About Chef Mehta

At his popular East Village restaurant Graffiti, as well as in his runner-up performance on The Next Iron Chef, Chef Jehangir Mehta made his name by juxtaposing ingredients, textures and tastes from his native India with flavors from all around the globe. It is his cultural heritage that fills him with endless inspiration, and it all began when Mumbai-born Jehangir took an interest in the goings-on of the kitchen in his childhood home.

Chef's first job at L'Absinthe New York in 1996 was a springboard for his diverse and storied career to date, including cooking at Typhoon Brewery along side James Chew, Union Pacific with Rocco DiSpirito, working with Jean-George Vongerichten at Jean-George his name sake restaurant, and then to open what became one of the hottest destinations in New York, Mercer Kitchen, and partnering with Didier Virot on the opening of Upper West Side's culinary destination Aix.

In 2007 Chef Mehta released a cookbook, "Mantra, The Rules of Indulgence" (Harper Collins), and opened his first restaurant, Graffiti, followed by the opening of his Tribeca restaurant, Mehtaphor in 2010.

Chef Mehta was a participant in Food Network's Next Iron Chef Redemption 2012, the runner-up at the Next Iron Chef 2009, a participant in the Iron Chef America and a guest on Martha Stewart Living.

He is the chef ambassador for Beyond Celiac and tours the country to encourage more fine dining restaurants to offer gluten free options to customers.

Chef is extremely passionate about helping children enjoy food and eat healthy. Ten years ago, he was a pioneer in this field, when he started "Candy Camp", a fun filled private cooking class for children. Today he hosts "Gastro Kids After School", and works with kids at PS.33 in Manhattan as part of the "Wellness in Schools" initiative.

PRESS

Chef Jehangir Mehta featured on the 2019 Power List named by Restaurant Hospitality.
With a focus on restaurant operators who use their businesses to change the world in big and small ways, Chef Mehta has been named a Change Agent, one among a small list of 10 folks, who through their restaurant brands, have had a powerful impact on their communities. They are changing their world.