Contemporary South Asian restaurant highlighting B.C. ingredients to open in Vancouver | Daily Hive

Tushar Tondvalkar (Luis Valdizon/Kavita)

B.C. is fortunate when it comes to local produce and ingredients. Whether we’re talking about strawberries in the spring or root vegetables in the winter, there’s plenty of seasonal produce and ingredients to enjoy. So, when a new South Asian restaurant promises to highlight B.C.’s seasonal bounty, we naturally get excited.

Kavita, brought to us by Mumbai-born chef Tushar Tondvalkar, is an ode to both regional Indian cuisine and local ingredients. Here, he draws inspiration from his roots in Mumbai and the coastal town of Malvan, where he first discovered his love of cooking with family matriarchs over a charcoal fire.

“I’m excited to finally bring my dream restaurant into reality with Kavita and introduce Canadians to my interpretation of regional Indian cuisine,” said Tondvalkar. “One of my earliest memories of food is of busy Mumbai streets, when they came alive with the sounds of metal ladles, bursts of chilli oil and fire, and the scent of frying and fermenting. I learned that food could be loud and generous, just like the city itself.”

Tushar Tondvalkar (Luis Valdizon/Kavita)

While this restaurant will celebrate local B.C. ingredients, it’s also meant as a way to honour mothers. Kavita is named after Tondvalkar’s mother, and also means “poetry” in the Marathi language. This appreciation for mothers is also evident in Kavita’s tasting menu, which Tondvalkar refers to as “amma-kase.”

On this amma-kase menu, expect dishes inspired by India’s festival calendar that also reflect the unique cultural traditions and celebratory foods found across the country.

Examples include a Beef Tartare with podi masala, crispy curry leaf, egg yolk, and tapioca crisps, and a Malvani Black Chickpea Stew with Malvani spice, caramelized coconut and onion sauce, wade (fried bread), and seasonal vegetables.

Puran Poli (Aditya Pawar/Kavita)

In addition to changing with India’s festival calendar, this amma-kase will change seasonally based on what is available in B.C.

To start, Kavita will be serving nine courses on its amma-kase menu, with dishes like Bombay Vada with moth bean stew, beetroot chutney, and curry leaf; Geoduck Clam with Malvani masala, caramelized coconut sauce, and kokum; Aged Duck with Kerala-style coconut curry, and appam; and Shrikhand with black sesame cake and seasonal fruit.

But don’t worry, Kavita will also offer an à la carte menu.

Stuffed Morel with Goat Kebab (Luis Valdizon/Kavita)

The front-of-house is being led by general manager Yash Shah (previously Autostrada), who also happens to be Tondvalkar’s childhood friend since they were five years old.

On the beverage side, the team is comprised of wine director Nikhil Kumar (previously The Victor) and bar manager Kabir Sehgal (previously Chupito).

“I’m honoured to have such a great team joining me on this adventure of opening a new
restaurant in Vancouver,” added Tondvalkar. “In Indian culture, the kitchen is the heart of the home. This same spirit guides us as we work together to introduce guests to our contemporary interpretation of Indian cuisine.”

You might also like:

The 1,500 sq. ft. restaurant will feature 46 seats, eight of which will be at its chef’s table, and an open kitchen. The space is designed by the award-winning Janks Design Group Inc. and is inspired by Tondvalkar’s contemporary approach to Indian cuisine, which incorporates a combination of textures, sustainable materials, handcrafted details, and eclectic finishes that blend cultural influences with modern sensibilities.

Aditya Pawar/Kavita

Kavita officially opens its doors on Oct. 16. Once open, it will operate on Tuesday to Saturday, with happy hour service from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and dinner service from 5 to 11 p.m.

Kavita

Address: 250 W 3rd Ave., Vancouver

Instagram

Still hungry? Discover Dished Vancouver on TikTok