Mrs. Prerana Kapoor Kalra, proud owner & director of China Grill, Viman Nagar. Mrs. Prerana is a successful, self-made entrepreneur, deep meditation coach, and an active philanthropist from a family with deep roots in the hospitality and F&B industry. With Gaylord’s in Mumbai (est. 1956), Chinese Room (est. 1976) and multiple branches of China Grill (est. 2007) in Pune, and Akbar at multiple locations in the USA- the Kapoor family has grown to be known, respected, and loved greatly in the industry.

The legacy began with her grandfather, who established Gaylord’s at Marine Drive, Mumbai in the year 1956. Winner of the ‘Times Food and Nightlife Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2012, Gaylord holds the same fame and recognition today as it did 66 years ago, and her grandfather, even at the age of 91, continues to provide his personal touch to the establishment every day.

Mrs. Kalra is also deeply inspired by her father, Mr. Vijay Kapoor, who began working from a very young age to support his family. Starting from scratch, his dedication to perfection and sincerity helped him quickly ascend to the position of Assistant Chef at Taj Hotel, Mumbai. Working day and night, Mr. Kapoor learned the hotel business literally from the grassroots level. He was learning and preparing to follow his dream: his own restaurant chain.

40 years ago, Mr. Kapoor left his job and come down to Pune to follow his heart. He started the "Chinese Room", which today is one of the most respected and beloved Chinese restaurants in India. Presented with the ‘World Famous Restaurants International USA’ Award 4 times in a row, Chinese Room has cemented its iconic status through continuous innovation in menus and service. The exquisite food is a blend of imported aromatic spices, mesmerizing fragrances, elusive oils, blissful sauces, and ingenious recipes.

Mrs. Prerana also took after her Grandfather and Dad and was always fascinated with their culinary wizardry. Completing her hotel management in Switzerland and the USA, she came back to India with a dream of her own.

Chinese Room by now had multiple branches and a thriving business that she could have easily taken over. Instead, she chose to begin her own restaurant from scratch. From every ingredient of every dish to every square inch of the lavish restaurant & banquet hall, she deeply analyzed and conceptualized everything with a passion for perfection. To create a transcendent experience, perfection in every single detail was non-negotiable.

Today, in China Grill, Viman Nagar is 3 years old and thriving. When not engrossed in creating and growing her dream of traveling to a different country and exploring new food, Mrs. Prerana rubs shoulders with the who’s-who of Bombay and Pune, spreading her message of positivity and empowerment amongst all.

While there are a lot of amazing anecdotes and details that we would love to share, we must conclude the story here to maintain conciseness. There is a great story here of the struggles and successes that go behind serving truly delicious food & creating heart-warming service in the F&B industry.