BrooklynPBJS loves to eat at Graffiti(http://www.graffitinyc.com/) in the East Village of NYC-a hip shoebox sized living room style restaurant where Chef Jehangir Mehta serves brilliant, eclectic and creative international small plates that feature his trademark affinity for bold flavors. We had the honor to chat up Chef Mehta who was recently the runner up on Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef.” Born and raised with cooks in Mumbai, India, Chef Mehta knew early on that he had talent in the culinary world that he needed to share. Best known for his creativity, Chef Mehta opens up about how his cookie crumbles…
PBJS: Chef, you have been making your rounds these days! Congrats on your journey on “The Next Iron Chef”- we were cheering you on! What was going on through your head before they announced the winner?
JM: You are not going to believe this, but I was not aware of the results when we completed the shooting. For after the battle, they shot Jose and me, both winning and losing. So it was not until a few days before the final was to be aired, that I was told the outcome. Of course I wanted to win but I am basically a balanced person. Nothing gets me too elated and at the same time I do not get too dejected either. So for me, this has been a great opportunity to get national coverage for weeks on end. But most of all I am grateful to all my fans for their support. I still receive regular emails from them and even those who not from NY patronize Graffiti whenever they are in town.
PBJS: In the most heated moments of the competition, you still seem to keep a smile on your face and be kind to your competitors, how did you keep your cool the whole time?
JM: I firmly believe that I can succeed on my own merit. So I see no need to bring anyone down in order to get ahead. Also, helping others is an Indian trait, and I am so glad my parents instilled this value in me.The one thing that does get under my skin is when a customer is not treated well. However in the NIC battles customers were not in the picture, so staying cool was not such an issue. Although I did have occasional high stress moments!
PBJS: You have the hippest restaurant in NYC-GRAFFITI—cute space, sweet ambiance and incredible food- what was your inspiration? And what was your road to opening Graffiti?
JM: My inspiration has always been people. One thing that I really like is good service. I admire places that give me this experience and that is what I like to offer my customers. Additionally, I really want my patrons to feel at home. So Graffiti was designed as a living room. Its on purpose that our furniture is a collection of different pieces, just like one would have at home, since when you like something, you really want it there.
The food I serve at Graffiti is my style. I love to put ingredients together. I just have a feel for what will work and what won’t. Its hard to describe how I know but I do. I also try and follow principles of Ayurveda to a limited extent. So my food has different flavors and ingredients that balance themselves out. My customers often tell me, that this creates a party in their mouth. The first time I heard this I was touched. It was a wonderful compliment to have received and I was deeply honored.
PBJS: If you were sent off to a deserted island and could only take one food—what would it be and why?
JM: It would be fresh coconut. I’d have the coconut water to drink and the flesh to eat. So even if there is no possibility of lighting a fire on that deserted island, a fresh coconut would help me stay alive!
PBJS: We have a bunch of vegetarians at PBJS- any quick eats recipes you can share with us? We LOVE to cook!
JM: Try my thyme roasted potatoes. The recipe is up on jehangirmehta.com
PBJS: If you could have a slogan, what would it be?
JM: Life is a staircase, it could bring you down, but you can start climbing right back up again.
PBJS: Our favorite NYC restaurant is Graffiti- what are YOUR favorites?
JM: Surprisingly I do not really eat out much. I like home cooked food. When I get pangs for Indian food I just head out to Handi where they sell amazing biryani. When Desis go there to eat, trust me the food is good. Other than that if I were to go for a celebratory dinner I would head to Per Se. I also enjoy Brad Farmerie’s cooking so Public and Double Crown are my kind of places too.
PBJS: We see you have made the Top 50 Coolest Desi's of 2009 list -(http://www.desiclub.com/community/culture/culture_article.cfm?id=499)- How
PBJS: Chef, you have been making your rounds these days! Congrats on your journey on “The Next Iron Chef”- we were cheering you on! What was going on through your head before they announced the winner?
JM: You are not going to believe this, but I was not aware of the results when we completed the shooting. For after the battle, they shot Jose and me, both winning and losing. So it was not until a few days before the final was to be aired, that I was told the outcome. Of course I wanted to win but I am basically a balanced person. Nothing gets me too elated and at the same time I do not get too dejected either. So for me, this has been a great opportunity to get national coverage for weeks on end. But most of all I am grateful to all my fans for their support. I still receive regular emails from them and even those who not from NY patronize Graffiti whenever they are in town.
PBJS: In the most heated moments of the competition, you still seem to keep a smile on your face and be kind to your competitors, how did you keep your cool the whole time?
