Ritu Dalmia is an Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur. She is the chef and co-owner of the popular Italian restaurant "Diva" in Delhi, which she established in 2000. Other restaurants of company are "Latitude 28" and "Cafe Diva". She started hosting TV cookery show, "Italian Khana" for NDTV Good Times for 3 seasons and published her 1st cookbook by the same name in 2009. Her new show "Travelling Diva" is being aired on NDTV Good Times channel.
Early Life of Ritu Dalmia
Ritu Dalmia was born on 1973 in Kolkata to a Marwari business family. She joined her family business of marble stone at the age of 16. Her work led her to Italy for sourcing where over a period of time develop a liking for Italian cuisine and started learning it as well.
Career of Ritu Dalmia
In 1993, at the age of 22 Ritu Dalmia started her first restaurant "MezzaLuna", specialising in Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian accent, in the Hauz Khas Village, Delhi, but the restaurant was not a success and so after 3 years, she sold it off. Then in 1996, Ritu moved to London, where she opened the 1st Indian fine dining restaurant on King"s Road, with partner Andy Verma. The restaurant was a big success and received good reviews, however unable to settle in London, in 2000 Dalmia sold off her shares of restaurant to Verma and returned to Delhi. Here in the same year, she opened "Diva", an Italian restaurant along with a partner, Gita Bhalla in Greater Kailash II, in 2000. Today "Diva" continues to be a popular restaurant in Delhi.
Ritu Dalmia also runs a cafe at the Italian Embassy"s Italian Cultural Centre in the diplomatic enclave, Chanakyapuri, Delhi, "Diva Cafe" in Greater Kailash I, N-Block Market, "Latitude 28" at Khan Market, at the Alliance Francaise, Delhi and "DIVA Piccola" at Hauz Khas village, besides she has also established a catering business. She has also been a consulting chef with "Divattra", the spa restaurant at "Ashok Hotel" in Delhi.
Television Appearance of Ritu Dalmia
In 2007, she started hosting a TV-series, "Italian Khana" on NDTV Good Times, shot in Italy and subsequently the book was also released.
Achievements of Ritu Dalmia
Ritu Dalmia has been awarded the "Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity" by Government of Italy in December 2011. The show "Italian Khana" on NDTV Good Times ran for 3 seasons and won numerous television awards.
Bibliography of Ritu Dalmia
•"Italian Khana" (2009)
•"Italian Khana: Dinner Party"
•"Italian Khana: Desserts"
•"Italian Khana: Vegetarian"
•"Travelling Diva: Recipes from around the World" (2012)
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