S04 E10: Love Food, Will Travel feat. Pankil Shah and Sumit Gambhir

The reDiscovery Podcast

In this season finale of The reDiscovery Podcast, hosts Ambika and Hoshna sit down with restaurateurs Pankil Shah and Sumit Gambhir to discu

Key takeaways

• Pankil Shah and Sumint Gambhir manage a diverse portfolio including Woodside Inn, The Pantry, Bombay Vintage, and Misty.
• The guests highlight that regional cuisines such as Naga, Odia, and Mangalorean are significantly underrepresented in major Indian metros.

Main topics

• Regional Indian Cuisines
• Restaurant Management

Notable quotes

Food for us is a big part of our travel.

Conclusion

The episode serves as an inspiring call to adventure through the palat

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) IVM Speaker 2 (0:03) Life may be anything, the first thing is very important. First memory, first love, first heartbreak, first work. Friends, I am Gopal Dutt and this is my first podcast. First with Gopal Dutt, which will be released on IVM Pop. I will talk to those who are in their work, whose name we all know. So come to the YouTube IVM Pop channel or wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen to our podcast. Meet interesting people. Speaker 3 (0:44) You're listening to Season 4 of the Rediscovery Podcast. This season, we get a glimpse into the travel lifestyle of our hosts, Ambika and Hoshna, as they talk about quitting their jobs to travel, their most rewarding travel experiences, their favorite homestays, traveling around Bombay, and also traveling to unconventional places like Bihar. This is the Rediscovery Podcast, Season 4. Speaker 4 (1:11) Hi, I'm Ambika. And I'm Hoshna. And this is the Rediscovery Podcast. So this is our last episode of season four. Season Speaker 6 (1:19) finale. Speaker 4 (1:20) I know. And we have a very exciting episode. It's very special because we've got some guests on this episode. And I mean, they're guests, but they're friends of ours. So it's just going to be like. conversation a lot of yapping and it's on our favorite topic or second favorite topic or somewhat favorite topic i think which is all about food yes i Speaker 2 (1:41) mean Speaker 4 (1:42) every episode we have i think there is a Food involved somehow, even if there is no food where we've gone somewhere, we've managed to talk about some food. Speaker 6 (1:50) Your Speaker 4 (1:50) mother said Speaker 6 (1:51) this once, said your podcast is only about food. That's all y'all are talking about. I don't agree, but anyway. I think Speaker 4 (1:56) it is. I mean, food for us is a big part of our travel. And I mean, we're traveling around in India. So how can you not talk about food, right? Where we've gone to Nagaland and eaten like smoked beef in somebody's house. And then we had this. epic like kumaoni thali in Binsar. I think which after which we just had to sleep for like at least I slept for Speaker 6 (2:14) like two days. Speaker 4 (2:14) That was I think the biggest Speaker 6 (2:15) thali I have ever seen. Speaker 4 (2:17) Possibly. It felt very large. Then there was also those massive big thalis in Orissa which I love the food. Very different. Yeah. And then there's I mean the biryani. There Speaker 6 (2:27) was Speaker 4 (2:27) one in Speaker 6 (2:27) Lucknow. Speaker 4 (2:28) Yes. Or was it Speaker 6 (2:29) Idris? Idris. It was the Speaker 4 (2:31) tiniest place. possible and the dirtiest place possible but the best biryani. Ambika's Speaker 6 (2:39) I think your aunt told us about it. Your grand aunt told us about it. And then we went there and we couldn't find it. We were like where is this place? Google maps. And Speaker 4 (2:47) we were like there's no way Indu aunty is eating over here. And then later she's like Ask the Speaker 6 (2:51) guy and he said this dirty disgusting place. Go there and eat. With the bones on the Speaker 4 (2:54) floor. Speaker 6 (2:55) And then we ate there and it was awesome and then Aunty told us, but nobody, you don't eat there. You pack and bring it home. You know, there is no work. She's all Speaker 4 (3:03) very, you know, like Lucknow high society. So yeah, to talk more about food and travel and Bombay, all things that we