Maneet Chauhan
Lindsey Grace Whiddon
Say the name Maneet Chauhan to anyone who calls themselves a “foodie” and they will nearly bow with reverence.
The celebrity chef and founding partner of Morph Hospitality Group, Iron Chef contestant, and frequent Food Network judge is renowned for her impeccable dining experiences, all of which have their home base in Nashville.
But before making her mark on the U.S., Chauhan interned at some of India's finest hotels and kitchens, including inside Taj Hotels, Oberoi Hotels, and Le Meridien. Once she made her way to America, Chauhan graduated from the Culinary Institute of America at the top of her class, but she says none of those challenges compared to what she would face in the restaurant industry.
When asked about her greatest struggles, Chauhan points to the difficulty of finding a work/life balance. But she’s finding ways to deal with that.
“By drinking copious amounts of wine,” she laughs. “Traveling for sure. I love finding new, interesting places to go. Most recently, Peru.”
Lindsey Grace Whiddon
Closer to home, she credits Music City with giving her a leg up in the industry.
"Nashville gave us the opportunity to create a niche market for ourselves because what we're doing at all four of our restaurants is something that Nashville hasn't seen before,” Chauhan says. “We've been able to grow and flourish here for sure.” (She has opened four restaurants and two breweries in four years.)
Lindsey Grace Whiddon
Chauhan loves the “constant movement” of working in the restaurant industry.
"To me, success is defined as growth—for me and the team as a whole," she says, before offering a trademark even-keeled secret to her success: “There is a solution to every problem that presents itself. Be calm and don’t overreact.”
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