Raji Jallepalli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raji Jallepalli
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|---|---|
| Born |
Rajeswari Rampalli
May 1949 Hyderabad, India
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| Died | January 27, 2002 (age 52) |
| Occupation | Chef, restaurant owner |
| Years active | 1989–2002 |
Rajeswari "Raji" Jallepalli (born May 1949 – died January 27, 2002) was a talented chef and restaurant owner. She was born in India and later lived in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Raji became famous for creating a unique cooking style. She was known for mixing classic French cooking with Indian flavors. The New York Times newspaper recognized her for this new way of cooking.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to the U.S.
Rajeswari Rampalli was born in May 1949 in Hyderabad, India. Her father was a high-ranking diplomat. This meant her family often traveled to Europe.
In 1969, she married Panduranga Jallepalli, who was a doctor. They moved to the United States together. Raji had studied microbiology and worked in labs as a medical technologist. They first lived in New York and New Jersey. In the early 1970s, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee. In Memphis, Raji focused on raising her two sons. She also sometimes helped in her husband's medical office.
Raji's Journey as a Chef
Raji Jallepalli opened her first restaurant in Memphis in 1989. It was called The East India Company. At first, the menu offered traditional Indian dishes.
Creating a New Cooking Style
Later, Raji changed her restaurant's menu. She started to combine French and Indian cooking styles. In 1992, she renamed her restaurant "Restaurant Raji." This new menu was very popular.
Awards and Recognition
Raji was invited to cook at the famous James Beard House six times in the 1990s. This is a big honor for chefs. She was also nominated for two James Beard Foundation Awards. These awards are like the "Oscars" for chefs. She was nominated in 1996 and 1997 for "Best Chef: Southeast."
In 2000, the White House honored Raji. This was part of a program called "Imagine the Future."
Cookbook and New York Restaurant
Raji Jallepalli wrote a cookbook called Raji Cuisine: Indian Flavors, French Passion. It was published in 2000. The book shared her special Indian-French fusion recipes.
In the same year, she became the head chef at Tamarind. This was a fancy Indian restaurant in Tribeca, New York City. Tamarind opened in January 2001. A food critic from The New York Times, William Grimes, praised the restaurant. He called it "a clear-cut victory for the cause of Indian food."
About Raji's Family
Raji Jallepalli had two sons, Prasad and Satish. She passed away in Memphis on January 27, 2002, at the age of 52. Her parents were Radha and Ramakrishna. She also had three younger sisters named Padma, Sita, and Vaijayanthi.