love. We have our guests, Pankal and Sumit. of the Woodside fame. And if you don't know Woodside in Bombay, then I really don't know like where you've been living. Two Speaker 6 (3:23) thirds of the Woodside Speaker 4 (3:25) fame. And the Pantry fame and the Bombay Vintage fame and now the Misty fame. Yeah, we Speaker 6 (3:29) ate at Misty that day and it was really nice. We met you, Sumit, there. Speaker 4 (3:32) Okay. Well, hi guys. Welcome. Otherwise, it's going to be us talking. Yeah. Yes. So, welcome. So, Pankil and Sumit, now we're going to ask you some questions, but feel free to just like, you know, jump in wherever you want to. When Speaker 6 (3:48) Ambika gives you the chance to talk. Speaker 4 (3:50) Yes, this is true. So, now... We're just going to go with this assumption that you guys are natural foodies because you're in the restaurant business. My belly gives Speaker 7 (3:59) it away. Speaker 4 (4:00) Yeah, well, I think Hoshna and you have some competition over there. And Speaker 7 (4:04) we have Sumit who's so fit. We're going Speaker 4 (4:06) to come to a house. Sumit is so skinny. Speaker 7 (4:09) That's one of the things we have listed. Magic. Speaker 4 (4:11) Yes. What is this magic now? We need to figure it out. But being surrounded by food all the time, what does that feel like? Speaker 4 (4:23) And then... I mean, do you get tired of it sometimes? Speaker 6 (4:26) I mean, are you always eating Speaker 7 (4:27) at the restaurant or do you prefer to go home and eat? How does it work? I mean, I eat at the restaurants a lot. I eat at home a lot as well. And I eat outside. So I think 50 % You Speaker 1 (4:37) basically Speaker 7 (4:37) eat a lot. I eat Speaker 1 (4:37) a Speaker 7 (4:37) lot. Speaker 1 (4:38) You Speaker 7 (4:38) know, that's basically what I'm trying to say. But yeah, I mean, it's amazing. It's amazing to be surrounded by food. It's amazing to be in a space that allows you to get creative with food. And it's amazing to feed people, see them smile, watch their reactions and, you know, make them happy. So it's definitely fun. What about you, Sumit? Speaker 5 (4:57) So, yeah, my family's been in the food business since around 35 years. And, you know, I've always known I was going to get into the food business. It was, you know, not only is the business bit important, I am. quite a foodie as well you know given a yeah i Speaker 4 (5:13) mean how are you so skinny somit please tell me you exercise every day Speaker 5 (5:17) i was a i mean i was massive in school i was more than 100 kgs at one point but yeah i mean you know you get into college and eventually start you know you really start uh you know giving a little more thought to the fitness you are going the Speaker 6 (5:33) other way most people they'll be thin in school like I was a stick in school same same same I was very Speaker 7 (5:38) skinny it Speaker 5 (5:40) was the other way around I mean what I mean I love I mean one of the amazing parts of this business is that you're around food a lot and there are times when you know I'm actually eating out close to around there have been times where we've had 14 meals a week you know outside oh wow it has happened that's every Speaker 4 (5:58) day that's every day twice every day twice every day do the math quickly twice every day twice Speaker 5 (6:04) every day and there are times when you know I've so I mean not adding to the 14 number but I enjoy I genuinely do enjoy does Speaker 4 (6:12) it Speaker 5 (6:12) get old Speaker 6 (6:12) I mean Clearly not. No, no, look at old, like eating out all the time. No, I mean, you have your favorites, right? So Speaker 5 (6:19) even when you're eating out, there are people who like to eat a different dish at every meal. I'm one of those guys who can actually have the same dish seven days in a row as well. I Speaker 6 (6:28) can, Speaker 7 (6:30) but having said that... Which is what? Speaker 5 (6:31) Which would probably... There were times when, you know, at our office, I used to get... a salad for lunch every day. And these guys used to be like, what's with you? What is with your salad every day? The same Speaker 1 (6:43) salad? It was actually, Speaker 5 (6:45) at