The third wave has forced us to stay indoors once again. Instead of lamenting the situation however, we should partake of enjoyment wherever possible. For foodies, this means trying out and enjoying new food delivery places. Delhi-based Madam Curry is one such place you shouldn’t miss. Founded by Ishaan Kapoor, this cloud kitchen delivers delicacies that are the product of experimentation – where classic North Indian recipes have been given a new twist.
“We took inspiration from Polish scientist Marie Curie to name our brand – and just like her, we enjoy experimenting and trying new recipes and routes to offer a wholesome experience to our customers. We work on Curie’s philosophy of ‘Have no fear of perfection, you will never reach it’. We hope that just a whiff of our dishes will be as recognisable as the dishes made by our mothers, which are always full of affection, deliciousness and love,” says Kapoor with a smile.
Kapoor cemented his position in the food and beverage industry by catering over 700 parties under his brand The Purple Plate which launched in 2017. The rapid growth he witnessed encouraged him to launch Madam Curry in quick succession.
A Post Graduate Diploma holder in Hospitality Management from the reputed Les Roches Institute in Switzerland, Kapoor has previously worked for international hotel chains like the Shangri-La in New Delhi and The Oberoi in Gurugram. He also had a stint in the banquet sales section at the ITC Maurya in New Delhi. Additionally, he holds a diploma in classic French cuisine from the International Institute of Culinary Arts. A national level Table Tennis player in his younger days, Kapoor strongly believes in giving back to society. He has been closely associated with NGOs like Ekal Vidyalaya and Smile Foundation, among others.
Speaking about his latest venture Madam Curry, Kapoor says, “We started a delivery-only concept to create and promote experimental Indian dishes. Our base kitchen is located in the Okhla industrial area, and we currently deliver to south Delhi through Zomato and Swiggy. We also deliver across the NCR region through our website www.madamcurry.in. We have recently launched operations in Gurugram too.”
Based on a ‘from plate to table’ concept, Madam Curry’s product packaging is designed so that packed and freshly delivered food can directly be served on the table, making the entire experience a hassle-free one.
The USP of the brand according to Kapoor, is their promise to serve popular and classic recipes with an experimental twist that will tease the consumer’s palate. They work with ingredients which are kept secret, and experiment to make their dishes unique and authentic.
“Our packaging is also quite distinctive. It is in line with our philosophy of using elements of chemistry. We have taken inspiration from glass, test tubes, periodic tables, tin, and other scientific paraphernalia. We use only biodegradable packaging that does not harm the environment. Our bottled jar packaging used for salads, raitas and our signature desserts and the test tube packaging for chutneys are a big hit with our patrons,” he shares.
Bringing a fresh twist to tried and tested age-old North Indian cuisine is not an easy task, but the team at Madam Curry promises to do it. With training as a chef, Kapoor believes in serving the best possible version of his dishes. Indian cuisine has always been his preferred choice as he enjoys the creative use of spices and ingredients that go into its preparation.
When asked about his most popular dishes, Kapoor divides them into non-vegetarian and vegetarian categories. In the former, he says the most popular ones are Saffron and Black Pepper Chicken Tikka and Chicken Biryani; and for the latter they include Madam Curry Paneer Tikka, Mini Vada Pao Sliders, Dal Bukhara, Vegetable Biryani, and Jalapeno and Cheese Paratha. Their most popular experimental dessert is Kahlua and Chocolate Phirni. Kapoor puts the popularity of these dishes down to the experimental flavours they offer to customers, as well as the presentation of their food and their interesting packaging.
The pandemic was a challenging phase for Kapoor and his team but with food services, especially cloud kitchen deliveries, falling under essential services, Madam Curry as a brand only grew and continued to serve patrons without any glitches.
“Since the time of the launch, our brand has received an overwhelming response from our customers and is one of the highest rated brands on Swiggy with a rating of 4.7. We have seen a growth of 12 percent month to month since we started operations last year. We plan to have four locations by the end of this year across Delhi, before we take the brand to Mumbai and Bengaluru in 2023. We also plan to open ten more delivery outlets by 2025,” says Kapoor outlining the future plans of this promising food delivery brand.
The writer pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.
Kapoor cemented his position in the food and beverage industry by catering over 700 parties under his brand The Purple Plate which he launched in 2017. The rapid growth he witnessed encouraged him to launch Madam Curry in quick succession.
