CHEF CHALAPATHI RAO

Chef Chalapathi Rao, fondly known as Chef Challu, is a celebrated culinary expert with over 30 years of experience, including nearly two decades with ITC Hotels as the custodian of its iconic South Indian restaurant Dakshin. A former corporate chef and entrepreneur, he is the founder of Simply South by Chef Chalapathi Rao, a brand redefining authentic South Indian cuisine. A MasterChef India (Telugu) judge, TEDx speaker, and prolific food writer, Chef Challu continues to innovate while taking regional Indian flavours to a global audience.