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Chef Kunal Kapur's launch of Pincode in Mohali is all about nostalgia, pride, and a sense of homecoming. For the celebrated chef, television personality, and culinary innovator, launching Pincode in Punjab isn’t just another milestone—it’s a poignant ‘full circle’ moment that brings his journey back to where it all began.
“If you’re having a happy day, come celebrate with us. On the days when you’re feeling a little low, allow us to treat you with good food and service,” Chef Kunal Kapur says, inviting Chandigarh to Pincode. To get an insight into an exclusive interview with the chef about his go-to food spots in Chandigarh, favourite Punjabi dishes, and the menu at Pincode, scroll down!
Chef Kunal Kapur And His Punjabi Roots
Born and brought up in Delhi by a Punjabi family, Chef Kunal Kapur grew up amidst the regional cuisine. Painting a picture of his childhood, the chef shares, “I grew up in a joint Punjabi family where my dad and chacha (dad’s younger brother) all lived with our grandparents. There were almost 11-12 people in the house. So, the size of our kitchen was big, larger than our living room. Since there were so many mouths to feed, including newborns, kids, health-conscious youngsters, office-goers, unannounced guests, and so on, there was always something cooking in the kitchen.”
Early Kitchen Memories And Favourite Punjabi Dishes
The fondness for cooking or even developing an interest in ‘what’s cooking’ does not develop overnight. While discussing chef Kapur’s early memories in the kitchen, he said it wasn’t unusual for men to do the cooking in his family. “I remember going with my grandfather to buy groceries for a month. Also, since all the men in the house cooked every Sunday, I would end up in the kitchen and cook with my father,” Chef Kunal adds.
Growing up in a Punjabi family, Chef Kunal has had his fair share of time-honoured delicacies. When asked about his all-time favourites, the chef says, “There are so many dishes I love. Ajwain vali paranthi with cheeni vali dahi, topped with butter, used to be my favourite food, and is still my comfort food. Another dish stuck with me is doodh wali bread that my grandmother used to make for kids. She used to quickly whip it up in the winter season with bread slices, milk, sugar, munakka, badam, and pista.”
Chef Kapur’s Go-To Food Spots In Chandigarh
Living in the city for about three years, I asked Chef Kunal Kapur about his favourite food joints in Chandigarh. While the 17-sector market topped the list, spots like Ghazal, Softy Corner, and the popcorn place are still precious to him. Amongst others were Aunty Da Dhaba, Pashtun, Aroma for ice cream, Oven Fresh, Amrit Sweets, and Tehal Singh’s Dhaba for butter chicken.
“There was another small hole in the wall, kind of a place called Chaplin fast food corner in Sector 34. Whenever we went there, the owner would recognise that we were kids with bigger appetites, so he would give us an extra portion at the same price. That was a brilliant strategy as he attracted all the college students to him,” says, sharing a fun college-time memory.
From IHM, Chandigarh To Pincode, Mohali
As an alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management, Chandigarh, the opening of Pincode in Mohali holds a special significance for Chef Kunal Kapur. This milestone also coincides with his celebration of 25 years in the culinary industry, a journey that comes full circle as he revisits Chandigarh.
Reflecting on his career, he shares, “I feel blessed and lucky to come back to the city and open a restaurant where my first steps towards becoming a chef started. My career started shaping right in this city. I stayed in both Mohali and Chandigarh while I was in college. As we didn’t have hostels, we rented out spaces. And I was lucky enough to get in touch with the faculty who taught me and invite them over as my first guests at Pincode.”
Inside The Menu Of Pincode
After making a mark in Delhi, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Pincode has its newest address in Mohali. Exploring the regional specialities of different cities across the country, Chef Kapur designed the menu to serve timeless classics discovered in small towns and street corners. Some of the must-try items on the menu include:
Palak Salli Chaat
The chef’s love for chaat brings this unique take on palak patta chaat with crispy shredded spinach & aloo salli over airy sweet curd, imli & pudina chutney.
Pressure Cooker Chicken Curry
Just like most Punjabi households make a rich chicken curry on a typical Sunday, at Pincode, you get the same pressure cooker to your table with Chef Kunal’s home-style chicken curry recipe.
Amritsari Kulfa
Since a trip to Amritsar is incomplete without a Kulfa, the Chef introduced the speciality to the Mohali menu. Describing the dessert, Kunal Kapur elaborates, “Kulfa is a big glass of falooda, kulfi, phirni, rose water, and lots of nuts, which is a typical Amritsari street food.”
Saag Burrata
Giving the Punjabi sarson ka saag a modern spin, Saag Burratta is a must-try from the menu.
Doodh Wali Bread
Punjabis have a special connection with doodh wali bread. “Making a fancier version of my childhood favourite dessert, I have added doodh wali bread to the menu,” the chef adds.