one point it was, you know, I was on this paleo diet. No, actually, it was just, you know, lettuce thrown around with some chicken dish that was made at home. And then I used to make like a salad out of it. And this was one phase where I was working out a lot as well as eating a lot of salad. So Speaker 4 (7:00) that Speaker 5 (7:00) explains Speaker 4 (7:01) the skinniness. Yeah. Speaker 5 (7:02) Well, yeah. I mean, I do. So you work at it. It's not like... I absolutely try Speaker 6 (7:07) my best. Speaker 5 (7:07) You better say Speaker 6 (7:07) you Speaker 5 (7:07) work at it. I do. While Speaker 7 (7:09) he was going through this phase, I was having thalis every day for lunch. See, Speaker 4 (7:14) now Speaker 7 (7:14) I want to talk about Kolhapuri. The veg Kolhapuri from Welcome with Anand. Exactly. We Speaker 4 (7:19) love Kolhapuri food. We plan a lot of our travel around food. And we did this amazing driving trip down the coast of Maharashtra where I think every... point was plotted because of a restaurant we had heard about or something we wanted to eat. We Speaker 6 (7:38) planned the whole trip around that. We'll stop in this town because there is this one nice dhaba there. Then we will drive for two hours and then we'll eat there again. All my trips are planned like that. That's exactly how you should travel. Speaker 7 (7:48) That's Speaker 6 (7:48) exactly how I Speaker 7 (7:49) travel. Speaker 6 (7:49) You were actually going to ask that. You were planning your trips around food? Speaker 7 (7:51) I do. So I research a lot before I go anywhere. And food is the reason I travel. You're vegetarian Speaker 6 (7:59) or are Speaker 7 (7:59) you? I was vegetarian for the first 18 years of my life. Really? And then what happened? Speaker 4 (8:04) And Speaker 7 (8:05) then... How Speaker 4 (8:06) did that change happen? So Speaker 7 (8:08) I went to... University in the US And that's where I realized that There's nothing to eat And I Speaker 4 (8:14) Yes You Speaker 7 (8:15) know I never missed Being a Missed non-veg In Bombay Because as a vegetarian India is probably One of the better countries To travel in But when I went to the US There was nothing I mean And I hate salads I hate leaves You know leaves You know so I mean I don't understand These vegetarians Who don't like What are you going to eat Like dal No I Speaker 4 (8:35) mean You can eat bhindi Speaker 7 (8:38) There are vegetarian items, but it's not as vast as... Not in the Speaker 4 (8:44) US, for sure. Speaker 7 (8:45) And they don't do vegetarian food. At that point, I'm talking like... 20 years or 18 years ago. It was not, it was very different. So now you're Speaker 6 (8:52) non-vegetarian. Now I eat Speaker 7 (8:53) everything. And you plan your travel around food. Completely planned around food. I book restaurants. I look up bars, restaurants where I want to go to. I get lists from people who I trust, who have been there before and have, you know, whose judgment I would trust. So I do that, do my research before I Speaker 6 (9:12) go. Speaker 7 (9:12) So is that Speaker 6 (9:12) in India or abroad? Anywhere. Speaker 7 (9:15) Anywhere. First thing I look for is restaurant recommendations. Speaker 4 (9:18) And you're a big beer guy. I mean, like, Pankil and beer... I'm Speaker 7 (9:21) a Speaker 4 (9:21) big Speaker 7 (9:21) guy who loves beer. Yes. Speaker 4 (9:25) You're not that big. It's fine. It's fine. But, like, I think in my head, Pankil and beer go together, right? Pankil and beer go really well together, yes. So, what goes together? Speaker 5 (9:35) I mean, I enjoy beer as well. But I... But the one thing. Speaker 4 (9:39) What's the one thing? Bindi? Speaker 6 (9:43) You didn't have to say so boring. Speaker 4 (9:45) No, I missed that. I think, you know, Speaker 5 (9:48) like Pankaj said, you know, I'm doing a lot of planning around food as well. Annoying people, you know, because every meal is planned in advance. And there's one trip I took to Portugal where I was traveling with Aloka, my wife and her brother. And every town I wanted to eat at these specific spaces. And they were very annoyed with me. But until we got to the restaurant and we saw there