Drāvida, a new restaurant in New York’s East Village founded by Mumbai-born Chef Aarthi Sampath. Rooted in the flavours and stories of India and the South Asian diaspora, Drāvida offers a fresh perspective on Indian dining through a deeply personal, chef-driven experience.
At Drāvida, Chef Aarthi is bringing together food traditions shaped by migration, memory and cultural exchange, drawing inspiration from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Trinidad, Guyana, South Africa and beyond. The restaurant reflects her vision of showcasing dishes, flavours and stories that have often existed outside mainstream restaurant conversations, while creating a space that feels both deeply rooted and globally relevant.
Having built her career in New York over the last 13 years, trained in acclaimed kitchens including Junoon, The Breslin and Rainbow Room, and earned national recognition through Food Network’s Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay, Aarthi can speak about her journey from Mumbai to Manhattan, the evolution of Indian cuisine globally, and why she believes the future of the category lies in celebrating the movement of people, cultures and flavours across borders.
Read the full story that first appeared in The Global Indian here:
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