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Open any shopping, grocery, or any other application, and everyone is celebrating International Women’s Day by offering huge discounts. If you are a woman, you can purchase clothes, accessories, makeup, and whatnot at half the price or even less. Does it make a real difference? It’s a marketing gimmick that surely benefits organisations or earns the HR department brownie points for organising women-centric activities.
Did you know that only 6.04% of the Michelin-starred restaurants are led by women? The same 2022 report by Chef’s Pencil analysed the top 100 restaurants across 16 countries where only 6.73% had female head chefs. It’s a no-brainer that the Indian restaurant industry walks the same path. Research indicates that only 10-15% of chefs in India are women. If you don’t believe it, ask a random citizen to tell them about their favourite Indian chef and witness them naming male chefs.
Image Credit: Café Swasthya
This is not a rant to diminish the exemplary work of many male chefs who have not only taken Indian food on global platforms but have also introduced diversity in regional households. But it’s a glaring blotch that cannot be concealed through glamorous discounts. To bridge this gap, true change is required, and it can only come from opportunities which many women entrepreneurs are offering across fields.
Slurrp spoke to Karreena Bulchandani, Founder of MOKAI; Akshi Khandelwal, Founder & CEO & Director of Café Swasthya, An Ayurveda Kitchen and Bakery; Nalini Moti Sadhu, Chef Founder & CEO, Director of Matamaal, The Kashmiri Restaurant, Kanz & Muhul; Bobby Patel, Founder of Thyme & Whisk; and Tusheeta Khanna, Co-founder of EnCanto in Gurugram, to understand how their efforts are changing the landscape of the Indian food and beverage industry.
Image Credit: Café Swasthya
Carving Spaces For Young Budding Female Chefs
When women take on managerial or higher roles, they often carve paths for others to shine. Karreena Bulchandani shared that their barista programme is heavily led by women, with 80% females and 20% males. “The entire program has been created by our head barista, Suraksha, who has crafted a beverage menu like no other.”
When Tusheeta Khanna started EnCanto, she ensured that inclusivity and empowerment were at its heart. She said, “With a significant percentage of our staff being women, we are proud to create opportunities for aspiring female chefs and hospitality professionals to excel in their careers.”
Image Credit: Nalini Moti Sadhu, Chef Founder & CEO, Director of Matamaal
On the other hand, Akshi Khandelwal is mindful of creating a space where female chefs feel encouraged to step into a leadership role in the culinary world. She said, “We offer women the same opportunities to work, lead, and grow - whether as chefs, commis, managers, or service staff.”
Image Credit: Karreena Bulchandani, Founder of MOKAI
Diversity In Women-Led Restaurants
You must have read an African proverb, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” The same goes for women entrepreneurs. Not that they are biased towards gender, but they will always ensure that the office spaces are inclusive, safe, and diverse.
If you visit Karreena Bulchandani’s MOKAI, you will notice that at least 40% of her staff is women. Sharing her experience of hiring and working with women, she said, “We naturally lean towards hiring women—not out of bias, but from experience. Women often display exceptional dedication and work ethic. In our housekeeping team, for example, two women handle the workload of five men. That’s no exaggeration—they manage everything from cleaning glasses to floors and step up without hesitation, even at a moment’s notice.”
Restaurateur Akshi Khandelwal agreed and further added, “We’ve seen firsthand that having women in the workplace brings a sense of balance, sincerity, and purpose. At the corporate level, we have strong female representation, especially across marketing, photography, design, and communication.”
EnCanto has the same percentage of women staff as MOKAI. Building on the concept of inclusivity, Tusheeta Khanna proudly explained, “At EnCanto, we have implemented strict anti-harassment policies, regular sensitisation training, and an open-door policy for grievance redressal. We have also ensured that work schedules are structured in a way that provides work-life balance, which is often a challenge in this industry. Inclusivity isn’t just about hiring—it’s about fostering an environment where every individual, regardless of gender, feels heard, respected, and empowered to grow.”