JM: I firmly believe that I can succeed on my own merit. So I see no need to bring anyone down in order to get ahead. Also, helping others is an Indian trait, and I am so glad my parents instilled this value in me.The one thing that does get under my skin is when a customer is not treated well. However in the NIC battles customers were not in the picture, so staying cool was not such an issue. Although I did have occasional high stress moments!
PBJS: You have the hippest restaurant in NYC-GRAFFITI—cute space, sweet ambiance and incredible food- what was your inspiration? And what was your road to opening Graffiti?
JM: My inspiration has always been people. One thing that I really like is good service. I admire places that give me this experience and that is what I like to offer my customers. Additionally, I really want my patrons to feel at home. So Graffiti was designed as a living room. Its on purpose that our furniture is a collection of different pieces, just like one would have at home, since when you like something, you really want it there.
The food I serve at Graffiti is my style. I love to put ingredients together. I just have a feel for what will work and what won’t. Its hard to describe how I know but I do. I also try and follow principles of Ayurveda to a limited extent. So my food has different flavors and ingredients that balance themselves out. My customers often tell me, that this creates a party in their mouth. The first time I heard this I was touched. It was a wonderful compliment to have received and I was deeply honored.
PBJS: If you were sent off to a deserted island and could only take one food—what would it be and why?
JM: It would be fresh coconut. I’d have the coconut water to drink and the flesh to eat. So even if there is no possibility of lighting a fire on that deserted island, a fresh coconut would help me stay alive!
PBJS: We have a bunch of vegetarians at PBJS- any quick eats recipes you can share with us? We LOVE to cook!
JM: Try my thyme roasted potatoes. The recipe is up on jehangirmehta.com
PBJS: If you could have a slogan, what would it be?
JM: Life is a staircase, it could bring you down, but you can start climbing right back up again.
PBJS: Our favorite NYC restaurant is Graffiti- what are YOUR favorites?
JM: Surprisingly I do not really eat out much. I like home cooked food. When I get pangs for Indian food I just head out to Handi where they sell amazing biryani. When Desis go there to eat, trust me the food is good. Other than that if I were to go for a celebratory dinner I would head to Per Se. I also enjoy Brad Farmerie’s cooking so Public and Double Crown are my kind of places too.
PBJS: We see you have made the Top 50 Coolest Desi's of 2009 list -(http://www.desiclub.com/community/culture/culture_article.cfm?id=499)- How
cool!! We see another Desi we have featured on the blog in this list as well: Scrubs star: Sonal Shah! Actually, the last time we were at your restaurant: Graffiti- we brought Sonal Shah!! Two of 2009's Top Desi's in one room--yay!! So, our question: which all time Desi's are on your Top 3 list?? Chefs? Celebrities? Inspirations? Bloggers??
JM: I guess my list will be boring for most people because my choice is based on values. I have therefore divided my Top 3 into categories.
Category one: Humility and Kindness
I admire people who are humble and kind despite their achievements and fame. Here Mr. Ratan Tata tops the list especially for the way he looked after not just his employees, but also the hawkers outside the Taj after the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008.
Category two: Hard-work and Success
I admire people who have achieved success and sustained it over the years. For many of us can reach the pinnacle, but it’s much harder to remain there for a long period of time. So in that respect, I admire Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Mr. Shahrukh Khan, Mr. Zakir Hussain and Mr. Ravi Shankar in the performing arts arena and Mr. Sachin Tendulkar in cricket.
Category three: Honesty and Truthfulness
Finally I value people who can be honest and truthful despite the circumstances in which they live and work. So in this category I respect India’s prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and most of all, my own dad, Petras Mehta.
JM: I guess my list will be boring for most people because my choice is based on values. I have therefore divided my Top 3 into categories.
Category one: Humility and Kindness
I admire people who are humble and kind despite their achievements and fame. Here Mr. Ratan Tata tops the list especially for the way he looked after not just his employees, but also the hawkers outside the Taj after the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008.
Category two: Hard-work and Success
I admire people who have achieved success and sustained it over the years. For many of us can reach the pinnacle, but it’s much harder to remain there for a long period of time. So in that respect, I admire Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Mr. Shahrukh Khan, Mr. Zakir Hussain and Mr. Ravi Shankar in the performing arts arena and Mr. Sachin Tendulkar in cricket.
Category three: Honesty and Truthfulness
Finally I value people who can be honest and truthful despite the circumstances in which they live and work. So in this category I respect India’s prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and most of all, my own dad, Petras Mehta.
Be sure to pick up Chef Mehta's beautifully made cookbook:
Mantra: The Rules of Indulgence
Check out his blog and blog videos:
All you New Yorkers or if you are coming into the area for a visit- you NEED to make Graffiti a must visit!
