Hemant Bhagwani facts for kids
Hemant Bhagwani is a well-known Indo-Canadian chef, sommelier (a wine expert), restaurant owner, cookbook author, and business person. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Hemant Bhagwani has created, owned, and managed more than sixty restaurants across North America.
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Hemant Bhagwani's Education Journey
Hemant Bhagwani studied hotel and cooking management at the Alpina School of Hotel Management in Switzerland, finishing in 1993. He then earned an EMBA (a special business degree) from the University of Sydney in 1994. In 2002, he became a certified sommelier in Toronto, Canada.
Hemant Bhagwani's Restaurant Career
Hemant Bhagwani started his career by running food places in Sydney, Australia, from 1994 to 1996. After that, he worked in Dubai, U.A.E., from 1996 to 2000. In 2000, he moved to Toronto. Within two weeks, he began working at the CN Tower as a manager for food and drinks.
Starting His Own Restaurants
In 2002, Hemant decided to open his own business. He took over a Chinese restaurant in Brampton, Ontario, and made it successful. In 2003, he opened a restaurant and wine bar in Midtown, Toronto.
In 2007, he launched Amaya the Indian Room on Bayview Avenue in Toronto. A year later, in 2008, he opened Amaya's Bread Bar. He then expanded the Amaya brand with Amaya Express locations all over Ontario.
In 2013, Hemant Bhagwani created a special Indian food idea called Marathi. This restaurant is still open at Terminal 1 of the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
New Ideas and Awards
In 2015, Hemant Bhagwani opened a lively Indian restaurant called Indian Street Food Company. He was the first restaurant owner in Toronto to try a "no tipping" policy. This was to make the workplace fairer for everyone. In the summer of 2015, he also created and opened Sindi Street Food in Mississauga. Because he started so many businesses, he was a finalist for the 2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Hemant Bhagwani also won his first Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide for Indian Street Food Company.
In 2016, Bhagwani opened The Fat Beet. This restaurant mixed Indian, Persian, and Middle Eastern foods in Thornhill, Ontario.
On January 25, 2017, he opened Leela Indian Food Bar in The Junction area of Toronto. In August of that year, he sold Indian Street Food Co.
In April 2018, Hemant Bhagwani launched The Kolkata Club in Mississauga, Ontario. This restaurant had a club theme. Forbes online magazine even mentioned him for sharing his business experiences. Hemant Bhagwani enjoys helping young business owners in the food industry.
In late 2018, he started another quick-service restaurant idea called Good Karma. This chain focused on Indian food made with organic and local ingredients.
Supporting Workers and New Ventures
Hemant Bhagwani strongly supports skilled workers in Canada. He hires many immigrant staff members for his companies. Media praised him for helping foreign trade workers come to Canada. He treats his staff like an extended family.
In late 2018, Bhagwani opened Goa Indian Farm Kitchen. This restaurant specialized in Indian regional food and was located in Bayview Village Shopping Centre in North York, Toronto. In January 2020, he opened POPA. This was the first Burmese food restaurant in Toronto, also at the Bayview Village Shopping Centre.
In March 2020, Hemant Bhagwani was planning to open a new Indian restaurant at Chef's Assembly Hall. However, the city of Toronto had to close down due to COVID-19. He was the first Canadian restaurant owner to take legal action against insurance companies that would not pay COVID-19 claims.
On July 1, 2020, Bhagwani opened a new brunch restaurant called Egg Bird in Leaside, Toronto.
In December 2022, Hemant Bhagwani brought his Indian cooking style to Tribeca, New York City. He opened Goa New York in March 2023.
Bhagwani was the first to open an Indian Omakase-style restaurant in Toronto, Canada, called Bar Goa. This restaurant, along with Goa Indian Farm Kitchen and Goa New York, is inspired by Hemant Bhagwani’s trips to the Indian coastal state of Goa. Chef Hemant Bhagwani won his second Michelin Star for the Bar Goa location in Toronto.
Hemant Bhagwani is taking over Katha, a well-known modern Indian restaurant in Ottawa, Ontario. He plans to bring a new concept there later in 2025.
After opening over 60 restaurants, Chef Hemant Bhagwani added another important restaurant. ORO luxury dining opened on May 27, 2025. It offers bold global flavors and a fancy atmosphere in Trinity Bellwoods, Toronto.
