How Ritu Dalmia Built Her Empire Without Following Any Rules

On the Kitchen Counter: Ritu Dalmia of DIVA, Cittamani, and moreThe Mise en Place: From a childhood fear of Indian cuisine to reimagining it with her signature global flair.Full Course: How a single idea turned into a restaurant empire – built on impulse, experimentation, and the power of passion.Cultural Garnish: Blending Italian simplicity with Indian complexity, and finding unexpected overlaps in two rich food traditions.Inside the Kitchen: Leadership lessons, mentorship mindsets, and creating safe spaces for teams to thrive.Catering Spread: Why catering isn’t just about feeding people – it’s about telling a story and making every bite memorable.Finishing Touches: Advocating for LGBTQ rights, learning to balance ambition and self-care, and the future of dining done her wayMy chat with Ritu was a little messy, a little salty, and filled with lots of stories. Obviously, I had to go with something classic but punchy, like the Roasted Makhana & Peanut Chikki by Bombay Sweet Shop.– – –Host: Smitha MenonWe’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at [email protected] or [email protected] is a Maed in India production.Creative Director: Mae Mariyam ThomasProject Manager: Shaun FanthomeProducer: Meghna Gulati Animation: Alika GuptaVideo Editor: Kaval ChaudharyVideo Guidance: Jishnu GuhaSound Mixing Engineer: Kartik KulkarniOn-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar TemkarProduction Assistant: Natasha Vakil and Rachna SukuruArtwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay