Ritu Dalmia facts for kids

Ritu Dalmia (born in 1973) is a famous Indian chef and a successful owner of many restaurants. She is well-known for her amazing Italian food. Ritu is the chef and co-owner of a very popular Italian restaurant called Diva in Delhi, which she started in 2000 with her partner Gita Bhalla. She also owns other restaurants like 'Latitude 28' and 'Cafe Diva'.

Ritu Dalmia hosted a TV cooking show called 'Italian Khana' on NDTV Good Times for three seasons. She also published her first cookbook with the same name in 2009. Later, she started hosting another show called Travelling Diva on NDTV Good Times, which began in 2012.

Besides her cooking career, Ritu Dalmia is also an activist who works to support fairness and equal rights for all people.

Ritu Dalmia's Journey to Becoming a Chef

Ritu Dalmia was born in Kolkata, India. Her family belonged to a business community called the Marwaris. When she was just 16 years old, she started working in her family's marble stone business.

Discovering a Love for Italian Food

Her work often took her to Italy. While there, she fell in love with Italian food. She started learning more and more about it. This experience sparked her passion for cooking.

First Restaurant Challenges

In 1993, when Ritu was 22, she opened her very first restaurant. It was called 'MezzaLuna' and was located in Hauz Khas Village, Delhi. This restaurant focused on Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian touch. However, 'MezzaLuna' did not do well, and Ritu sold it after three years.

Success in London and Return to Delhi

After her first restaurant closed, Ritu moved to London in 1996. There, she opened an Indian fine dining restaurant on King's Road with a partner named Andy Verma. This restaurant was a big success and received excellent reviews. Even though the restaurant was doing well, Ritu missed Delhi. She decided to sell her share of the restaurant to her partner and moved back to Delhi in 2000.

In the same year, she teamed up with Gita Bhalla to open 'Diva'. This Italian restaurant in Greater Kailash II quickly became, and still is, a very popular place to eat in Delhi.

More Restaurants and Catering

Ritu Dalmia runs several other restaurants and cafes. These include a café at the Italian Embassy's Italian Cultural Centre in Chanakyapuri, Delhi. She also has 'Diva Café' in Greater Kailash I, 'Latitude 28' at the Alliance Francaise, Delhi, and 'DIVA Piccola' in Hauz Khas village. Ritu also started a successful catering business, providing food for events.

Television Shows and Cookbooks

In 2007, Ritu Dalmia began hosting her own TV show called "Italian Khana" on NDTV Good Times. The show was very popular and lasted for three seasons. It also won many television awards.

Publishing Cookbooks

Following the success of her TV show, Ritu published a cookbook also named Italian Khana in 2009. She later released another cookbook in 2012 called Travelling Diva: Recipes from around the World. This book features her favorite recipes from different parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Awards and Recognition

In December 2011, the Government of Italy honored Ritu Dalmia. She was given the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity award for her work in promoting Italian culture through her food.

Books by Ritu Dalmia

• Italian Khana. Random House, India, 2009. ISBN: 8184000219.
• Italian Khana: Dinner Party. Random House, India. ISBN: 8184001029.
• Italian Khana: Desserts. Random House, India. ISBN: 978-81-8400-103-7.
• Italian Khana: Vegetarian. Random House, India. ISBN: 978-81-8400-101-3.
• Travelling Diva: Recipes from around the World, Hachette India 2012. ISBN: 9789350092811.
• DIVA Green, Hachette India 2014. ISBN: 9789350092811.