio.

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Off the wall, on the record

This week, the needle’s been living on Thriller.
Our listening sessions are for the full-album people. Know one of them?
Come sit in on the next one.

PS: 🔈for the needle drop

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Launch week was loud. The kitchen is back to its own tempo, doing what we love most at FTR. 🎶

Pull up a seat, put a record on and stay a while. 🎛️

PS: Thank you for all the love and support during our launch week!

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India’s No. 1 Restaurant 🤍🥹

Honestly, it still feels unreal.

A few months ago, we were a small team trying to figure out our pincode, our location, and whether anyone would make the trek to find us. Today, the country knows exactly where we are.

Thank you to the @cntravellerindia India jury for this recognition. And thank you to every guest, old and new, who trusted us enough to make the journey up to Kasauli. None of this happens without you.

A big thank you to @diviathani @sa1i1 @diyak and the entire team @districtupdates for making it a night to remember. You created the most amazing room, bringing people from across India’s F&B world together to celebrate each other with the loudest cheers.

And a special thank you to everyone at @theamayalife , to @deepak_amaya and the entire team. Your immense support is the reason we are here at all. We wouldn’t have begun without you.

We promise not to take any of it for granted. Thank you for being part of our journey.

Today, we celebrate, and we celebrate with you.

Panda hugs 🐼 ✌️

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GRATITUDE AND JUST GRATEFUL 🙏🙏🙏

Panda hugs 🐼 🥰 🤗

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POV: You came to Himachal for the mountains… and ended up dining at one of India’s most talked-about restaurants, featured in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 best restaurants in India. 🏔️✨

Welcome to NAAR — Chef Prateek Sadhu’s 16-course Himalayan tasting menu, where wild herbs, native grains, mountain spices, and local ingredients are transformed into deeply layered plates.

An intimate journey through the flavours, forests, and soul of the Himalayas — and a dinner worth planning an entire trip around.

Would you travel to Himachal for this experience? 🤍

#naar #condenasttraveller #condenast #himachal #kasauli

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Best Restaurants of India😍🔥 @cntravellerindia released the list of the Top 50 restaurants of India for 2026 in Goa last evening. Bummed to have missed the celebrations but super happy for all the 50 restaurants on the list. @sa1i1 @diviathani @sandeep.k.lodha
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#TopRestaurants #BestRestaurants #CulinaryAwards #foodie #spiceitupwithsam
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[Best Restaurants, Foodie, Street food, Fine Dining, Top Restaurants, Food Lover, Food recommendations, Food Guide, New Delhi]

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📌 Save this before your next dinner party.

The best hosts aren’t the ones who cook all day. They’re the ones who actually get to enjoy their own party 🥂

A few tips from our chefs, and an easy way out when you need one 😉

DM us to book.

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‼️‼️ Warning: this team is dangerously good at good times. Come find out for yourself at FTR!

Highly contagious good vibes. No known cure, just more visits.

Disclaimer: The scooter scene was filmed for creative purposes over a very short distance. Triple riding and riding without a helmet are unsafe and against traffic rules. Please ride responsibly and always wear a helmet. 🪖

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If I were to write a chapter in my book of experiences I’d write an elaborate one about @restaurantnaar . Not just about their food, but the experience that comes with it - 4 hours - 14 courses - the long drive to a hidden place in the mountains, the warmth of the people pumped with passion for food, the mountains & the trees, the range of techniques, ingredients, the understanding of the local produce and finally, the satisfaction of being there to absorb it all. What a great place, you have our heart @restaurantnaar 🐼💌🎖️

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The hands behind FTR (some new ones too)
All hands on deck ; last one gets a special mention 🤫

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