A World of Flavor in Our Backyard
By Darien Davies
Some people search their whole life for their career or life path. What should I do, who should I be? James Beard nominated Chef Pushkar Marathe was born into a life of food, so it was always clear to him that food would be his life. While he is certainly the lucky one, we, too, are the lucky receivers of his delicious culinary path.
“I have been fond of cooking since childhood. I would watch my mom and grandmother cook for our family and was always curious about the steps of cooking, how a recipe developed along the way, so it was an easy career choice,” said Pushkar, 39. “I always wanted to be a chef/restauranteur. The idea of running and owning a restaurant, creating a concept, writing the menu, designing every detail keeps me pushing, and it’s a lot of fun. It is the smile on people’s faces when they’re eating your food; each smile always makes me happy.”
His culinary journey might have started at home, but it has taken him across the world and then some. He was born in Nagpur, India, but continued to stamp his passport starting at age 20, where he began his culinary training in Switzerland before embarking on a decades-long exploration of international cuisine. But, it wasn’t until he landed his first job in the States at 3030 Ocean in Fort Lauderdale that he started to connect the permanent culinary dots.
“I was fortunate to be mentored by Dean Max. I went on and opened several restaurants for Dean around the country and in the Caribbean, but always somehow stayed connected to South Florida,” Pushkar said. “And there are all the amazing tropical fruits growing in South Florida — important for the cuisine I wanted to cook — that helped make the decision easier. After our son was born, my wife Nicole and I wanted to move closer to my mother-in-law, who lives in West Palm Beach, to be closer to family. I feel we are where we were meant to be.”
This is what makes Pushkar’s restaurants so stellar. They envelope everything a diner is interested in enjoying. On top of that, it’s also about educating the community that Indian food is welcoming to everyone.
“Our cuisine at Ela Curry & Cocktails is regional Indian cooking. Indian cooking doesn’t have to be spicy, and Indian food does not equal curry. There is so much more to Indian cuisine,” Pushkar said. “Curry literally means a blend of a lot of different spices; there is no one spice called curry. Indian food is all about flavor and textures. Basically, it’s a party and a lot of fun.”
Mouth party all around. Pushkar’s desire to bring his Indian/worldly cuisine to Florida is not only allowing him to share his heritage with us but also to add power to our palate. Years ago, he partnered with Andy Dugard at Meat Market Palm Beach when he was chef de cuisine, and Andy was the general manager. They became great friends and eventually business partners, sharing a love for unparalleled cuisine and hospitality.
“It’s important for me to bring Indian cuisine to South Florida because I want to share my heritage and the amazing flavors and delicious food from India,” Pushkar said. “I want our guests to know that Indian food is more than a curry, and it’s one of the most complex yet very simple cuisines. And nourishing! There is no better way to showcase your culture than cooking the food.”
The team currently offers three unique restaurant experiences in Palm Beach Gardens. Stage Kitchen & Bar is focused on globally inspired, flavor-forward cuisine and reflects Pushkar’s travel experiences around the world. Ela Curry & Cocktails is where they celebrate regional Indian cuisine that showcases a lot of different techniques and dishes. Their newest concept is Mango Mercado, where they have market-based foods along with a wide variety of wines.
Next to launch is Stage Kitchen & Bar’s second location, set to open in Boca Raton this February. While it might be the newest location for the group, Pushkar says there’s always a new concept brewing. Spice is life, and lovely as ever, thanks to the Pushkar team.
@pushkarry
@stagekitchen
@elacurryandcocktails
@mangomercado