BY Daily News & Analysis

Circa 2005, Rahul Akerkar, holder of double degrees—in bio-chemical engineering and arts from New York— came across the Atlantic to create a new karma in the serious business of food in Mumbai through his first restaurant, Indigo.

For the affable restaurateur, Rahul and Malini his wife, everything has fallen into place, with ‘a touch of good luck’. “Our USP is and has always been food, everything else came along the way,” says Rahul.

“The idea was to raise the bar,” explains Malini adding, “When we came in, all the five-star hotels just followed a similar formula. If you wanted a western meal you could only eat it at those places.” Rahul joins in, “That’s changed today. I think the Mumbaite has travelled enough to develop a discerning palate.”

Since its inception in 1999, Indigo has managed to draw in the crowd, all the while maintaining its menu, but with the addition of a variety of entertainment options like, supper theatre, art and charity shows. “It’s our way of giving back to the city,” explains Malini.

When Rahul is not at his restaurant, he spends time at home, conjuring up menus and cooking for his two daughters. “We love baking cookies, don’t we?” he smiles throwing a cushion playfully at his younger child, Amalia. Shaan, his older daughter is a fan of ‘dad’s lasagnia’.

Not many know that the restaurateur is also qualified diving instructor and the couple have been on several diving holidays in the Maldives, Middle East, Thailand, Africa and the Caribbean.

“We haven’t had much chance to do so of late, have we?” Malini throws a quizzical glance at her husband. Maybe their hobby might have to wait as little more, as the Akerkars will soon open three new restaurants in Mumbai, a café in the suburbs and one on the race course, in addition to a catering company, Moveable Feast that will offer Indian, Thai, Malay, Creole, Turkish, Caribbean and Spanish cuisines.

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