Mumbai-born chef honours family with new Vancouver restaurant
Mumbai-born chef Tushar Tondvalkar boasts numerous accolades, with over a decade of culinary experience gained through his work at acclaimed kitchens worldwide, including Gaggan and Gaa in Bangkok, as well as local restaurants such as Bauhaus, Blue Water Cafe, and Mumbai Local.
Tondvalkar also founded The Indian Pantry in 2020 and has even appeared on (and won) Hulu’s Chef vs. Wild, where he was challenged to cook a three-course meal using foraged ingredients. Now, Tondvalkar will soon have another title to add to his résumé: restaurant owner.
This September, Tondvalkar is opening his first restaurant called Kavita in Mount Pleasant. Here, he will be bringing together the depth of regional Indian cuisine with B.C.’s seasonal ingredients.
The inspiration for the name Kavita stems from two things: the Marathi word for “poetry,” and also a way to honour his mother, Kavita.
Chef Tushar Tondvalkar (Luis Valdizon)
“I’ve wanted to open my own restaurant ever since I started my career in the culinary arts,”
said Tondvalkar. “Kavita has a lot of meaning for me – not only is it named after my mother, it will be a place where I can finally introduce Vancouver to the regional and diverse flavours of the India I know in new, creative ways. Like poetry, we want each dish to tell a story and spark conversation and connections when people take their first bite.”
Kavita’s à la carte menu will draw inspiration from India’s festival calendar, featuring dishes that reflect the country’s unique cultural traditions and celebratory foods. As the seasons shift and festivals like Holi, Diwali, Onam, and Eid approach, the menu evolves to highlight regional ingredients and specialties.
Examples of some of these menu items include the Bun and Butter (Manglorean banana buns and toasted coconut chili butter), Chicken Kebab Stuffed Morels (with korma sauce and green peas), and Puran Poli (milk cake, feuilletine, ghee, and chili crisp).
Buns and Butter (Aditya Pawar)
Chicken Korma and Naan (Aditya Pawar)
Puran Poli (Aditya Pawar)
This honouring of his mom extends beyond just the restaurant’s name. In addition to offering à la carte menu items inspired by India’s festival calendar, Tondvalkar will also be serving up a special tasting menu called amma-kase, meant to be a tribute to the Japanese omakase and also to the nurturing spirit of mothers (for those who may not know, amma means “mom” in several Indian languages).
As for the space, the restaurant will be 1,500 sq. ft. and feature an open kitchen. It will have 46 seats, including eight at Kavita’s intimate chef’s table.
Designed by Janks Design Group Inc., expect tactile textures, sustainable materials, and eclectic finishes that blend bicultural influences with modern sensibilities.
Janks Design Group Inc.
Janks Design Group Inc.
Kavita
Address: 250 W. 3rd Ave., Vancouver
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