Kumar Mahadevan

Kumar Mahadevan (born 23 November 1959) is an Indian chef, restaurateur and media personality based in Australia. He has been referred to in Sydney's dining circles as the "Guru of Indian cuisine". He is recognized for introducing authentic Indian cuisine to the Australian public with his restaurant, Abhi's, in 1990. Following the success of Abhi's he opened his second restaurant, Aki's, at Sydney's prestigious dining precinct 'The Finger Wharf Woolloomooloo'. Aki's carried the accolades for Chef Kumar, being the only Indian restaurant to win the coveted 'Chef Hat' award for consecutive years since 2011 till present.

Early life

Kumar Mahadevan was raised in Tirunelveli, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was brought up in a typical Hindu Brahmin joint family, consisting of his grandmother, her three sons, their wives and children. Training and early cooking career

Kumar Mahadevan started an economics degree at the University of Madras at the age of 16, but dropped out a month later, when his family's fortunes fell. He then joined Madras Catering College, on the suggestion of a friend. Though granted a full scholarship for the three-year course, Kumar struggled to convince his parents as they expected him to pursue an academic discipline.

At the end of his first year, Kumar got a summer job at the five-star The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. Kumar signed up for double and triple shifts, working for eighteen days consecutively, while commuting from his aunt's place, an hour and a half away. Starting out in butchery, he continued to work in every department under Cyrus Todiwala, a Parsi chef who now runs London's Cafe Spice Namaste. He graduated in 1979. With the Iran-Iraq war worsening and having helped to settle his father's debts, he returned to Mumbai in 1984.

Kumar joined Sorrentino cafe in Sydney's Circular Quay in 1989. He became friends with the owner, Doug Moxon and they decided to open an Indian restaurant together. They found a place in North Strathfield and in 1990, Abhi's, named after his first son Abhinav, opened.

Awards Abhi's - 1 Chef's Hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide in 1995, 1996 and 1997. First Indian restaurant to receive this accolade Aki's - 1 Chef's Hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide in 2011, 2012, 2013. 2014, 2015, 2017, thus joining its sister restaurant in completing a hat-trick of Chef's Hats. Ambassador for Indian Cuisine for the inaugural Sydney International Food Festival (SIFF). Kumar was chosen by Joanna Savill, Director of SIFF, to represent the flavours and colours of Indian cuisine in the culinary event. MasterChef Junior Australia as a judge for the Indian challenge. MasterChef Australia (series 4) in Offsite Challenge 6 – the Sri Lankan Hindu wedding challenge, where he had to mentor the Red and Blue teams in their task to cook a traditional wedding banquet for 450 guests. SBS Food Safari with celebrity host Maeve O'Meara - Abhi's 2014 SBS Food Safari Fire with celebrity host Maeve O'Meara - Abhi's & Aki's 2017 - 'Episode 5: The tandoor' with celebrity host Maeve O'Meara

Personal life

In July 1987, Kumar Mahadevan married Suba Krishnamurthi, a commerce graduate from Chennai. He refers to her as his greatest inspiration and at times, his greatest critic. Since the success of Abhi's in 1994, she has helped Kumar with the running of both the restaurants.

They have two sons Abhinav (born 1988) and Akilesh (born 1991), after whom Kumar named both his restaurants. His other passions are photography, wine and travel. Every year, the couple visit their native place for inspiration.

Awards: British Book Design & Production Awards 2013 in the 'lifestyle' category. The book has become an international Frankfurt International Book Festival 2014 - Silver Medal