Aditi Dugar

Aditi Dugar (born April 13, 1983) is a restaurateur and entrepreneur who has had a significant impact on the Indian food and beverage industry. Initially, she pursued a career in the finance industry, possibly inspired by the success of her elder brother, Akshay Naheta. However, after 4 years, Aditi felt that finance wasn't for her. In 2012, she quit her job to start a small-scale catering business with her mother, Rajkumari Naheta, which is now known as 'Sage & Saffron'. Following this, Aditi set out to open many more F&B establishments with her husband, Aditya Dugar. Thus, expanding her restaurant empire across India, bringing unique and innovative dining experiences to her customers with each new venture.
Aditi also gained valuable experience and knowledge by working at revered restaurants like La Gavaroche, Zuma, and Le Petite Maison, among others. Subsequently, she travelled to Thailand, where she worked at fine dining establishments like Bo.lan, as well as with street vendors who tantalised the streets with delicious food. Having acquired a vast amount of knowledge about the diverse flavours the world had to offer, Dugar became determined to introduce the relatively new concept of fine dining to a place that had never experienced it before: India.
==Early life and education==
Aditi was born in Mumbai, India to a family of jewellers. She studied at H.R. College of Commerce and Economics and Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, where she earned her Masters of Commerce degree. Alongside her academic achievements, Dugar also obtained the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification, which attests to her expertise in the finance industry.
==Career: Finance==
After completing her education, Dugar embarked on a career in the finance industry. She commenced her professional journey as a debt trader at Prebon Yamane, where she demonstrated her proficiency in financial analysis and trading. Her abilities soon caught the attention of Collins Stewart, leading to her joining their private equity team.
During her time at Collins Stewart, Dugar played a crucial role in managing the initial public offering (IPO) of Sadbhav Engineering, showcasing her expertise in investment management and strategic financial planning. Subsequently, she gained valuable experience in equity management while working at Crest Ventures, a UK-based firm.
Through her diverse experiences in the finance industry, Dugar acquired a strong foundation in financial analysis, trading, investment management, and IPO management, which would later prove beneficial in her entrepreneurial endeavours in the food and beverage industry.
==Career: Food & Beverage==
===Sage & Saffron===
In early 2012, Aditi embarked on her culinary journey by founding Sage & Saffron, a catering company, with the support of her mother and chef Akshat Agarwal, who has been an integral part of the team for over 10 years. The company quickly gained popularity, catering to renowned personalities such as Tarun Tahiliani, The Ambani Family, Karan Johar, and Alia Bhatt, among others. Sage & Saffron also had the privilege of catering for prestigious brands like Dior, Hermès, and Christian Louboutin.
What initially began as a small catering business has become synonymous with boutique catering and now it caters to the biggest households and brands in India. Aditi is also looking forward to expanding its reach internationally. In addition to catering services, Sage & Saffron now provides menu planning, tablescaping, and venue design services also.
Awards received by Sage & Saffron
Year	Award 	Title
2023	Times Food and Nightlife Awards 2023	The Best Catering Service
2022	Times Food and Nightlife Awards 2022	The Best Catering Service
===Masque===
Born out of a vision to transform the culinary landscape of her country, Aditi Dugar launched Masque with her husband, Aditya Dugar, in September 2016. Her goal was to introduce a tasting menu-only concept, which was relatively new and unheard of in the Indian restaurant scene at that time. Collaborating with chef Prateek Sadhu, the duo worked together to bring their culinary vision to life. However, Chef Prateek Sadhu separated from Masque in early 2022, transitioning into a new phase of his career. Nonetheless, the foundation laid by Dugar and Sadhu in the early years of Masque's establishment set the stage for its subsequent success and recognition in the culinary world.
Even after seven years since its opening, Masque still remains at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of fine dining. With its new head chef, Varun Totlani, at the helm, the restaurant continues to innovate and captivate diners with its culinary creations. Masque's dedication to excellence and creativity has been recognized through its remarkable achievement of being ranked as 'The Best Restaurant in India' for two consecutive years.
Awards received by Masque 
Year	Award 	Title
2023	Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 	The Best Restaurant in India 2023 & The 16th Best Restaurant in Asia 2023
2022	Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 	The Best Restaurant in India 2022 & The 21st Best Restaurant in Asia 2022
2021	Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 	The 32nd Best Restaurant in Asia 2023
2020	Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 	Miele One To Watch award 2020
2019	Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure World Best Restaurants List Collaboration	Ranked on the list
2018	CNT Top Restaurant Awards: 2018 	The 5th Best Restaurant on the list
====Masque Lab====
The lab, a subsection of Masque, was launched in February 2020 as a dedicated space for chefs to engage in experimentation and research. However, it serves a dual purpose as a chef's table where ideas can be transformed into reality. With a limited capacity of 12 seats, the lab offers an intimate dining experience characterized by its absence of a fixed menu or cuisine. The Masque Lab team describes it as a physical embodiment of a hashtag and a chef's dream that originated in 2020.
Moreover, The Lab, along with Masque, serves as a hub for collaborations with renowned chefs from around the world. These collaborations enable the exchange of ideas and expertise, fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of culinary exploration. The Masque Lab represents a space where culinary creativity thrives and where the best talents in the industry come together to create exceptional dining experiences.
====The Living Room====
What originally served as the top floor of Masque has transformed into a separate space with its own distinct identity. Known as The Living Room, this cozy venue is led by beverage manager, Ankush Gamre. It provides a spot to relax and lay back, separated from the bustling atmosphere of the main dining area below.
The Living Room primarily showcases the exceptional mixology skills of Ankush Gamre. While the focus remains on creating innovative and exquisite cocktails, The Living Room also offers a selection of delectable snacks such as tacos, chips, and more, complementing the beverage offerings.
The recognition for The Living Room has been steadily growing. It recently achieved a significant milestone by ranking in Asia's top 100 Bars in 2022. Furthermore, it is anticipated to further climb the ranks and secure a place among the top 50 bars in Asia in 2023, solidifying its position as one of the region's premier cocktail destinations.
Awards received by The Living Room
Year	Award 	Title
2022	Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 51-100	The 73rd Best Bar in Asia 2022
2022	30 Best Bars India 2022 	The 10th Best Bar in India 2022
===Other Projects===
TwentySeven Bakehouse: Aditi and Aditya own and operate TwentySeven Bakehouse with the help of skilled-baker, Rachel Andrade. Together, they bring their expertise and passion for baking to this venture. Aditi has expressed her intention to scale this business, indicating her ambition to expand its reach and impact. The bakehouse has already opened in two locations and offers a delightful range of baked goods, pastries, and confections.
Seesaw: Aditi also oversees the kitchen at Seesaw, a culinary partnership with Reliance. This collaboration contributes to the vibrant culinary scene in Mumbai, offering a diverse menu and dining experience to patrons. Seesaw also welcomes pets and offers a specially curated menu for them. Aditi has ambitious plans to expand this culinary concept to different regions of the country.
ARAKU Coffee: Aditi serves as an advisor to ARAKU Coffee, a sustainable coffee chain. With esteemed board members such as Anand Mahindra and Senapathy Gopalakrishnan, ARAKU focuses on promoting sustainable practices and delivering exceptional and unique coffee experiences to customers.
Category:1983 births
Category:People from Mumbai
Category:Indian people
Category:Restaurateurs
Category:Entrepreneurs