Neel Kajale - Adda

WHO: Neel Kajale is head chef of the new Adda in the East Village.

ABOUT: As a young chef from Mumbai who studied his way through top colleges — IHM Mumbai and the Culinary Institute of America — Kajale has evolved every step of the way. As the former chef de partie at the world-renowned Eleven Madison Park, his discipline, hard work, and dedication to the culinary industry have been impeccable and consistent.

Branching into different avenues of the food world, Neel was the recipe developer and test kitchen assistant at Food52 and later at Haven’s Kitchen. A desire to cook the food of his home country brought him to Unapologetic Foods, where he joined co-founders Roni Mazumdar and chef Chintan Pandya at Dhamaka as chef de cuisine of the highly acclaimed restaurant. He was named a StarChefs’ rising star and has now been appointed head chef of the new Adda in the East Village — bringing his story full circle, from India to New York and back, to the heart of the food that shaped him.

WHAT: Our grand finale this season spotlights the cuisine at one of New York's most sought-after Indian restaurants. Kajale — who honed his skills at Eleven Madison Park and Dhamaka and now leads Adda from Unapologetic Foods — celebrates the bold flavors of northern Indian dishes, both modern and traditional.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec 9, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST

WHERE: De Gustibus Culinary Studio