Big Food Energy

Smitha Menon
  • 0.0 (0)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosted by renowned food journalist Smitha Menon, Big Food Energy isn’t just talking about food, it’s celebrating a movement that’s reshaping India’s culinary landscape. Expect insightful conversations about everything from the inception of Michelin-starred khichdi, food delivery algorithms, and the unapologetic rise of dosa as a global icon. Created & Hosted by Smitha Menon This is a Maed in India Production

  1. Food Journalists Priya Krishna and Anisha Oommen on Restaurant Reviews and the Future of Food Writing

    12/17/2025

    Food Journalists Priya Krishna and Anisha Oommen on Restaurant Reviews and the Future of Food Writing

    Behind The By-lines: Priya Krishna (The New York Times), Anisha Rachel Oommen (Goya Journal), and Smitha Menon pull back the curtain on what it means to write about food today. Amuse-Bouche: Food as a lens into caste, class, politics, and identity;  and why the table is still one of the last places we can have hard conversations. Main Course: The blurred lines of PR and journalism, maintaining professional boundaries as a food writer, and what “good taste” means when dining out becomes social currency.  Quick Bites: From Indian English prose to plastic tablecloths and dosa definitions, how language and aesthetics shape whose food stories get told. In the Margins: On AI, the future of media, and why being a food journalist is less about hype and more about holding power to account, one story at a time. This episode is fact checked, double spiced, and just the right amount of sweet, which means the Bombay Bhel Chikki by Bombay Sweet Shop was the only sensible pairing, really. – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Meghna Gulati  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru  Animation: Alika Gupta Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar TemkarProduction Assistant: Natasha Vakil Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay

    39 min
  2. Akhil Iyer of Benne and Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar on Hyper-focused Restaurants

    12/03/2025

    Akhil Iyer of Benne and Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar on Hyper-focused Restaurants

    Rasam for Two: Akhil Iyer of Benne in Bombay and Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar on going hyper-local with dosa and ramen. Bangalore Special: Growing up in Bangalore, experiencing local and global cuisine, and tying that childhood nostalgia into their respective microdiners. Main Course: Building an entire business around a single dish, and the role of social media in creating hype Broths & Chutneys: Rethinking what “authenticity” really means, and how dosa and ramen are finding  new homes in urban India y today. No By Two: Striking a balance between authenticity and adapting to consumer needs, and plans of expansion. Today’s episode is crunchy, chaotic, and slightly addictive. So obviously, I had to pair it with Choco Butterscotch Barks by Bombay Sweet Shop. – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Meghna Gulati  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru  Animation: Alika Gupta Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar TemkarProduction Assistant: Natasha Vakil Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay

    48 min
  3. Saransh Goila on Scaling Butter Chicken While Balancing Profitability & Creativity

    11/19/2025

    Saransh Goila on Scaling Butter Chicken While Balancing Profitability & Creativity

    Chef’s Table: Saransh Goila of the famed Goila Butter Chicken is on a mission to bring a fresh take on the classic dish and entrepreneurship. Appetiser: From pop-ups to over a 100 kitchens, how Saransh’s ambitions turned the classic butter chicken into a global culinary experience.   Main Course: Crafting experiences for consumers, building structures for acquisition, and navigating the hard truths of profitability vs. creativity Combos: How to keep creativity alive when running a business and navigating being a chef and creator in an era of  “chefluencers”.  Delishaaas: Finding meaning beyond likes and metrics, the power of mentorship, and why telling India’s food story will always be worth it. This one’s a deep dive into creator ambitions, delivery numbers, desi cravings, and digital-first food. I mean, what else but Chocolate Butter Cookies by Bombay Sweet Shop for that kind of comfort math? – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Meghna Gulati  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru  Animation: Alika Gupta Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay

    47 min
  4. Vinesh Johny on Finding Bangalore’s Sweet Spot

    11/05/2025

    Vinesh Johny on Finding Bangalore’s Sweet Spot

    On the Brew Board: Vinesh Johny of Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts, Kopitiam Lah, and LICK Local Roast: How a college kid’s idea turned into Lavonne Academy, arguably India’s best pastry school Soups and Short Eats: The creative process, the evolution of India’s pastry scene, and the tightrope walk of scaling up without selling out House Special: Holistic hospitality: – from Lavonne’s classroom, Kopitiam Lah’s coffee culture, to the ice cream fueled frenzy of LICK Chef’s Blend: The wild side of dessert innovation, the Indian ingredients he’s most excited about, and why VC money can’t buy soul. From The Counter: From finding Bangalore’s sweet spot for global flavours to the power of patience and practice Pastry: Leadership, team spirit, parenthood, and chocolate flutes. This episode is about breaking moulds and finding flavour in unlikely places, so what better pairing than Chilli Cheese Bhujia by Bombay Sweet Shop – fiery, cheesy, and impossible to put down. – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production.