Image Credit: Bobby Patel, Founder of Thyme & Whisk
Nalini Moti Sadhu added that women bring an innate sense of dedication, resilience, and emotional intelligence, shaping a workplace that feels safe, inclusive, and empowering. She added, “We believe that diversity isn’t about forcing representation in specific roles but about ensuring women have the power to lead where they excel.”
Bobby Patel, Founder of Thyme & Whisk, said, "We actively seek diversity in our staff—not just in terms of gender, but also in terms of age, background, and culinary style. We have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. This means that any inappropriate behaviour, whether verbal, physical, or otherwise, is not only unacceptable but will be immediately addressed. In the restaurant industry, where high-pressure environments and long hours are the norm, it’s especially important to ensure that every team member feels safe and respected at all times."
As women themselves, these entrepreneurs not only understand the importance of opportunity but also a safe working environment. It’s not a secondary thought but a primary instinct that kicks in and drives them to ensure every employee or customer feels secure and guarded.
Image Credit: Akshi Khandelwal, Founder & CEO & Director of Café Swasthya
Women Restaurateurs Experiencing Gender Bias
People often argue that the world has progressed and gender biases don’t exist right up front. While as a country, India has been witnessing growth in terms of bridging the gender gap, there is a long way to go. The experiences of women restaurateurs are proof of how biases exist in all shapes and sizes.
When Karreena Bulchandani started out, many questioned her capabilities to take on the responsibility of running a restaurant. She was working with her husband but experienced that many men in the industry dismissed her and said, “It’s okay, we’ll talk to your husband.” She added, “That really stung because we were saying the exact same thing—if anything, I had more details to share. But I kept going. I worked until they had no choice but to acknowledge me.”
Image Credit: EnCanto
Tusheeta Khanna has had similar experiences with seniors second-guessing her. She shared, “There have been instances where decisions or strategies were questioned simply because they came from a woman. However, I’ve always believed that the best response is excellence and perseverance—letting the work speak for itself.”
So was the case with Bobby Patel. She was underestimated, subjected to scepticism, and treated as an ‘exception’ rather than a norm. Recalling an incident, she shared that when Thyme & Whisk was just opened, a critic told her, “Your food is great, but it’s interesting to see a woman in charge of the kitchen—it’s a different vibe, and that’s not always easy for a male-dominated industry.” 
Image Credit: Café Swasthya
Women Restaurateurs Advise Young Budding Female Chefs
This International Women's Day, Slurrp also asked successful and resilient restaurateurs a few suggestions for young budding female chefs. Akshi Khandelwal suggested, "My advice is simple: doing good work and serving others isn’t limited to any gender. So master your skills, be true to yourself, and do your best. Believe in yourself, keep improving, and move forward with confidence. There are more opportunities than ever for women in the culinary world - go for it!"
Karreena Bulchandani added, "Listen to 100, Do only what one says -That one person is yourself. Don’t divert yourself. Don’t get confused. Just keep breathing and believe in yourself because remember - a woman is a lot more than a sister, wife, and mother!"
Image Credit: Café Swasthya
Nalini Moti Sadhu advised, "I’ve never approached my work with a ‘woman in a man’s world’ mindset. I step into the kitchen, into business, as a professional—nothing less, nothing more. The moment you stop boxing yourself in, the world will too. Be excellent, be relentless, and let your work do the talking."
Tusheeta Khanna said, "My advice to women in this field is to embrace your vision with confidence and never shy away from taking risks. Success often comes from staying authentic to who you are and being fearless in pursuing your goals. Surround yourself with a supportive network, keep learning, and believe in your ability to create something meaningful."
Bobby Patel added, "Your unique perspective is your strength. Don’t feel pressured to fit a mould. Take risks, learn from failures, and grow at your own pace."
Image Credit: Café Swasthya
