Member Spotlight: Meet Nitin Kamath
Nitin Kamath, Chef & Owner, swaadbynitin
Q. Where are you from originally and for how many years have you been living in NJ?
A. I was born in Bangalore, India. Bangalore is in the southern part of India, and also known as the Silicon Valley of India. I’ve lived in many places in India due to my parents’ job, as well as Singapore for 13 years. In 2019, my wife and I moved to NJ.
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in cooking, and how did you get started?
A. I started cooking when I was very young - the responsibility to prepare food was on me as a child - and it has always given me a sense of comfort to be in the kitchen and cooking. Most of all, I have always loved sharing good food with people and using cooking to bring people together. Even when I worked in sales for 21 years, I had my team over every weekend for a meal.
When we moved to Singapore, it was a challenge to bond with our neighbors. I decided to use the power of food to form friendships and community. I cooked a Pandi Curry, a traditional pork dish from Coorg, India. I knew that my neighbors loved pork and when I invited them to try it, they all said “yes”. From then on, we gathered together over different meals and that’s when I decided if I were to do anything besides sales, it would be cooking. When I moved to NJ, I decided to pursue my passion for cooking.
Lamb Rogan Josh with Basmati Rice
Q. What is your favorite ingredient to work with and why is it special to you?
A. I love working with meat. Ironically, my family did not eat meat when I was growing up. When I was two and a half years old, my neighbors started feeding me meat without my parents knowing. Now, marination is my favorite part of working with meat. I love the versatility of meat and how it can absorb flavor. Through creative marination, I fuse different flavors and highlight the flavor of each meat.
Q. What are your hopes for your new business, swaadbynitin?
A. I want swaadbynitin to be a brand that is known for reintroducing the flavors of Indian food. Many people know only a few types of Indian food, but there is so much more to Indian cuisine. India is a huge country, and has so much to offer. I am hoping to create supper clubs that will bring people together to try cuisine that reflects the fusion of my travels with traditional Indian cuisine. During these events, I will also bring the ambiance of the food to the dinner - special aromas, fresh flowers, etc. as well as share stories and history of the food I am serving.
“The secret to happiness is good food and great friends.”
Q. Describe your ideal customer or setting to serve your food
A. My ideal customer is someone who is adventurous and not afraid of exploring different cuisines and traditions. I have found that those who also have a passion for travel, love meeting new people and sharing a meal with friends are those who particularly enjoy the swaadbynitin experience.
Q. What is your favorite quote?
A. “The secret to happiness is good food and great friends”