Some careers follow a plan. Shilpa Dandekar’s began by changing one.
Growing up in India, Shilpa enrolled in engineering college, only to realise it wasn’t the path for her. She made the brave decision to walk away, uncertain of what would come next.
Her father encouraged her to explore hotel management — a suggestion that would quietly change the course of her life. What began as a new direction soon opened the door to the world of hospitality, and ultimately, to her true calling in the kitchen.
Read her journey
Shilpa's journey took her from India to London, where she trained in some of the city's most respected kitchens. At Michelin-starred Quilon she refined her understanding of Indian coastal cuisine through a lens of technical precision. At Brasserie Blanc she absorbed the discipline and elegance of classical French cooking.
Those formative years shaped an approach she still cooks by:
The Michelin environment instilled a standard she carries into every service: consistency, integrity and excellence.
Trades engineering for the kitchen and trains in classical Indian and international cookery.
Michelin-starred Indian coastal cuisine, cooked with exacting technical precision.
Classical French discipline under Raymond Blanc, rising to Head Chef.
Leads Pure Indian Cooking in Fulham and PRAVAAS in South Kensington.
Completes a French Patisserie course at the school founded by Alain Ducasse.
From India to London, and now France: Shilpa’s training has never really stopped.
Shilpa has completed a course in French Patisserie at École Ducasse, the culinary school founded by Chef Alain Ducasse and renowned worldwide for its training in culinary and pastry arts.
It is the same instinct that took her from an engineering classroom into a hotel kitchen: the belief that a chef should keep learning, keep exploring and keep challenging herself.
A neighbourhood institution for over a decade, celebrating regional Indian cuisine with warmth, authenticity and quiet refinement. Comfort food elevated through technique; spices balanced, never overpowering.
PRAVAAS means journey. A refined, modern tasting experience rooted in storytelling, where Shilpa expresses her most nuanced creativity: regional Indian influence, European finesse and seasonal inspiration.
From intimate dinners to milestone celebrations, Shilpa and her team create private experiences around your guests, your story and the season, with the same care that goes into every plate at her restaurants.
Reserve a private space or the full restaurant at Pure Indian Cooking or PRAVAAS for birthdays, anniversaries and family gatherings.
Bespoke multi-course tasting menus designed by Shilpa, with each course introduced and the story behind it shared at the table.
Restaurant-standard Indian fine dining brought to your home or chosen venue, from intimate dinners to larger celebrations.
Festive feasts for Diwali and the holidays, engagement dinners and milestone moments, built around menus that guests remember.
Client dinners, team celebrations, product launches and guest chef appearances for brands that want to stand out.
Hands-on cooking sessions on regional spices, Indian classics and patisserie, for private groups and team experiences.
Tell us the occasion, date, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
Shilpa and her team shape a bespoke menu around your guests and the season.
Relax while the team takes care of every detail, from the first plate to the last.
Share a few details and the team will come back to you with ideas, menus and availability.
For Shilpa, cooking is about where you come from, what you learn along the way, and how you make people feel. Five principles continue to shape her food and her journey.
Indian flavours, regional traditions and memories remain at the heart of Shilpa’s cooking.
Years in professional kitchens and classical French training bring discipline, precision and refinement to every plate.
From India to London and most recently France, Shilpa continues to learn, explore and challenge herself.
Familiar Indian flavours are thoughtfully reimagined through new ingredients, techniques and ideas.
Beyond flavour and presentation, Shilpa wants every plate to tell a story and create a connection.
Shilpa believes leadership begins with doing, not telling.
Her journey through some of London’s demanding professional kitchens taught her discipline, consistency and respect for the craft. Today, as Chef Patron and restaurateur, she brings those same values to her own kitchens — while creating an environment where people are encouraged to learn, grow and eventually lead themselves.
Never ask of your team what you wouldn’t do yourself.
Pass on knowledge and give people the confidence to grow.
The same care and standards, whether it is the first plate or the last.
Outside the kitchen, Shilpa is a daughter, wife and mother of three. The encouragement her father gave her when she was searching for her own direction remains an important influence on how she leads today — with discipline, opportunity and belief in people.
PRAVAAS
Listed Restaurant
OpenTable
Leading London Press
Food is not just eaten. It is felt, remembered, and shared.Chef Shilpa Dandekar
For private dining, guest chef events, brand collaborations and press, get in touch with Shilpa's team.