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About Us
Hedonism is “a school of thought that argues seeking pleasure and avoiding suffering are the only components of well-being.”
Siduri, a female divinity who holds the power of fermentation in the Epic of Gilgamesh, argues with Gilgamesh -“Fill your belly. Day and night make merry. Let days be full of joy. Dance and make music day and night. These things alone are the concern of men.”
The ethic of Siduri’s argument is considered the first recorded example of a hedonistic philosophy. Hedonism is the worship of pleasure.
The Hedonist is a passion project helmed by pilot Prasad Thergaonkar, and entrepreneur Rishi Bhog who started curating fine food experiences for the discerning in the city. Their aim – good food, great vibes, perfect company.
They reach out to top chefs and arrange for them to travel to Pune and host chef’s tables with exclusive tasting menus that showcase their culinary creativity. According to them - “It’s as much about the food as it is about the experience of sharing and bonding over it with other diners.” Which is why the tables are restricted to a cozy (and Covid-19-safe) 10 diners who can enjoy their meal in comfort, savouring every dish at their own pace.
Chef's Table
Chef Mohib Farooqui
Introducing for the first time in Pune: Chef Mohib Farooqui: Recipient of the “DUX” award at Le Cordon Bleu, Sydney. He was the chef who cooked along with Nigella Lawson and Chef Gary Mehigan for their India tour last year.
He has done stints with Chef Colin Fassnidge (Judge on My Kitchen Rules) at La Grande Bouffe in Sydney, at Chez Rene with Chef Isidor Burch, under award-winning one hatted Chef Kenny McHardy at Great Barrier Reef and at Urbane (2 Hats/Michelin Restaurant) under Chef Kym Machin.
He has also staged at Chef Christain Puglisi’s ground breaking organic certified Michelin starred restaurant Relae in Copenhagen, one of the top restaurants of the world and also the winner the Sustainable Restaurant Award at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants twice.
Chef Hanoze Shroff
The Hedonist’s February highlight is the Chef’s Table with Chef Hanoze Shroff, Executive Chef of Jamun and Ping's Bia Hoi, Goa.
Fondly known as ‘Bawa’, Chef Shroff has headed the Oberoi group’s flagship Italian restaurant, Vetro, where he worked with world class chefs like Alain Passard (three-Michelin-starred L'Arpège, Paris), Francesco Apreda (one-Michelin-starred Idylio by Apreda, Rome), and Georges Blanc (three-Michelin-starred George Blanc, Vonnas). Chef Hanoze also headed the kitchens on The Oberoi Philae, one of Egypt’s premium Nile Cruisers.
His tasting menu, with the theme European Winter, promises to be just as breath-taking, with creations showcasing 100% hydration Pagnotta, red onion cream and aged balsamic, red wine risotto and dark chocolate
