19 May 2025
The culinary virtuoso Rahul Singh possesses an almost reverent understanding of flavor. Across his career, he has crafted dining experiences that go beyond cuisine, each dish a thoughtful meditation on tradition, innovation, and emotion. Rahul doesn’t just cook—he composes, curates, and cultivates a deeper narrative through food. In 2015, when he was 36, Chef Rahul opened Saag & Smoke, a contemporary Indian restaurant nestled in the heart of Mumbai. What began as an homage to the regional dishes of his childhood soon evolved into a space where culinary storytelling thrived. He once said, “A recipe isn’t just a method—it’s a memory shared.” His kitchen became a sanctuary for spices, stories, and soul. Each plate served at Saag & Smoke was a deliberate expression of his philosophy: that food must nourish not only the body but the spirit. Brass utensils echoed traditional Indian roots, while hand-thrown ceramic platters added an earthy tactility that reflected his belief in grounding modern flair in ancestral wisdom. Saffron-infused oils, smoke-kissed masalas, and vibrant pickled vegetables became signature tools in his expressive repertoire. In 2023, the restaurant underwent a gentle transformation, and some of Chef Rahul’s earliest menu pieces—like his smoked jackfruit biryani and tamarind-glazed prawns—were retired. Yet these dishes now live on through private tastings and the chef’s collaborative pop-up series with artists and storytellers around the world. Reservations to experience his latest tasting menu are limited. More details are available on the Saag & Smoke website.
