Maneet Chauhan, celebrity chef and “Tournament of Champions” winner, has taken her Indian culinary skills straight from Punjab, India, to the big TV screens of the gastronomic world. As a judge on the well-known culinary competition, “Chopped,” she has inspired young chefs to take risks and explore a myriad of cuisines from across the globe. She previously-owned restaurants in major cities like Chicago and New York and is the current owner of Chauhan Ale and Masala House in Nashville, Tennessee.
Most recently, she made history by opening the first-ever Indian “quick eat” restaurant, called eet, at Disney Springs — the central shopping and entertainment space at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
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Not only did I have the pleasure of exploring eet’s fusion menu, but also got the opportunity to chat with Chef Chauhan on her inspirations and her process of curating unique dishes with authentic Indian flavors.
Chauhan grew up in India and like most children, she spent her Sunday mornings watching Disney classics. She expressed how it was a huge honor to “give a voice to the cuisine of the largest population,” while referring to India. She admitted that this was no easy feat and it took a lot, knowing it had to be true to the flavors of her homeland.
Disney World caters to a diverse demographic, welcoming people of all ages and ethnicities. It prides itself as an enterprise that creates an experience for its guests featuring the world around us. This is especially true at EPCOT, where many enjoy “eat/drink around the world” during special Disney events such as the Food and Wine Festival. Hence, when curating the menu, Chauhan had to be mindful of the fact that the food is both accessible and palatable to those who don’t necessarily eat Indian food on a regular basis. “The way we have presented it, it is easy for them [to enjoy],” said Chauhan. The good thing though is that with increased exposure to different cultures, through media and the internet, people are now inclined to try more “exotic food.”
When asked about how this opportunity materialized, Chauhan shared with much excitement, “Disney approached me!” Adding that she was incredibly grateful to have a platform like this to showcase her culinary talent and her love for Indian cuisine.
The team at Walt Disney World had begun surveying Disney-goers for future restaurants at Disney Springs, asking specifically about what other kinds of restaurants were they interested in visiting. The consensus was clear — Indian! This was not surprising, since Sanaa, an Indian-African restaurant located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most popular restaurants at the Disney World. Chauhan agreed that “these are the flavors people want.”
But of course, this wasn’t quite a walk in the park. Two years in the making, eet was unlike any other project Chauhan and her team had undertaken. Disney was looking for a fast, casual restaurant offering “bulk food;” which meant food had to be pushed out in eight minutes or less.
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As we continued our conversation, Chauhan’s humility reflected in her responses. She keenly acknowledged the contributions of her team and her husband Vivek Deora — also the CEO of their company, Morph Hospitality — towards her professional success, mentioning how vital their support has been to her journey, all these years. She proudly labeled eet a “collaborative effort.”
She also shared that she hosts “meet & greet” events at eet not because they are required to, but because they want to; because she wants to give visitors the opportunity to explore and experience a variety of courses through an exclusive menu.
Chauhan spoke about her inspiration behind eet’s menu and its welcoming environment that represents the vibrant culture of India. While tasting and developing the menu, Chauhan was conscious of the fact that she may have to “dial down the sauces,” since Disney caters to a huge number of children. During the process, her teammate Tom Eckert often questioned “will my mom eat this?” as someone who grew up coming regularly to the parks at Disney World. Chauhan emphasized it was important for her to take into account such varied opinions in order to ensure that the menu had something to offer for every palate.
She also specifically wanted diners “to have control over” what they were eating. Hence, the menu offers a range of quick and easy Indian street snacks like pani puri as well as options to “create your own bowl,” with a variety of available ingredients. With the essence of Indian cuisine well intact, the diverse menu at eet truly has something for everyone. Chauhan also added that food is a great way to keep us connected. “You don’t need to know the same language, as long as food is good, you will connect.”
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With Diwali approaching and the second Diwali Dance Fest set to take place at Disney World, it is exciting to see the South Asian community represented in a way that it loves most, at what is popularly known as the happiest place on Earth.
This Diwali, Chauhan’s latest venture is all set to bring the fun, vibrance and spice of India to the table and will also be hosting a VIP Diwali Party at the Dance Fest.
