Maneet Chauhan Quotes

Southern India has an abundance of coconut, so the coconut chutney hails from there. Eastern India Bengal produces mustard oil, which is used in its traditional tomato chutney.

- Maneet Chauhan

While I appreciate what goes into making high-end Indian dishes, street food has a special place in my heart. Being raised in India, street food played an integral part in my life while growing up.

- Maneet Chauhan

Restaurants are a much easier way to introduce Americans to a culture than getting them into museums.

- Maneet Chauhan

Only one thing is certain: every time I return to New York from Nashville, I walk down the streets with a silly grin, just smiling at everyone I see and, more often than not, receiving a suspicious glance in return... but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way, y'all!

- Maneet Chauhan

This may sound corny, but I really admire my husband, Vivek Deora, as a businessman because I am amazed by how he conducts business internationally.

- Maneet Chauhan

Every time I look at both of my children, I see a future which is very bright for them, and I recognize that I need to be a role model. If they see me as someone who can achieve whatever I want, I believe that they will follow in my footsteps, and that is something that I strive for every single day.

- Maneet Chauhan

A lot of people have this misconception that Indian food means heavy curries and complicated procedures.

- Maneet Chauhan

The youthful vibe Nashville exudes is intoxicating and contagious, especially amongst the culinary scene, which lures so many great young chefs to places like City House and Rolf and Daughters.

- Maneet Chauhan

I am Indian and a chef with Indian heritage.

- Maneet Chauhan

Indian spices can find a place in any cuisine. It's just a matter of opening your mind and palate to new flavors.

- Maneet Chauhan

Becoming the first Indian woman to compete on Food Network's 'Iron Chef' and 'Next Iron Chef' was really a great accomplishment and led to my spot as a judge on 'Chopped.'

- Maneet Chauhan

Everybody tries so hard to pair wines with Indian food, and it has never been a natural marriage.

- Maneet Chauhan

Beer is such an integral part of the Indian culture.

- Maneet Chauhan

My husband, Vivek Deora - he is very meticulous about cooking, and slowly and lovingly makes his family recipes, handed down generations.

- Maneet Chauhan

When I went to Nashville, everyone was so nice. Even the TSA agents are nice there.

- Maneet Chauhan

I always wanted to be a chef. Flavors and food were always of interest to me, but it was how those things brought friends and family together to celebrate not only the special occasions but everyday life. It has been a blessing that I have been able to pursue a career that creates a product that brings people together.

- Maneet Chauhan

I make a Bloody Mary at home with a dash of fish sauce, a little bit of coconut, and some lime juice. It gives the cocktail some South Asian flair.

- Maneet Chauhan

One of the biggest things about being an entrepreneur is discovering your own management style. You can learn from others and try to emulate what they are doing, but at the end of the day, your inherent personality - how you deal with events and situations - comes to the forefront.

- Maneet Chauhan

My decision to open my first restaurant in Nashville was born from my heart. From the moment I stepped foot in Music City, I have had a love affair with the people and burgeoning culinary scene.

- Maneet Chauhan

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and, in my opinion, the best place to visit. It is an amazing hub of history. It's called the Pink City because all the architecture has a hint of pink in the stones used. It's an amazing stop for all kinds of food but also for history and shopping. It has a little bit of everything.

- Maneet Chauhan

In India, the perception of a woman in a restaurant kitchen was that she wouldn't make it.

- Maneet Chauhan

I love working in the kitchen, but when that's the only thing you're doing, you have a very myopic view.

- Maneet Chauhan

As soon as you enter Rajasthan, you are hit with colors. It's such a sensory experience. You see women in bright pink and yellow saris, camels pulling carts, historic forts - history on each and every corner.

- Maneet Chauhan

Pizza is a great segue into unfamiliar flavors - plus, you can pile on the veggies.

- Maneet Chauhan

A perfect chutney needs patience. If you are cooking it, cook it on a low flame; the flavors come out the best that way.

- Maneet Chauhan

Every time I come to India - where I have grown up - if I spent 20 years in this country, I will never be able to uncover all of the hidden jewels.

