Our Restaurants
 

Chef / Patron - Sanjay Dwivedi

Our Head Chef/Patron at Zaika in London’s Kensington, Sanjay Dwivedi’s career has been both varied and colourful.

As a young man he originally left home in South India and the family hotel business and came to London to complete a course in Hotel Management. However a growing passion to pursue a career as a chef soon emerged, and saw Dwivedi working in some of London’s finest kitchens, including The Ivy, Le Caprice, Greenhouse, Coast and The Atlantic Bar and Grill.

During this time as he gained in experience and success, he honed his craft and further enhanced his understanding of the strict, almost military, disciplines of classic French techniques. By combining this with his innate knowledge in the application of Indian spices, Dwivedi’s signature style began to emerge.

As his confidence and creativity grew, news of his enthusiasm and talent secured him firstly the position of chef consultancy at the exclusive Soneva Fushi Resort in the Maldives, then as touring chef on The Rolling Stones “Bridges of Babylon” world tour.

In 1999, he returned to London as part of the opening team at restaurant Zaika in London’s Kensington. Two years later, Zaika was one of the first Indian restaurants to gain a Michelin star for its innovative, sophisticated cuisine.

Since then he has added to his global experience at Tabla in New York and as chef consultant for both the opening of Tantra in Los Angeles and then at Tanzore in Beverley Hills.

In January 2005, Dwivedi took over restaurant Zaika as Head Chef/Patron.

Over the years, his enthusiasm and creativity have never waned, nor has his passion for his earliest inspiration in the use of the freshest Indian spices.

His ethos of sourcing only the best seasonal produce and ingredients from the UK, combined with his subtle blending of freshly ground and roasted spices, imparts unique and refined flavours in a myriad of dishes in Zaika’s light and modern Indian menu.

Dwivedi’s talents have not only been recognised in London, where he has appeared in various television programmes, including Market Kitchen, but more recently in 2008, at the national food and wine festival held at Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle.

That same year Dwivedi showcased his cuisine on the world stage, at the international chefs gastronomic congress Identita Golose in Milan.

General Manager - Luigi Gaudino

Originally from Italy, Luigi Gaudino acquired his love of cooking and attentive service whilst growing up near Naples.

After completing several courses at the hostelry school in Formia, he set up his own company in private dining and worked in several top European palaces.

In 2000 he came to London to enlarge his culinary skills with Al Duca restaurant in St James's and it was there he discovered his passion for wine.

After two years he moved as Assistant Manager to Zaika restaurant where he helped create a specialist wine list for Indian food. Working mainly between Zaika and Deya restaurants for the past four years, his passion for fine service and knowledge of food and wine brought him in September 2005 to his present position as Zaika's General Manager.