    44 min
  5. How Ritu Dalmia Built Her Empire Without Following Any Rules

    10/22/2025

    How Ritu Dalmia Built Her Empire Without Following Any Rules

    On the Kitchen Counter: Ritu Dalmia of DIVA, Cittamani, and more The Mise en Place: From a childhood fear of Indian cuisine to reimagining it with her signature global flair. Full Course: How a single idea turned into a restaurant empire – built on impulse, experimentation, and the power of passion. Cultural Garnish: Blending Italian simplicity with Indian complexity, and finding unexpected overlaps in two rich food traditions. Inside the Kitchen: Leadership lessons, mentorship mindsets, and creating safe spaces for teams to thrive. Catering Spread: Why catering isn’t just about feeding people – it’s about telling a story and making every bite memorable. Finishing Touches: Advocating for LGBTQ rights, learning to balance ambition and self-care, and the future of dining done her way My chat with Ritu was a little messy, a little salty, and filled with lots of stories. Obviously, I had to go with something classic but punchy, like the Roasted Makhana & Peanut Chikki by Bombay Sweet Shop. – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Meghna Gulati  Animation: Alika Gupta Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar TemkarProduction Assistant: Natasha Vakil and Rachna Sukuru Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay

    48 min
  6. Asha Jhaveri and Niva Zaveri on How Swati Snacks Became a Mumbai Institution

    10/08/2025

    Asha Jhaveri and Niva Zaveri on How Swati Snacks Became a Mumbai Institution

    Yellow Plates For Two: Asha Jhaveri and Niva Zaveri, two of four generations behind Mumbai’s most beloved chaat institution, Swati Snacks Starters: The origin story of Swati Snacks – a tiny kitchen in Tardeo that sparked a Gujarati food revolution, and why quality always trumps quantity Main Course: Navigating family dynamics in business, balancing tradition with innovation Traditional Specialities: Lessons in humility, the role of social media, and the art of balancing customer nostalgia Beverages: The charm of Swati and maintaining flavour and consistency across generations while innovating for the future Lunch Box Take-Away: Building relationships, training staff from the ground up, and unique food combinations This episode is all about familiarity, comfort, and an iconic Mumbai institution. Sounds to me like the perfect excuse to bring in the Coconut Caramel Patissa Indie Bar by Bombay Sweet Shop. – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Meghna Gulati  Animation: Alika Gupta Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil and Rachna Sukuru  Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay

    42 min
  7. Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar on Building a Movement Around Indian Cuisine

    09/24/2025

    Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar on Building a Movement Around Indian Cuisine

    On The Round Table: Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya of Unapologetic Foods (Dhamaka, Semma, Naks, Masalawala & Sons, and more) Pots and Platters: From Kolkata and Mumbai roots to Michelin-starred tables in New York City, the journey of crafting unapologetic Indian food Brunch Thali: Challenging perceptions of Indian cuisine, the power of cultural identity, and why authenticity beats trend-chasing every time The Unapologetic Experience: Fighting battles within your own community, and building the future of Indian food by empowering the next generation Kuchh Meetha: The barriers Indian chefs face abroad, and why a Michelin star isn’t the ultimate goal Peena (Pairing): Navigating restaurant partnerships and the unspoken rules of success Chakhna: A rapid-fire segment of unapologetic takes on everything from street food to soul food – and the beautiful, messy craft of running a kitchen – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Meghna Gulati  Animation: Alika Gupta Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil and Rachna Sukuru Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay

    57 min
  8. Rohit Kapoor on What Swiggy Knows About How India Dines

    09/10/2025

    Rohit Kapoor on What Swiggy Knows About How India Dines

    Behind the Delivery Curtain: Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy’s Food Marketplace Servd: A taste of street food memories and navigating India’s diverse culinary landscape Order Placed: The balancing act of convenience vs. tradition and adapting to a country of many palates Snaccables: From premium home dining to the rise of QSRs, and the unstoppable influence of social media Foodie’s Dessert: A candid look at restaurant marketing, healthy friction with partners, and the evolving art of feeding India’s cravings From the Counter: Future-proofing food delivery, celebrating Indian festivals through flavour, and the bigger picture of building trust in the restaurant world This episode is layered with hustle and vision, and finished with a perfect glaze. Clearly, Bombay’s 3-Layer Chocolate Fudge by Bombay Sweet Shop was the only way to go. – – – Host: Smitha Menon We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co or contact@maed.in This is a Maed in India production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Meghna Gulati  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru  Animation: Alika Gupta Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay

    41 min
See All (27)

Trailer

About

Hosted by renowned food journalist Smitha Menon, Big Food Energy isn’t just talking about food, it’s celebrating a movement that’s reshaping India’s culinary landscape. Expect insightful conversations about everything from the inception of Michelin-starred khichdi, food delivery algorithms, and the unapologetic rise of dosa as a global icon. Created & Hosted by Smitha Menon This is a Maed in India Production

Information

  • Creator
    Smitha Menon
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Smitha Menon
  • Show Website
    Big Food Energy