Women to Watch: Unfolding Success with Old Recipes

Usha Batra is culinary director and visionary behind the famous Dhansoo Café & Café Delhi Heights run by brother-duo Vikrant and Sharad Batra today. “I always wanted to take our family legacy of catering to another level and that’s where my children- Sharad & Vikrant helped me and took our name to all over India. When we were starting Café Delhi Heights, it was a very new concept for people and knowing the fact that it has a woman behind it was in itself a major challenge as it was,” remember Usha who has always received the constant love and appreciation for her recipes and food from her children and grandchildren and that has kept her going. “It inspires me to keep experimenting with new ones. I always make my Grand Children taste my recipes because that generation gives you honest feedback,” she laughs.

Today, the brand has become a pan-India fame and has launched Dhansoo Café giving a new take on café biz and is also running a bakery café called Comfort Bakehouse that is managed by Gunjan Batra, wife of Vikrant Batra. In this interview we will talk about how these women have contributed to the growth of the brand:

How does it feel to run one of the most successful restaurant concept in India?

Usha: After the success of Café Delhi Heights, I was pretty confident of Dhansoo Café paving its way as the most loved pan Indian restaurant. It feels great that my recipes from Pan India have received so much appreciation. It inspires me to keep experimenting with new recipes so that our regular customer base has something new to look forward to each time they come.

Gunjan: It feels really great to have such an overwhelming response from our customers. As the name suggests, COMFORT bakery will always have something comforting for everyone.

What was some of the hurdles that came on the way?

Usha: One of the major challenges that we faced was to build a good and loyal team of people to work for us which was outdone with huge success over time leaving our guests highly satisfied in terms of the food quality and quantity along with the service and hospitality. With Cafe Delhi heights, we brought a new culture to the capital, bringing my own special recipes to my brand and serving them these authentic recipes but with a twist to suit the palette of the youth, left them completely happy and satisfied as well. After the success of Café Delhi Heights we opened a Pan Indian Restaurant called Dhansoo Café as my forte has always been Indian food and I wanted to share my special Indian recipes with everyone. Our Corporate Chef, Ashish Singh is always up to learn new things and open for suggestions.

Gunjan: Making a separate identity for the brand was definitely one of the challenges. Since COMFORT Bakehouse is a part of Café Delhi Heights, people didn’t really know Comfort Bakehouse as a brand.

Expansion Plans:

Usha: We believe in growing and sharing. It is our mission to keep on sharing and spreading happiness among people with good food and hospitality. Since both the brands: Dhansoo Café & Café Delhi Heights has been well accepted by guests, we plan on opening more outlets very soon.

Gunjan: Currently, The Comfort Bakehouse is in Delhi NCR Region. We surely are planning to open more of its outlet in India but currently, we are focusing on expanding the brand in the Delhi NCR region only.

5 tips you would want to share with fellow women restaurant owners.

Usha:

a.     Keep working hard to achieve your goals and have faith in your dreams. There will surely be hurdles in your journey but never give up on your dream.

b.    Be disciplined: I don’t have to tell you why discipline is important in life. It helps us to be focused and in control of our minds and emotions

c.     Remember to be confident: There are many kinds of people that you will meet in this industry

d.    Never stop learning: Always remember your passion and keep evolving to be better. 

e.     Network. Networking is an important skill to master in any industry.

Gunjan:

a.     Keep working hard. Surely there will be hurdles in your journey but never give up on your dream.

b.    Be disciplined: I don’t have to tell you why discipline is important in life. It helps us to be focused and in control of our minds and emotions

c.     Remember to be confident: There are many kinds of people that you will meet in this industry

d.    Never stop learning: Always remember your passion and keep evolving to be better.

e.     Network. Networking is an important skill to master in any industry.