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The Mashup Master
Blending the soul of a Nashville, Tenn., meat-and-three with equally soulful — but completely different — Indian flavors, restaurateur and “Chopped” judge Maneet Chauhan has created mashups where no one has mashed before. Chauhan and her husband Vivek Deora have done that and more at Nashville’s Chauhan Ale & Masala House, which they opened in 2014 and immediately started making their mark.
Known for: Dishes like tandoori chicken poutine and garam masala ribeye are a way to introduce customers to this cuisine “and slowly we get them hooked on Indian food,” Chauhan says.
Power move: Chauhan recently partnered with local brewer Derrick Morse for an Indian spiced beer project that culminated in opening a brewery, Mantra Artisanal Ales, in Franklin, Tenn.
What’s next: Blurring the boundaries of daring culinary feats at Tansuo, an upscale Chinese restaurant Chauhan recently opened with Chinese-American chef Chris Cheung.