- Maneet Chauhan

The level of competition on 'Iron Chef' was very intense. In fact, I feel like the show provides chefs with a stamp of approval and in many ways lets them know that 'they've arrived.' It was a tough journey, to say the least, but in the end, it provided me with an example how hard work and persistence pays off.

- Maneet Chauhan

I find inspiration in each and every person that I cross paths with. Every human being I interact with offers me a significant insight on some aspect of life.

- Maneet Chauhan

There is so much more than ingredients that go into home cooking. A home-cooked meal includes so much love and recipes that have been passed down through generations, and that is what I truly appreciate.

- Maneet Chauhan

I love Pushkar because of the Pushkar Fair, which happens every fall - it's this camel festival, with ornately-dressed camels, camel races. But the reason I truly love this city is the Hindu mythology behind it.

- Maneet Chauhan

When I was in India, I felt like being a full-time chef was a very unique career path. It was quite the contrast from the traditional fields like engineering and medicine and not necessarily considered a full time profession.

- Maneet Chauhan

The crown of lamb has always been a quintessential Christmas dish, and growing up in India, we would read about lamb when learning about the holiday.

- Maneet Chauhan

My husband and I went to Venice, Italy, for our first-year anniversary and spent a day on the Island of Burano. There, we had lunch at the famed Trattoria al Gatto Nero da Ruggero - one of the most incredible meals of our lives.

- Maneet Chauhan

My mantra in life is 'nothing ventured, nothing gained,' and I very strongly stick by it.

- Maneet Chauhan

There is a standing joke in my family that I was born with a ladle in my hand.

- Maneet Chauhan

I could easily pen an entire novel on why I love this city, and believe me, I am a lifelong advocate of the Big Apple, yet somehow Nashville weaved its magic around me.

- Maneet Chauhan

I was really impressed with the dining scenes and how amazing the culinary scene is in Nashville.

- Maneet Chauhan

You are in school, and you hear about 'Iron Chef' and think, 'One day, I have to be on 'Iron Chef.'

- Maneet Chauhan

A lot of people are still very afraid of spice. A lot of them don't know how to use the full potential of spice. I hope to make them more comfortable using spice and able to add it to their cooking.

- Maneet Chauhan

If there is a situation, I try to take a step back, cool down, and solve the problem. Flipping out, freaking out, and being very rude about it is not going to help.

- Maneet Chauhan

The cow is sacred, and as a result, most Indians do not eat beef.

- Maneet Chauhan

There is absolutely no path you can choose in life that will not include challenges or blocks. These are important because they are what make you appreciate your successes.

- Maneet Chauhan

The rich diversity of the cuisine in Nashville is something that I'm incredibly proud of, and I think Tansuo will find a worthy place in Music City's culinary landscape.

- Maneet Chauhan

My husband and I grew up in India, so saag and tikka sauces are very nostalgic for us.

- Maneet Chauhan

Summer chutneys, to me, are those that are light and usually involve almost no cooking.

- Maneet Chauhan

A very important part of life is growth - I need to learn things every day.

- Maneet Chauhan

There is no substitute for hard work, and the most important thing is the belief that you can succeed.

- Maneet Chauhan

For my first restaurant, I wanted to do something very special and close to my heart. Nashville felt like the place.

- Maneet Chauhan

Nashville is coming up to be an amazing foodie city.

- Maneet Chauhan

I love what I do; that is the foundation of whatever I do.

- Maneet Chauhan

I love animals, but I don't think I can have pets.

- Maneet Chauhan

I usually always cook all the chutneys that I serve in the winter.

- Maneet Chauhan

It is a lot easier to stay focused and keep your head above water when you are pursuing your ultimate dreams!

- Maneet Chauhan

At the end of the day, walk away feeling proud of what you have achieved.

- Maneet Chauhan

I believe in myself. I also believe in the people around me, who are my support system, and knowing that they are there for me makes me stronger and more ready to fight the world.

- Maneet Chauhan

If I have the perfect meal and I'm with the person I love most - what more can you want out of life?

- Maneet Chauhan

There are no failures in life: only learning opportunities.

- Maneet Chauhan