Ashok Bajaj is a restaurateur based in Washington, DC. He is head of the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group.
Biography
Bajaj was born in New Delhi. He left India in his early twenties,[1] working in Sydney and in London, where he managed the Bombay Brasserie before moving the United States[2] in 1988.[3] He opened the Bombay Club, his first restaurant in Washington, in 1989 in his 20s, in initially working with an Australian partner, Norris Blanks, though the two parted ways after a year and a half.[1] His restaurant group has since expanded and now includes Rasika, for which chef Vikram Sunderam won a 2014 James Beard Award.[4] Sunderam and Bajaj met in London working together at the Bombay Brasserie.[2] With Sunderam and chef and cookbook author David Hagedorn, Bajaj is co-author of the cookbook, Rasika: Flavors of India,[5] published by the Ecco imprint of HarperCollins.[6]
In addition to Rasika, which has two locations,[7] Bajaj's restaurants include Bibiana, Nopa Kitchen + Bar,[8] 701, The Oval Room, Ardeo + Bardeo, and Bindaas.[9] He opened the latter in 2016 with chef Sunderam.[10]
A 2013 profile in The New York Times headlined "Right This Way, Senator: A New Delhi-Born Restaurateur Brings Power Dining to D.C." describes Bajaj as "arguably the most successful restaurateur in Washington."[2] He was recognized as the 2013 Restaurateur of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.[11]
Awards
- 2013 Restaurateur of the Year, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.[12]
- 2017 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj: Potentate of the D.C. plate. The Washington Post(2011-02-10). Retrieved 2017-08-19.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A New Delhi-Born Restaurateur Brings Power Dining to D.C.. The New York Times(12 August 2013). Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ↑ Just Asking: Ashok Bajaj, owner of the Oval Room, Rasika and more, talks about power tables. The Washington Post(2014-06-18). Retrieved 2017-08-19.
- ↑ Rasika chef Vikram Sunderam wins James Beard Award. The Washington Post(6 May 2014). Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ↑ Book Deals: Eric Ripert's Memoir, Rasika, Bob's Burgers Book Cover, Filloon, Whitney. Eater. Vox Media(2015-07-29). Retrieved 2017-08-19.
- ↑ Ecco Signs Indian Cookbook from D.C. Eatery, Rasika. Publishers Weekly(July 20, 2015). Retrieved 2017-08-19.
- ↑ Rasika Review. Bon Appetit. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ Tom Sietsema's Valentines to people and places he loves. The Washington Post(2014-02-05). Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ First Look: Bindaas Opens in Cleveland Park. Zagat(August 11, 2016). Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ How to Experience the New Wave of Haute Indian Food All Over the Globe. Bloomberg(2016-11-03). Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ↑ Fabio Trabocchi, Ashok Bajaj Take Top Awards at 2013 RAMMYS. Washingtonian Magazine(June 24, 2013).
- ↑ 2013 RAMMY Award Winners. Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- ↑ RAMW Announces 2017 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award(May 2, 2017).
External links
- Rasika: Flavors of India at HarperCollins
- Knightsbridge Restaurant Group