Padma Shree Awardee, Chef Imtiaz Qureshi Dies At 93

Chef Imtiaz Qureshi whose name is synonymous with the culinary glory of the ITC Hotel chain, passed away this morning. Chef Qureshi was the mastermind behind restaurants like Dum Pukht and Bukhara. Netizens were shocked to learn of the news from celebrity chef Kunal Kapoor’s X account.

Kunal Kapoor wrote, “With great sadness and a heavy heart, I regret to inform you of the heartbreaking news of the passing of Padmashree Chef Mr. Imtiaz Qureshi, who departed from this world earlier this morning.” He further went on to add, “His culinary legacy and contributions will forever be remembered and cherished. May his soul find eternal peace and may his memory continue to inspire us all.”

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Anurag Khatriar who is the founder of Indigo Hospitality P Ltd in a heartfelt post mentioned Chef Qureshi as “The original rockstar of the Indian Culinary World.” Restauranteur Khatriar also wrote in his post, “End of an era! Just heard that legendary Master Chef, Imtiaz Qureshi, the man behind Dum Pukht & Bukhara & many other iconic places, is no more.”

Even though Chef Qureshi had a very humble beginning to his career, where he started off by learning the nuances of cooking from his uncle, he later went on to achieve greater heights with sheer dedication and his love for the culinary arts. From cooking for the Indian Army during the Sino-Indian War as part of Krishna Caterers in 1962 to catering for banquet parties hosted by Prime Ministers of the country, he was one of the most revered Chefs in India’s culinary history. He was awarded the Padma Shree in 2016 for his contribution to Indian culinary arts.