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 modern Italian restaurant Modena, modern American Annabelle, French bistro La Bis, Levantine-style Sababa and its wine bar neighbor Little Black Bird, and his third Indian concept, Bindaas. Former Bashok restaurants include Bibiana, Nopa Kitchen + Bar,[8] 701, The Oval Room and Ardeo + Bardeo.[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]
  • 2022 finalist, James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurateur[14]

References

  1. 1 2 Roig-Franzia, Manuel (2011-02-10). "Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj: Potentate of the D.C. plate". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  2. 1 2 3 Anderson, Brett (12 August 2013). "A New Delhi-Born Restaurateur Brings Power Dining to D.C." The New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Heim, Joe (2014-06-18). "Just Asking: Ashok Bajaj, owner of the Oval Room, Rasika and more, talks about power tables". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  4. ↑ Carman, Tim (6 May 2014). "Rasika chef Vikram Sunderam wins James Beard Award". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Filloon, Whitney (2015-07-29). "Book Deals: Eric Ripert's Memoir, Rasika, Bob's Burgers Book Cover". Eater. Vox Media. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  6. ↑ Swanson, Clare (July 20, 2015). "Ecco Signs Indian Cookbook from D.C. Eatery, Rasika". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  7. ↑ "Rasika Review". Bon Appetit. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  8. ↑ Sietsema, Tom (2014-02-05). "Tom Sietsema's Valentines to people and places he loves". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  9. ↑ Rapuano, Rina (August 11, 2016). "First Look: Bindaas Opens in Cleveland Park". Zagat. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  10. ↑ Elliot, Peter (2016-11-03). "How to Experience the New Wave of Haute Indian Food All Over the Globe". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  11. ↑ Voelker, Jessica (June 24, 2013). "Fabio Trabocchi, Ashok Bajaj Take Top Awards at 2013 RAMMYS". Washingtonian Magazine.
  12. ↑ "2013 RAMMY Award Winners". Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "RAMW Announces 2017 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award". May 2, 2017.
  14. ↑ Canavan, Hillary Dixler (2022-03-16). "Here Are the 2022 James Beard Awards Restaurant, Chef, and Media Finalists". Eater. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
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